Lots of HEAVY towing on a 2500HD, what gears should I go to?

[28wombats]

So I have a Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0 and apparently 4.10 gears. 2 wheel drive. I know that may have been an option that year, but it does seem possible as the only upgrades on the truck are AC, Cruise, and tow package. Someone must have bought for pulling.

 

Anyway we put a dump bed on it and use it as a chipper truck in our tree service. Even when we try to fill it half full and pull the chipper, we could use more torque. (I AM FULLY AWARE THAT WE NEED TO UPGRADE TO A BIG FRAME TRUCK!) but in the mean time, I've got to make this work.

 

Would you guys go to 4.56, 4.88 or all the way to 5.13?

 

I know highway cruising will be a thing of the past but I really need to focus on towing and taking a load off that automatic tranny. I assume when we sell the truck the next owner will be interested in the same thing with it being a light duty dump truck.

 

Some stats on the truck are:

8 foot flat bed with the custom removable sides, top cowl, and rear tail gate probably weighs around 1500lbs alone.

5 ton hoist kit has been flawless, and dumped everything we've ever loaded it with, even though we changed the pivot point to dump higher than 45 degrees, slightly lowering its capacity.

Air lift/air bag helpers with compressor kit so we can keep it full when heavy and low when empty.

Doing a light tree job 1/2 day, we put about 2000lbs of chips in it, and tow another 3000-4000 in equipment.

On my worst day we dumped 5,500lbs and I felt like a super idiot when we weighed in.

 

[newdude]

Gearing will not change your published payloads or towing capacities. If you get stopped and have to get weighed, and you are overweight, you are in some doo doo. Just keep that in mind.

[KARNUT]

To answer your question, I would go 4.88.

[28wombats]

Gearing will not change your published payloads or towing capacities. If you get stopped and have to get weighed, and you are overweight, you are in some doo doo. Just keep that in mind.

Thanks for your input, I actually was just made aware of that today when I was test driving a C5500 Duramax and asked him about trading mine in. He told me they had no use for it as we had it rigged up way over GVW!

 

Haven't been stopped for weight ever here. With the air bags pumped up it doesn't really look like its that heavy so maybe that will help.

[28wombats]

To answer your question, I would go 4.88.

Excellent! Thanks for your input. I'm really torn since I know going to low will kill any travel over 55mph. I am considering just bumping up to 4.56 and lowing how much we load the dump bed. Someone said 4.10 to 4.56 really isn't much of a jump. I have never re-geared, is that true?

 

Also, HOPING that the dealer will be able to re-program my computer to run ABS and such with the new gears. Anyone know if they can? Someone said I may have to buy a chip to make that mod.

[Dixon700]

Hmmm, I don't think I've ever seen someone turn a srw truck into a dump truck. I wouldn't of started with anything less than a 1 ton dually. I think you may be best selling getting a regular bed and selling the 2500 for a larger truck.

[SpartanAutoworx]

Stay with the current 4.10 gear

[WilliamBos]

Hmmm, I don't think I've ever seen someone turn a srw truck into a dump truck. I wouldn't of started with anything less than a 1 ton dually. I think you may be best selling getting a regular bed and selling the 2500 for a larger truck.

The only difference is extra springs, frames are identical between 2500 & 3500.

[Brian Long]

The weights you are talking about are not a problem for the transmission. With 4.10's the 6.0 is good pulling over 12k. The engine and transmission do not care where the load is.

[sdeeter19555]

Tires, and maybe the actual capacity of the 14-bolt, would be the biggest weakness? Even with LR E tires, you're limited to what, 6600 pounds between two tires?

 

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[28wombats]

All very good points!

• No argument that I need a larger truck, just trying to get another year or so out of this one, as well as increase performance in the mean time.
• I was very iffy about investing the money to make a dump out of a SRW as well, but its cheaper than you'd think to make the conversion, and I really didn't have the money to take a different route. Again, just a temporary arrangement until we upgrade. I've been really impressed with the 6.0 and 4.10 combination's ability to pull, but I was thinking it would be nice to be a bit lower, especially on hills.
• I thought the same thing that the main difference between SRW 1 ton and 2500 was in springs, so we added the air lift bladders, and that made a world of difference in load leveling, braking, steering response, etc.

