Broke Boater
Well-known member
Horsepower is Horsepower, that's funny, and so wrong in this situation. They are so different and not what someone should be lookin at. Horsepower is the measurement of power. Torque is the measurement of ability to work. I owned a 5.3 gm, and they went to that in the light truck, suv rigs. To make up the difference in the 5.7 ci advantage, they profiled the cam to reach peak numbers at a higher rpm, not a good thing for a tow vehicle. So with the thinking that a 350hp small block gasser will have the same ability to work as a 350hp diesel, horsepower to horsepower right??,,no,,,very wrong. Because that 350hp diesel is going to have around 800+ lbs of torque, no way around it. When you bypass looking at the torque numbers, transmission gear ratios, ring gear ratios and think just a higher hp rating will deliver the torque needed to pull a RV, your are going to be sadly disappointed, unless your always on flat ground. I have a buddy that bought a Ram eco diesel, he pulls a 6000lb boat from coastal ports in northern Cali to southern Ore. No flat ground there, he gets 14mpg towing. Has not had any issues, loves the truck. Is a ecodiesel, any brand, my preferred choice for a tow vehicle, no, not by a long shot. Most definitely no small block gasser's either. 6000lb is not a lot to pull, and a small block gasser will do it easily, I did it for years with a stock 5.7 and a stock 5.3 gm trucks. Also pulled a 4 horse with a bunkhouse sleeping quarters with a 7.4 gasser one ton, it did it, but I dreaded the grades. Never will go back to gas,,,gregg
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