I'm considering a GMC with this engine and I was hoping to get some opinions on how it pulls a 20' boat. I'm coming out of a Hemi 5.7L and I'm curious if there'll be a significant reduction in power. Thanks

20 years ago that truck had the same motor with 100 less horsepower and a 4 sp transmission and pulled just fine.

I have pulled a 20 ft boat with a 5.3 , no problems

The real answer is it’ll depend on the tow package, but you should have zero issues.

A 5.3 Chevy puts out 355 horsepower , that should pull a 20 ft boat

I have a 5.3 over 200,000 miles. It pulls. It doesn’t have active fuel management.

My 2020 pulls my 20' Skeeter just fine.
12-13 MPG though. It pulls better than the 7.3 Power Stroke I had.

I appreciate the responses

I have a 2021 that pulls a 2023 Blazer 650. No issues with it at all. Just like Fish Killer said, 12-13 MPG if you keep it at 70 or under. Once I hit 71+, 10 MPG. I live in your area so if you want to hook up and take it for a spin just let me know.

It will pull a bass boat fine. I had a 2004 model and it was incredibly gutless. The newer ones have more power and better transmissions.

I wouldn't want to tow a travel trailer with one

And that is what I'm getting ready to do, 6000+lbs of travel trailer. Looked at a 2021 Trail Boss today with a 5.3, 10 speed transmission, 75,000 miles. Just not sure at this point.

Do yourself a favor... If you can find one with a 6.2, get that instead. Much more power than the 5.3.

Please make sure it has at least a 3.73 rear end. Trying to pull anything with a 5.3 and 3.08 rear end is just pitiful

Newer models with the 10sp trans come with a 3.23 or 3.42 with the optional max tow package. With the 10sp trans its doesn't make much of a difference towing.

In my opinion it’s just not enough truck for that type of towing.

I found a low mileage 2019 Tundra with a 5.7 and it pulls my TT with ease. I will start a gofundme for gas.

It’s not the weight, it’s the size of the thing. Travel trailers catch a lot of wind and can have a lot of sway. Towing a 6000lb travel trailer and a 6000 lb boat are not equivalent. Maybe you’re a better driver than me, but I’ve seen too many folks white knuckling it out west on mountain passes and high desert when the wind kicks up with half ton rigs for me to ever want to do that or recommend it to anyone. There are videos of travel trailers catching wind and rolling the whole truck on a TT with a half ton.

This is why I now drive a 3/4 ton. I've had pleasant tows with a half ton but I've also had some nightmares. Brakes tend to suck, too.

Yep. Most half tons will walk and talk with a 5000-6000 lb boat, but there just isn’t enough size to muscle around a travel travel if it catches wind.