Towing Comparison between '96 and '07 Silverado

I'm thinking of selling my '96 Silverado. 350 Vortec V8 with the 3.42 rear end. it hauls my boat around like nothing but I was at the Detroit Auto show and noticed when looking at the new '07 Silverado's (Classics) that the peak torque for the 5.3L occurs 1600rpm higher and with a taller geared 3.23 rear end. Both engines produce the same torque but one at a much higher (often never seen) rpm.

1996 350 V8 250hp, 335 ft. lbs. torque @ 2800 rpm
2007 327 V8 295hp, 335 ft. lbs, torque @ 4400 rpm

Logic tells me that this truck won't pull like my '96. Will it be that much worse? The heaviest thing I tow is my 3500 lb. boat but sometimes that is done on hilly terrain? Any comments? Should I maybe opt for the 3.73 rear end to balance this out?

thanks much,

Rick

I have a 3500lb travel trailer that I pull with my 96 k1500 with the 350 on weekend trips and I also pull it with a 2001 suburban company truck with the 5.3 sometimes when working out of town. Before the 2001 I had a 98 suburban with the 350. Either of the 350's did a much better job of pulling than the '01 5.3.

I would definitely go with the 3.73 rear end.

The suburbans I get for surveying are hand-me-downs. The Office Manager is the only one that gets a new one and the old one is handed down the line from there. The next one I will get is a 2004 3/4 ton with a 6.0. I have been looking forward to that day for 3 years now and still waiting.

James

It will tow like your '96 but it looks like you'll have to rev the shit out of it.

3.23 rear end was never really meant for towing especially with a 5.3. It's a mileage setup. You need at least a 3.73 and a 6.0 liter engine to tow with. The torque peak on the 5.3 is too high-- you will be wearing it out a lot quicker because you are working it a lot harder than you would a larger engine.Your 3500 pound boat will make you one of those guys who holds up traffic on the hills if you don't get a larger engine and at least 3.73 rear end.

One of my buddies has a 04 Yukon with 5.3 and I'm guessing somewhere around 3.23 gears as it didn't have a hitch from the factory. Last fall he towed my 73 Centurion on a 2000 Lb car trailer, so thats at least 6000 Lbs, about 100 miles without any trouble. I borrowed the Yukon to haul a 68 Impala without drivetrain, but on a car trailer again, and I can say that I didn't even notice the weight on the back. That last trailer didn't even have trailer brakes and with the four wheel disc barkes, the whole load stopped quite well considering the weight. So, I'd say the 5.3 isn't bad for towing, but still, it's better to get the most torque your wallet can bare. If you tow quite often, get a diesel. My brother has a 95 or 96 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban with 6.5 diesel, and has no problem hauling boats and campers through the mountains, plus he gets pretty decent fuel mileage, either loaded or empty.