Picked Up My New Toy

[jasonshd]

Last weekend I purchased and picked up a walkaround cuddy cabin boat. The boat weighs a little over 5000# and I had to tow it 300 miles back home. With this being said I knew I would know if I liked my 3.08 gears. Here is my set up:

 

2.5" Leveling kit

3" Blocks in the rear

33" Cooper Zeon LTZ

Gas mileage running 75 to get the boat was 17.1mpg.

 

Hooked the boat up to the truck and it squatted the truck down 1" to make it perfectly level. We took off and headed home and I told my wife this will be the test for these 3.08 gears. From the take off the truck seemed to have plenty power and showed no weakness pulling (tow/haul button on). I never pull anything in overdrive so of course it was M mode 5th gear. As we were driving the terrain was really hilly and the gears did not like it. On steep hills the truck would kick down to 3rd gear but on some of the mild hills it would drop to 4th. Now I had a 5.3 with a 4spd and when I would pull a camper up a steep hill it would kick down to 2nd gear and I must say it wouldnt sound right. Not the case when the 6spd would kick down to 3rd. I will have to say I still wasn't inpressed with the gears while pulling in this kind of terrain. Once we were getting closer to Houston and the terrain was more flat, the truck performed very well. I was running 65 to 70 mph the whole trip back. So to keep this short, my own opinion with this set up it is:

-For where I live and will be hauling the boat to, the 6spd w/ 3.08 gears performs very well and does everything I expect it to do.

-If hauling and the terrain is hilly or mountain areas, your going to want to add a different set of gears.

BTW: I was getting 10.3 miles per gallon with the load.

Heres a pic of the combo

 

[J-man67]

Good report! The combo looks great!

[leverlution]

That's basically my assessment too (stock tires as well). The gas mileage benefits from the 3.08s outweigh any real con that I have. There is a slight dead spot in the beginning of second if driving slowly, but other than that I think the gearing works pretty well. On the highway, as you said though, it does like to use the gears, but I have no problem with that as long as I'm not the one shifting all the time! It seems to want to downshift more than it needs to, and it doesn't seem to like to use 5th too much though. Going into WV, she downshifts a little bit more than I am comfortable with, but I never driven anything that didn't (including 6.0 4spd yukon denalis and escalades). I'm just happy she can hold speed going up those hills, let along run to the speed limiter without a problem. Some of our other vehicles, including a Rubicon Wrangler with a 6spd manual and 4.11 gears, could barly even hold speed. Forget about accelerating

 

Did you NOTICE a drop in power when going from the 265/70/17s to 33s?

[jasonshd]

I noticed very little power loss with the 33" tires but nothing that made me want to change anything. I was really thinking I wanted to add 3.73 gears but before I did I thought I would have to put it to the test. I noticed I had to play with the gas pedal. I started getting a feel for it and in order to hold 5th I had to be easy on the gas but it would hold (on flat land).

[leverlution]

Yea, see most the highways up here arent really flat, and going into WV...well you're driving through the mountains. truck seems to use 5 as a bridge from 4th to 6th and that's it really. Like you said though, on flat ground, or when running 50mph or less she does use 5th.

 

All in all im happy as well. I wanted a 3.42 4spd 4.8 for cost and gas mileage. Dealer said I would be much happier in a 3.08 6spd 5.3. Im glade I did. Might not be the best gearing for some peeople, but for me its perfect. Like having a 3.42 4spd in 1st/second, with an insane OD on the highway. And with the 5.3, I have the power to accelerate on I68/79 in WV. With the 3.08s and 5.3, I have the power to get up loggin trails in wv mountains, but the gearing keeps everything smooth and controlled. Not jittery and overpowered like a 3.73/4.10 truck. I could go on and on. Im glad your happy, I am as well. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless I really knew the person and what they would use the truck for, but its the perfect setup for me. He'll, im already running 3,000rpms in wv highways, with 3.42 it would just be worse! It really reminds me of a K5 blazer a buddy had that was on 33s with a 5.7/3.08 combo but a noticeable difference down low.

[ATXSerria]

Good report! I towed about 4000lbs last weekend and was really impressed with the 3.08 gears. The 6spd made those gears seem allot steeper.

I like to see these nice trucks put to work.

[leverlution]

Oops, meant to ask about the lift. Do you rub at all with the 2.5/3" and 33s? What about offroad? Was there any major change in the ride? I've been thinking about doing 2.5/3" and maybe a 1.5 or 3" body lift, but im really spoiled by this new frame and z85 suspension. Don't wanna lose the nice ride quality! How much rake is there with your combo and no trailer? What suspension package do you have(Z85, Z60, Z71)?

[jasonshd]

No rubbing with the set up but I am running 275/60/20 (20 x 8.5" wheel & 18mm offset). You do lose a little ride quality but nothing that makes a huge difference. I love the look and am thinking about adding a 1.5" body lift. Not sure about the suspension. I did get some rake back when I added the blocks but I had to have it in order to tow. Here are my fender measurements:

Front: 39.5"

Rear: 41.5"

[jasonshd]

Good report! I towed about 4000lbs last weekend and was really impressed with the 3.08 gears. The 6spd made those gears seem allot steeper.

I like to see these nice trucks put to work.

 

Thanks and I agree! I love keeping my truck clean and looking good but I bought it to do what it's made to do.