My dad sold his big 5th wheel and got an ultralight (5000 lbs loaded) bumper pull. He's now wanting to downsize to a gas truck that won't have to use the expensive diesel fuel and get something that isn't 10 years old. So he's narrowed it down to the Tundra 5.7 or the GM 3/4 ton with a 6.0L gas motor (something in the 2010-2011 range with 50k-90k miles). Looking for input on MPG, reliability and power? I think either has the power to tow that weight, but if either will handle it significantly easier, that would be good to know? I know the 6.0L motors had knock/pistol slap issues in earlier years, but I have no idea if they've fixed that or not? I've also heard that the 6-speed Allison that comes with the 3/4 ton chevy has upped the mpg on the 6.0L?

The Chevy 5.3L is out. We've been Chevy guys for a long time, but the AFM version of that motor has too many issues for me to recommend one. And we had a 2006 model that we tried to tow a 5,500 lb (loaded) bumper pull with and it drank oil like crazy.

Ford is out of the question for personal reasons. Dodge would be in the discussion if the Hemi models weren't just as expensive as a Tundra.

Sounds like a carp shoot to me. I would go with the GM 3/4 for payload alone.

The early vortec motors made a little noise on cold startup that a lot of people called piston slap and a knock, but as far as I know there was never really anything wrong with those trucks, the noise went away when they warmed up. We own 3 of the early gm 6.0's they all do it and none of them ever had a problem with it out past 200k miles.

You should shop around, maybe it is the trim levels your looking at, but when I was shoping in 2011 you could buy a ram hemi way less than a yota 5.7!

Lastly the 6.0 vortec does come with a 6 speed auto, but it is not the Alison.

Also for what its worth... probably not much to you since your mind is made up about it, but I pulled a heavier TT with a '11 5.3 AFM engine that didn't use oil and towed it just fine.

I'm not sure if it was just the one pickup we had or what, but I couldn't believed that 2006 5.3 struggled so much. Not only did it burn oil, but it just struggled with the trailer in general.

I've got a 2004 half ton with the 5.3L that's never given me a lick of trouble and tows my boat just fine. Don't even really notice it's back there. But dad is just soured on the 5.3L at this point.

Are you sure the newer 3/4 ton 6.0s don't come with the Allison? The local dealer told me they all did after somewhere around 2010, but I'm not 100% confident in that.

Based on my personal experience, I wouldn't buy a 5.3l to tow a travel trailer, either. It'll do it, just not very good and I'd worry about tranny temps. I think worrying about MPGs with either of the two engines you mentioned is a waste of time. It's going to be bad. Other than that, either the GM or Toy will do the job but the Toy would get my vote for reliability.

I agree, if it was an intended tow vehicle I would not buy a 5.3.

On GM's website the 6.0 can be ordered with the Alison as a 1200 dollar option, but it does not come with it. The standard option transmission for that truck is also a 6 speed though.

Didn't know that Matt. Thanks.

Thanks. I agree that mpg is going to be bad with both. Just wasn't sure which was worse. I assume the 6.0 will be marginally worse, but didn't expect a significant difference.

I have a 2008 Tundra 4x4 that has the transmission cooler. I tow a 20ft 2800lb trailer with no problems. Plenty of power and great stopping ability. I just hit 125K on my Tundra and have not had a single issue with it.

Six of one half dozen of the other.

The Tundra will be much nicer without a trailer, and the 2500hd will be better planted when towing.

I don't know much about Tundras other than they are fast off the line and drink gas like a 3/4 ton.

2011 was a transition year for the 2500HD. The engine had minor upgrade, and there were big upgrades to the frame and brakes. The 6.0 has never been offered with the Allison. The current 6 speed, the 6L90E, is a solid transmission. There are two rear ends a 3.73 and 4.10 in to 10-11 timeframe. The 3.73 gets 1-2 mpg better and the 4.10 does a better job towing. Either will be fine at towing 5000lbs. Piston slap hasn't been and issue in the last decade or so.

Depending on the year of the Tundra 5,000lbs may "require" a weight distributing hitch, which would be a good idea anyways. The 2500HD is somewhere around 9,900 lbs towing for a weight carrying hitch. 10% tongue weight applies in both cases.

2010-2011 chevy 6.0:
360hp, 380ft/lbs tq

tundra 5.7:
381hp, 401ft/lbs tq

They both have similar tow ratings.the chevy is listed around 11,000+/- lbs and tundra is 10,000+/-. But the tundra's tow capacity is sae certified and chevy just puts whatever number they feel is appropriate.Sae cert. on chevy would bring their number down.Same for Ford and dodge.
chevy weighs 6200lbs. Tundra weighs 5800lbs.
What you want is chevy's new 6.2ltr.
my .02

Any opinions on whether the 4.6L Tundra could tow a trailer that weighs 5000 lbs loaded? Could save quite a bit of money if I don't make the 5.7L a requirement.

Thanks