Unless someone has a real big reason not to, (AND I'M ALL EARS IF SO!) I'm leaning towards re-gearing to 4.56 to improve performance without totally ruining my ability to go above 55mph.

 

Does anyone know if it is going to throw a check engine or ABS light? If the dealer can re-program it for the lower gears I'll be set, but I'm not sure if they can since that low of a gear wasn't a factory option.

[Big Whiskey]

I really don't think going from 4:10 to 4:56 will be enough improvement to justify the cost. My recommendation would be to leave it as is and put that money towards saving up for a truck that will be better suited for the job. If you're dead set on re-gearing, then go to a 4:88.

[4bycamper]

Just a couple of things if I may...

Used to have a Dodge truck with a v6 and wanted more 4x4 ability.

Had 3.90 gears and 29 inch tires. Swapped up to 4.56 gears to pull the 31 inch tires.

Could barely notice the the difference at freeway speeds. Only lost 5 mph for 3000 rpm. Acceleration from stopped was much improved. Drive-ability was much improved.

Going back to 29 inch tires might have made a 10 mph difference.

 

Swapping gears is spendy so go 2 levels ( 4.88 ) or don't bother.

I suspect 4.88 gears, same tires, will get you 10 less mph at 2500 rpm and noticeably better acceleration under load.

 

All the gear sets over 4.10 ratio sing over 55 mph. Not loud but you can hear 'em over the tire noise.

Just sayin'.

[28wombats]

I really don't think going from 4:10 to 4:56 will be enough improvement to justify the cost. My recommendation would be to leave it as is and put that money towards saving up for a truck that will be better suited for the job. If you're dead set on re-gearing, then go to a 4:88.

 

 

Just a couple of things if I may...

Used to have a Dodge truck with a v6 and wanted more 4x4 ability.

Had 3.90 gears and 29 inch tires. Swapped up to 4.56 gears to pull the 31 inch tires.

Could barely notice the the difference at freeway speeds. Only lost 5 mph for 3000 rpm. Acceleration from stopped was much improved. Drive-ability was much improved.

Going back to 29 inch tires might have made a 10 mph difference.

 

Swapping gears is spendy so go 2 levels ( 4.88 ) or don't bother.

I suspect 4.88 gears, same tires, will get you 10 less mph at 2500 rpm and noticeably better acceleration under load.

 

All the gear sets over 4.10 ratio sing over 55 mph. Not loud but you can hear 'em over the tire noise.

Just sayin'.

 

 

Stay with the current 4.10 gear

 

 

Hmmm, I don't think I've ever seen someone turn a srw truck into a dump truck. I wouldn't of started with anything less than a 1 ton dually. I think you may be best selling getting a regular bed and selling the 2500 for a larger truck.

 

 

Gearing will not change your published payloads or towing capacities. If you get stopped and have to get weighed, and you are overweight, you are in some doo doo. Just keep that in mind.

The people have spoken! I have been slowly arriving at a similar decision, that it would be best to try and upgrade as soon as possible, and leave my gears alone. My thought process was that it only costs $1200 to re-gear with new bearings and all, which is not much of a jump start on my new truck budget, when saving for a $25,000 truck.

 

We lowered the amount we will pull with it over the last week or so (to about 2k in the bed and 4k on the trailer) and it does fine so we'll leave it alone and start saving like crazy for that C4500 crew cab!

 

Thanks to all! This was the kind of expertise I was seeking. I know some about engines and equipment, but nothing much on gear ratios.

[Dixon700]

The only difference is extra springs, frames are identical between 2500 & 3500.

Ya most 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are virtually all the same. I more so was saying I've never seen anyone running around with a srw dump truck, also wouldn't the dually truck have a 11.5" aam axle instead of a 10.5"? Also in sure 2 extra tire in back would make the truck a lot more stable.