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Towing with a supercharger

I have an avy with the magnuson.  I have towed a 20ft wake boat up the canyons of Utah to reservoirs.  No issues climbing.  from 4000ft above sea level to over 8000 feet it is effortless.  you will be able to cruise at 80 mph if you want.  Gets about 10mpg towing.  While other trucks struggle to tow up these canyons, the 5.3 with the mangason setup is well worth it and as reliable as stock.  I highly recommend it. 
 
My Eforce has been going strong for 5 years.  I recently transplanted on to a 6.0 mill with a corvette ZR1 cam.  Power jumped from 365RWHP to 463RWHP after a pulley change and healthy tune.  Now I am killing the transmission, on #3...
 
So for those of you running the SC's on an otherwise stock 5.3. Have you had issues with other components in the drivetrain?

I am considering getting a blower for my truck but may wait 5 years to do so. At that point will likely go with an ATK performance engine with the Mag SC.

Just curious how the stock drivetrain holds up at this point.

Also wondering at this point if I should consider going to a different transmission when I move to the 6.0...

Then considerations for the Transfer case, rear end and front diff...

Rodney
 
I have had zero drive train problems in my truck.  I'm going on about 50,000 miles since installing the blower.  There has been regular items replaced (CV axles, radiator, ball joints, shocks), but nothing in the power train.

I am, however, pretty easy on my truck.  I drive like an old man unless I am towing.  Even then I don't push it to extremes, but I don't give the truck any breaks when towing through the mountains.  I run it right up to the 14,000lbs GCVWR limit, at the speed limit, and it doesn't miss a beat. 

I don't have any frame of reference, but I'd be willing to bet that a S/C 5.3L will out tow a new 6.2L Silverado.  I had a buddy with a new Denali and he said my truck had more jam.  And that is with my crappy 4 speed.
 
I agree with johnniemo.  It will pull better than a new 6.2.  I have had my magnuson for over 40k miles with no issues.  The 6spd is very stought and can handle this type of power with no worries.  Now if you got up in the 600rwhp range I would worry.  i was mulling the idea of selling mine and getting a 6.2 Denali but for the cost of a newer Denali it's not worth it. My 5.3L with mangnuson put 388lb ft to the wheels.  It makes so much ya off idle that it's really no comparison to the NA V8s.  The new 6.2L is a monster but I would put money on the line that the 5.3L SC would take it.  It would be a close drag race all out but for casually towing I will take the 5.3L SC.  Like I said it's hard for me to move on to a newer truck because the SC is something I can't live without now.  Really love it. You would not regret putting one on your truck that's for sure.
 
I spoke to my shop about upgrading my truck.  I just had a casual conversation about what he would buy if he were in my situation going forward.  (now realize he sells superchargers for a living).  He said he would buy a new 6.2L and call it a day.  He said the new direct injection engines are very difficult to get a proper tune - be it a 5.3 or a 6.2, when under boost.  He suggests staying stock.

With that said, I'll have my Avalanche at least until 2020, but I could see myself buying a used 2017 Silverado or Denali at that time.  

For now I still am in love with the Avalanche.  I would sink more money in to "classing" it up, but it just seems silly.  The supercharger would be something I would miss a great deal.
 
This just in!!

After towing across western Canada and back.... up to 7000lbs of boats and travel trailers.... the truck is fine.  Just fine.  The one brake is squeaking a bit maybe.

Reports of exploding engines under boost appear to be exaggerated.  We came back from Shuswap Lake through the Roger's Pass last week.... it was 30C.  The transmission was over 100C even with the cooler working overtime.  The truck just kept on going.  Just about to click over 190,000km.
 
JohnnieMo said:
Can anyone comment on the survivability of the drive train in this situation? I'm looking for personal experience and not opinion. I don't want to add so much power as to start spitting teeth out of the transmission or rear end. If upgrading the transmission in needed then I may go for a reduced horsepower option.
Click to expand...

I can.  Mine spit the spider gears out of the rear end with enough force that it cracked the diff cover and leaked the oil out. FWIW I also scattered 2 transmissions, just not that violent.
 
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