I've had both I would suggest the 5.3 for sure. You will regret not getting it probably even if there isn't much difference.

I have a 2012 1500 with 5.3 I will sell you.

I have a Ford 150 with the Ecoboost with 3.73 gear ratio, I have been pulling a 20 ft ranger or a 20 ft car hauler with a Polaris Ranger Crew and dog boxes weighs close to 6000 lbs pulls either one with out a problem except gas mileage drops to 9-10 at 75-80 mph with carhauler and 11-13 with ranger. normally around 17-19 mpg at same speed.

That EcoBoost is a pulling machine. I get around 18-19 on highway with no load, and around 11-12 pulling a 20' Skeeter.

Back in the day I used to drag my 361V around with a 4.3L v6 in my S10 and never had an issue in the hills � had to be mindful and allow for stopping distance � especially when I would drag my buddies Stratos 201 Pro, that was a strong little v6 !...then I ran a gamut of v6/v8 full size/mid size trucks to pull some of the other 18 to 19 footers I�ve had...the thing I found standard with the v6 or v8 was poor gas mileage when towing, but I never had any issues with pulling any bass boat at highway speeds with either, the main thing was stopping distance even with trailer brakes, also a big issue with the smaller v6 trucks or short wheel base v8 vehicles is you could tell there was a boat behind you...I finally got off my wallet and bought a big F250 SD w/6.7L Turbo Diesel � a little over 400 h.p. w/800 foot pounds of torque...now I don�t even know there is a boat back there � heck the wheels could come off and I prolly wouldn�t notice, the only issue is the price of diesel...LOL...

Get a Toyota Tundra 4X4 with the 5.7. 4.10 gears, 6sp tranny and 381 hp...you cant go wrong.
Ask Hoosier Daddy about that. He got rid of his 5.3 GM and got into a 5.7 Tundra to pull his Skeeter...hes Piggy Happy!!

I had a 2010 Dodge Ram with a 4.7L and averaged 10-11 per gallon pulling a 21 ft glass rig. I upgraded to the Hemi 5.7 on my 2012 Ram 1500 and now I average 14.5 per gallon and that's running at 75-80. There is a difference and I'm glad I made the change.

I have a 2012 Chevy 4x4 with the 6.2 with 35 inch tires and a 6 inch lift and pull my boat with no prob give monte coon at Moritz a call they will take care of you!

Man I traded my 2011 5.3 4x4 after one year that thing couldn't pull my zx225 with out me getting out and pushing it!!! go with the 6.2 if your going with chevy I went to the ecoboost good luck

I've got a 2002 Tahoe with the 4.8 and pull a 20 Skeeter. If you not in a hurry to get there, then you fine. Just have to leave 20 min early. No complaints from me, it pulls fine.

My Cummins pulls my boat great, gets 20mpg in tow.

You guys pull your boat at 70+ mph?

I pull mine at 85 plus. Move over!

I have had chevy Truck's since I started driving, and I have switched over To dodge Truck's with Hemi's 5 years ago, I just bought another new dodge Truck with the Hemi, Because they have more power and low end Torque for pulling, The Dodge pull's all my work trailer's and even my flat bed's loaded down with 5,000 pound's like nothing, It pull's my bass cat , like nothing, and it get's a lot better gas mileage then chevy truck's.

LOL, nope! Not in a hurry to meet our maker just yet. No matter who's fault....but, I don't drive that far to fish..