I'm looking at a 1500 Reg cab 8ft bed WT, is this the same engine as a 305? I'm looking to replace my Dodge Dakota. I wanted to get a new one but looks like Dodge is only looking to make Yuppie Trucks now. The canyon is just too small. Just looing for some thing that can hold 1500 lbs and do light towing.

Tm - The 4800 is nothing like the 305....Actually, it's built off of the same platform as the 5.3 and 6.0. The nice thing about the 4800 is you can get a manual transmission...Around here, there are a few running around, but the 5.3 is much more popular...Hard to say if there is any mileage difference between the two if they are both equipped with automatics..

i have a 4.8 its a good motor
to wake it up a little get a hyper tech chip k&n fpk ( fuleinjection perfromance kit) and a flowmaster and it will really wake it up and maybe beat a dmax (stock)

If you're looking at it from an economic standpoint to get better MPG's - Don't do it. My brother-in-law has a Reg cab 8' box 4x4 chevy automatic with the 4800 and his son has the exact same truck with the 5.3L 5300.

They get nearly the same MPG's following each other unloaded on the way to their cabin. Both get around 17MPG highway.

My .02 is get the 5.3 and the extra power that goes with it.

i have a 4.8 its a good motor
to wake it up a little get a hyper tech chip k&n fpk ( fuleinjection perfromance kit) and a flowmaster and it will really wake it up and maybe beat a dmax (stock)

I think someones been drinking :drinking: :)

I had a 5.3 ext cab and a friend of mine bought a 4.8 regular cab. He took me for a ride in it and laid in on the gas.

I told him "Floor it!"

He said "It is..."

I said "Oh...."

I was really suprised in the difference in power. Very, very noticeable.

For the modest price difference and mpg difference (if any at all) I'd opt for the 5.3 for sure. It is a stout motor.

This motor is not like the old chevy 305, this is actually smaller (something like 293 cubic inches) and making a bit more power in the process. You can tell the difference between the 4.8 and the 5.3 but it isn't really that big. Both lack the torque to do true offroading with large tires or really tow. They get approximately the same mpg, but as one person already said, you can get the 4.8 with a manny tranny so it is your personal preference.

the 4.8 is a 297CI

imo the 4800 isnt worth getting as a work truck. either get a 4300 or a 5300. my reasoning for this is my dad got a 05 work van with the 4800 in it and it does not have the same pep as the little v-6 when loaded down. and like stated above when you floor it theirs nothing there. now before i get ragged on for saying a v-6 is as good as a v-8 look at it this way with the v-6 u got 2 less cylenders to feed less maintance and a good motor. their almost no differnce in performance 1/2 throttle or less. you can feel it more when wot. ive hauled 2500 pounds in the back of my old 4.3l it hauled it quite easly and didnt strain.
one day in the fall me and a buddy loaded 2500 pounds of shingles in the work van. it held the weight but when it came to coming up a long steep hill the van would not go over 20 mph at wot. evertime it shifted into second it down shifted right away. for ****s and giggles we loaded up the picked up next. same thing 2500 pounds but atleast we got to 30 mph. then loaded the d-max and well lets just say theirs no comparison.

my point it is the 4800 is gutless. either get the 4300 or the 5300.

the 4.8 is a 297CI
not according to chevrolet's website, i just checked to be sure

I traded in my 02 Sierra ext cab with the 4.8 and it was lacking in the power department even with exhaust and hypertech programming. It did get 21mpg on the highway with the 3:42 gears tho and it sounded awsome with exhaust.

My personal company truck that I drive every day is a 4X4 extended cab with the 4.8. It has 265/70/17" tires, and 3:42 gears. It is VERY doggy. The motor makes power over 4000 rpm, but that's pretty much worthless in everyday driving. The 5.3 is much better. I think the 4.8 would be ok with 4:10 gears, or something like that, but then the mileage would suck. Go with the 5.3 if you are getting a 4X4.

ALTHO, i did beat a ricer Accord with the fart pipe the other day by like 5 truck lenghts, so my 4.8 company truck must run 10's using their math.!

my dmax would eat it alive at 1/4 throttle....):h

My personal company truck that I drive every day is a 4X4 extended cab with the 4.8. It has 265/70/17" tires, and 3:42 gears. It is VERY doggy. The motor makes power over 4000 rpm, but that's pretty much worthless in everyday driving. The 5.3 is much better. I think the 4.8 would be ok with 4:10 gears, or something like that, but then the mileage would suck. Go with the 5.3 if you are getting a 4X4.

ALTHO, i did beat a ricer Accord with the fart pipe the other day by like 5 truck lenghts, so my 4.8 company truck must run 10's using their math.!

my dmax would eat it alive at 1/4 throttle....):h "accord with a fart pipe" "run 10's using their math":lol: