towing, 2wd vs 4wd

I have an '02 1500, 5.3 auto, 3.73 posi. 4wd stock everything. My question is this, I pull a trailer that weighs loaded 7500# It pulls great on flat land, but when i get to hills it really boggs down. i am going to be switching it out at the end the year i dont want to go up to a 2500 just for a dozen trips a year, the gas will kill me! I'm thinking of dropping the 4wd and just go with the same truck 2wd. It will have 500# more towing capacity. I sure dont want to (and wont) jump ship to competitors but their tow capacities look attractive. Any information or feed back will help!

Have you thought about some mods to increase hp and torque? Would be cheaper than buying a new truck and you'll probably increase mpg a little too.

Have you thought about some mods to increase hp and torque? Would be cheaper than buying a new truck and you'll probably increase mpg a little too.
I've read a bunch of post's about the same thing, I'm just not sure if the mod's that are talked about really do anything more than drain the wallet. My brother is a GM enginerring graduate and i trust him in the theory that if these mods were truly that good GM would incorporate them just to stay ahead of the domestic and Asian competition. But, what you heard that works?

FIrst off, a K&N air filter, then if you really wanna tow, get some kind of programmer (SUperchips, Hypertech). And then the usual dual exhaust setup. That should generate a good bit mroe power and torque..for starters anyhow.

I've read a bunch of post's about the same thing, I'm just not sure if the mod's that are talked about really do anything more than drain the wallet. My brother is a GM enginerring graduate and i trust him in the theory that if these mods were truly that good GM would incorporate them just to stay ahead of the domestic and Asian competition. But, what you heard that works?

Every auto manufacturers vehicles can be greatly improved upon. Why do you think that the aftermarket performance parts market is so huge? If GM, Ford and Dodge incorporated even half of the performance mods that have been proven to work on their vehicles, I think their trucks and cars would be priced way beyond what the average guy (or girl) would want to spend!

I have an '02 1500, 5.3 auto, 3.73 posi. 4wd stock everything. My question is this, I pull a trailer that weighs loaded 7500# It pulls great on flat land, but when i get to hills it really boggs down. i am going to be switching it out at the end the year i dont want to go up to a 2500 just for a dozen trips a year, the gas will kill me! I'm thinking of dropping the 4wd and just go with the same truck 2wd. It will have 500# more towing capacity. I sure dont want to (and wont) jump ship to competitors but their tow capacities look attractive. Any information or feed back will help!
Hey just to let you know the towing cap on the 2wd is only better because its not as heavy it has nothing to do with pulling power it is the exact same engine with the same gearing and everything.Dont waist your money unless you get the duramax which would save more gas then anything you buy from aftermarket companys

Oh yeah DO NOT GET DUAL EXHAUST FOR TOWING THATS NOT RIGHT!!!!! Dual exhaust lacks backpressure which you need so get the same style exhaust your truck comes with but a little larger this will raise TORQUE not HORSEPOWER!!!!! And so will LONGTUBE headers!!!

Um, dual exhaust works fine for towing..as long as you don't get pipe thats too big... I got my flowmaster installed 3" inlet, dual 2.5" outlet and it helped on the low end as well as high...

yes it does but not nearly as much as the swept side exhaust. Hints the reason it comes from the factory in that position!!!!! The truck is made for towing already in its time it was the highest cap in a 1500

true, true.....but what about the Gibson or Flowmaster swept side system??

yep thats what i have and those are the ones they recommend for towing(Gibson) And actually over all performance really.While dual produces more peak HP the side exit has an overall powerband increase

ok, it sound like the exhaust first then look at filter system. i think i will stay away from the programmer chips for now, seems like some issues in other posts. Thanks for all the information!!!