budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

I'm asking this for a friend at work who's looking at an 08 regular cab, (long bed I believe), 2wd, with the ol' 4.3 V6, and wants to know what the towing capacity is. I don't know what gears it has, or if different gears are even optional on the V6's. Of course I told him to get one of the LS V8 options, but this truck only has 11k, good price, yada yada yada. TIA

andrew383

iTrader: (14)

5400#'s

Wouldnt pull anything with a fs 4.3
He would better off getting a colorado

towing specs

rjwz28

My dad got a great deal on a brand-new 4.3 1500 back in 2003. He still regrets getting that engine. Doesn't tow for **** and gets worse fuel mileage than a V-8. That engine should have been killed with the S-10.

smokeshow

iTrader: (16)

GM had the nerve to put them in extended cabs. What a gutless pile those things are.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

Yeah, I agree 100%, and I told him that, but I let him know that I'd ask anyway...I also told him, "ya know, I'm gonna get flamed for asking this!"

I didn't even think of the Colorado, I'll run that past him also. I don't even know what he plans on towing or hauling honestly...

andrew383

iTrader: (14)

He could prob get into a 4 door colorado for about the same price and could even be lucky to find one with a 5.3

rjwz28

5.3 Colorados pretty much cost the same as 5.3 Silverados. Biggest reason I don't have one, plus the 4L60E and the backseats that fold down instead of up against the back wall.

dknoerzer

Lol not sure what you would tow with a 4.3. Hopefully a donor vehicle for an engine swap? Not sure why they would even offer a long bed with it, just more weight for it to struggle with. I suppose it would be a less expensive starting point for a project truck though. Make sure to thank your buddy properly for asking you to start this thread lol. Hopefully that thing can at least haul a case of beer for you.

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

my 4.3 runs pretty much perfectly and it has a hard time with about 5 120qt coolers full of ice and deer, on relatively flat ground. If it werent for the engine swap being in the works, this truck would have been long gone by now.

CDN SS

iTrader: (1)

Pbly going to take a ton of flak on this ........but had new 2001 RC SB with 4.3 and 3.08's ...........towed my race car, open trailer with car 4800-5000lbs ......... towed 1000mile trips........towed .in 3rd gear 2600-2800 rpm 65mph ..........Black bear tune / trans cooler thats it ......mileage around 8-10mpg it was the truck I had ..no choice ..............never had engine or trans trouble ..... headwinds and long hills were tough but it was relaible and kept up with traffic ...................gear it right and stay out of OD on that 4l60e FWIW