New 2010 Truck And Towing

[WilliamsVMAX]

OK, I'm in the middle of buying a new truck. I am gonna buy a 2010 GM of course, SLT/LTZ with the 6.2L and I am stuck.....I tow a 30ft trailer and I have the 6.0L VMAX with 4.10s now. The question is do I need that NHT trailer package with 3.73 rear now or would the 6.2L with 3.42 be good enough? My trailer is about 6000lbs dry weight. 6.2L with 3.73 is rated for 10400lbs and 6.2L with 3.42 is rated for 9300lbs. Thanks for the help.

[jrrod2004]

OK, I'm in the middle of buying a new truck. I am gonna buy a 2010 GM of course, SLT/LTZ with the 6.2L and I am stuck.....I tow a 30ft trailer and I have the 6.0L VMAX with 4.10s now. The question is do I need that NHT trailer package with 3.73 rear now or would the 6.2L with 3.42 be good enough? My trailer is about 6000lbs dry weight. 6.2L with 3.73 is rated for 10400lbs and 6.2L with 3.42 is rated for 9300lbs. Thanks for the help.

 

 

If the price difference is minute, I would say the 3.73s.

[MS3DALE]

I vote for 3.73's,although the 3.42's sound like they would do fine for you also.

[jonathansnyder]

6.0 with 4.10's...that thing must boogie off the line.

 

If the trailer you're towing is less than the weight rating of the vehicle, I'm not sure it matters which gear ratio you get.

 

However, if you're going to be towing a bunch, it's probably worth getting the Disc Brakes, which only come w/ NHT or Z71...

[MS3DALE]

However, if you're going to be towing a bunch, it's probably worth getting the Disc Brakes, which only come w/ NHT or Z71...

 

He'll get the rear-discs no matter which way he goes (They come w/the 6.2)

[jonathansnyder]

Okay well I guess that part doesn't matter then. I know with the 6.2 you either have to choose NHT, Z71, or Z60. For some reason I thought Disc Brakes didn't come with the Z60 Package...

[music]

As far as towing, it probably doesn't matter much. The new 5.3/3.42/6-spd would tow your trailer without any issues, so anything above that is just gravy IMO. To me, the NHT is more for the heavier springs and the 9.5" axle, as it gives another 300 lbs of payload (which you don't seem to need?). I've recently driven a 2500HD 6.0/6-spd/3.73 and a 5.3/6-spd/3.42, and they both felt strong to me. I tow about the same weight as you, but will probably stick w/ the 5.3/3.42/6-spd when (if) I change. If I did opt for the 6.2, I would get the NHT pkg since I don't see a reason for the extra torque without the extra payload rating to go with it... but that's just my way of thinking.

[Matt_]

How often are you towing that load? A few times a year.... the 3.42s would be fine. But if you're towing that load often, i'd get the 3.73s for the extra advantage.

[wurgs]

I agree the 3.42s would be fine with the weight your towing. I tow a trailer about 1000lbs heavier with my 09 with the 6.0 3.42s and NHT and it does just fine the 10 times or so I tow it a year. Alot will depend on how often you tow.

[GPGuy]

Since it appears that all gear ratio's will tow your trailer just fine, pick whatever your personal preference. Have fun with the pending purchase btw!

[Blake]

OK, I'm in the middle of buying a new truck. I am gonna buy a 2010 GM of course, SLT/LTZ with the 6.2L and I am stuck.....I tow a 30ft trailer and I have the 6.0L VMAX with 4.10s now. The question is do I need that NHT trailer package with 3.73 rear now or would the 6.2L with 3.42 be good enough? My trailer is about 6000lbs dry weight. 6.2L with 3.73 is rated for 10400lbs and 6.2L with 3.42 is rated for 9300lbs. Thanks for the help.

 

 

If the price difference is minute, I would say the 3.73s.

 

 

I would agree with this.

[Gregorio]

The difference in engine RPM is about 150 at 60 MPH. Had the 6.2/3.42 ratio in a Yukon Denali XL and I really wish it had 3.73. I think the tow capacity was listed at 7900lbs and I was close to it all the time. On flat highway, I had to keep it in 5th all the time to give me decent throttle response. Trouble was, the RPMs were a litte too high. I think the 3.73 would have been the right ratio to allow me to stay in 6th. Plus it would make getting on the freeway a little less stressful.

 

Unloaded gas mileage on the highway will suffer a little but how much could that be?

[r1byker]

Go with the 3.73. I have a Suburban with the 5.3 and 3.42 and I tow a trailer that weighs around 7,000 loaded. The trans is always hunting between third and fourth; even on a level stretch of road, it'll downshift to third. I imagine my unloaded gas mileage is better with the 3.42, but the 3.73 is far better for towing.

[music]

Go with the 3.73. I have a Suburban with the 5.3 and 3.42 and I tow a trailer that weighs around 7,000 loaded. The trans is always hunting between third and fourth; even on a level stretch of road, it'll downshift to third. I imagine my unloaded gas mileage is better with the 3.42, but the 3.73 is far better for towing.

 

I'm assuming that's w/ a 4-spd? I can't imagine needing 3rd on the 5.3/6-spd/3.42 on anything but long/steeper pulls. Towing a 7k lb (loaded) camper w/ a 5.3/4-spd/3.73, I still don't bother w/ 4th... just keep it in 3rd and use 2nd for those long/steep pulls. Third is a "1 to 1" pass through gear, so when the TC locks there you're pumping plenty of fluid for cooling (function of rpms) and don't have a lot of shifts (another heat/stress source). Overall, economy isn't much different in 3rd when towing... and much less stressful on the transmission.

 

I didn't provide much personal opinion on the gearing before, but if "I" were ordering a new truck w/ the 6.2, I would strongly consider the NHT pkg w/ the 3.73 rear. Why have so much power in a truck, but not be able to load it heavy (speaking from someone who looks at payload rating before hp...)? That said, you're going to have a rougher daily drive in the NHT truck (stiffer springs), so that's another consideration.

[r1byker]

Go with the 3.73. I have a Suburban with the 5.3 and 3.42 and I tow a trailer that weighs around 7,000 loaded. The trans is always hunting between third and fourth; even on a level stretch of road, it'll downshift to third. I imagine my unloaded gas mileage is better with the 3.42, but the 3.73 is far better for towing.

 

I'm assuming that's w/ a 4-spd? I can't imagine needing 3rd on the 5.3/6-spd/3.42 on anything but long/steeper pulls. Towing a 7k lb (loaded) camper w/ a 5.3/4-spd/3.73, I still don't bother w/ 4th... just keep it in 3rd and use 2nd for those long/steep pulls. Third is a "1 to 1" pass through gear, so when the TC locks there you're pumping plenty of fluid for cooling (function of rpms) and don't have a lot of shifts (another heat/stress source). Overall, economy isn't much different in 3rd when towing... and much less stressful on the transmission.

 

I didn't provide much personal opinion on the gearing before, but if "I" were ordering a new truck w/ the 6.2, I would strongly consider the NHT pkg w/ the 3.73 rear. Why have so much power in a truck, but not be able to load it heavy (speaking from someone who looks at payload rating before hp...)? That said, you're going to have a rougher daily drive in the NHT truck (stiffer springs), so that's another consideration.

 

 

Yes, you are correct; it is with a 4-speed trans.