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Towing With The 3.08 Rear End

Dtaylor!

By Dtaylor!
in Towing, Hauling & Hitches

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Dtaylor! Enthusiast

Dtaylor!

Posted
Posted

I recently purchased an '11 Silverado ex cab Texas Edition (has oil and transmission cooler factory). It has the 5.3, 6 spd, and 3.08 rear. If I use this truck for heavy towing ie. a camper, or car hauler what will happen. Will the transmission heat up and wear or will the rear end wear prematurely. Do I need a new rear 3.43 or 4.10? Can I just tow in 4th gear?

 

Also I have the Texas Edition plastered every where and I live in Louisiana. That is a no go. Got to come off. I have read about the fishing line scratching and the plastic spatula has got to scratch so what have you guys used in the past?

DwayneJ Enthusiast

DwayneJ

Posted
Posted

3.08 caters to the crappy unrealistic EPA testing, in the real world it is a purely negative thing. With the deep first gear 3.42s are going to be fine for towing.

terzmo Enthusiast

terzmo

Posted
Posted

People should try before jumping in. I have a 2010 silverado, 5.3/6 speed/308 gears...tow a one car trailer,(loaded) and have not real issues. Towed through PA mountains/hills with A/c at 72 MPH and got 13.5. I get 18 around town, haven't been long distance without the trailer. The 4 speed guys are stuck on 342's...the 6 speed compensates. The tranny when towing through PA stayed around 150 to 165 on normal hills, went as high as 190 on continuous steep ones. To keep it at 72, it did downshift to 4th but always had to let off well before the crest because the truck was hauling @$$ and I had to slow it down. Does it pull as well as the diesel I was used to...nope...but it does fine for what it is.

 

I'll take this combination any day. People who think the truck is "race ready" with 342's or 410's crack Me up; also laugh when they complain about MPG

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted
People should try before jumping in. I have a 2010 silverado, 5.3/6 speed/308 gears...tow a one car trailer,(loaded) and have not real issues. Towed through PA mountains/hills with A/c at 72 MPH and got 13.5. I get 18 around town, haven't been long distance without the trailer. The 4 speed guys are stuck on 342's...the 6 speed compensates. The tranny when towing through PA stayed around 150 to 165 on normal hills, went as high as 190 on continuous steep ones. To keep it at 72, it did downshift to 4th but always had to let off well before the crest because the truck was hauling @$$ and I had to slow it down. Does it pull as well as the diesel I was used to...nope...but it does fine for what it is.

 

I'll take this combination any day. People who think the truck is "race ready" with 342's or 410's crack Me up; also laugh when they complain about MPG

 

Lets put 6000lbs wind sail camper behind that 3.08 gear and we'll see if you have the same opinion. Towing a car trailer is NOTHING like towing a travel trailer or similar wind sail. :)

terzmo Enthusiast

terzmo

Posted
Posted
People should try before jumping in. I have a 2010 silverado, 5.3/6 speed/308 gears...tow a one car trailer,(loaded) and have not real issues. Towed through PA mountains/hills with A/c at 72 MPH and got 13.5. I get 18 around town, haven't been long distance without the trailer. The 4 speed guys are stuck on 342's...the 6 speed compensates. The tranny when towing through PA stayed around 150 to 165 on normal hills, went as high as 190 on continuous steep ones. To keep it at 72, it did downshift to 4th but always had to let off well before the crest because the truck was hauling @$$ and I had to slow it down. Does it pull as well as the diesel I was used to...nope...but it does fine for what it is.

 

I'll take this combination any day. People who think the truck is "race ready" with 342's or 410's crack Me up; also laugh when they complain about MPG

 

Lets put 6000lbs wind sail camper behind that 3.08 gear and we'll see if you have the same opinion. Towing a car trailer is NOTHING like towing a travel trailer or similar wind sail. :)

 

 

 

My statement says LOADED for one car trailer...That means an almost 2 ton (4000 for the challenged)

vehicle plus the trailer....close to if not OVER the 6000 camper. .....

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted
My statement says LOADED for one car trailer...That means an almost 2 ton (4000 for the challenged)

vehicle plus the trailer....close to if not OVER the 6000 camper. .....

 

I was never implying the car trailer wasn't loaded. It's still not remotely the same kind of drag a full box trailer has. :) And if your were over the 6000 lbs, your near your max weight for a 5.3L and 3.08 gears anyways at 7100 lbs.

jwhuber Enthusiast

jwhuber

Posted
Posted
People should try before jumping in. I have a 2010 silverado, 5.3/6 speed/308 gears...tow a one car trailer,(loaded) and have not real issues. Towed through PA mountains/hills with A/c at 72 MPH and got 13.5. I get 18 around town, haven't been long distance without the trailer. The 4 speed guys are stuck on 342's...the 6 speed compensates. The tranny when towing through PA stayed around 150 to 165 on normal hills, went as high as 190 on continuous steep ones. To keep it at 72, it did downshift to 4th but always had to let off well before the crest because the truck was hauling @$$ and I had to slow it down. Does it pull as well as the diesel I was used to...nope...but it does fine for what it is.

 

I'll take this combination any day. People who think the truck is "race ready" with 342's or 410's crack Me up; also laugh when they complain about MPG

 

Lets put 6000lbs wind sail camper behind that 3.08 gear and we'll see if you have the same opinion. Towing a car trailer is NOTHING like towing a travel trailer or similar wind sail. :)

 

 

 

My statement says LOADED for one car trailer...That means an almost 2 ton (4000 for the challenged)

vehicle plus the trailer....close to if not OVER the 6000 camper. .....

 

 

 

I think what he meant to say is when towing something with some height, ie tall camper, etc, that the wind resistance would make it much more difficult. I've never had a truck with anything higher than 3.73's until I bought my 97 and it has 3.42's. I cannot speak for the 3.08's specifically but I know for a fact that the taller your load gets, no matter the gearing, the resistance goes up a lot. Weight has a lot to do with all of it, but I think people fail to realize how much wind resistance factors in.

Shu Enthusiast

Shu

Posted
Posted

You already own the truck, might as well hook up the trailer you are worried about and take it out for a spin and then you can answer if it works for you. Watch the guages to make sure it isn't overheating the transmission etc. The 6 speed has much different gear ratio's that were intended to allow the use of a higher rear gear for better fuel economy while not loaded and on the highway. Like already stated, the transmission will just down shift to pick the correct gear for your situation. I say give it a whirl before paying to swap rear gears.

Big Whiskey Senior Enthusiast

Big Whiskey

Posted
Posted
I recently purchased an '11 Silverado ex cab Texas Edition (has oil and transmission cooler factory). It has the 5.3, 6 spd, and 3.08 rear. If I use this truck for heavy towing ie. a camper, or car hauler what will happen. Will the transmission heat up and wear or will the rear end wear prematurely. Do I need a new rear 3.43 or 4.10? Can I just tow in 4th gear?

 

Also I have the Texas Edition plastered every where and I live in Louisiana. That is a no go. Got to come off. I have read about the fishing line scratching and the plastic spatula has got to scratch so what have you guys used in the past?

 

As far as the gears...yeah 3:42's would have been better...but it's a little late for that now. Having the 6 speed will help, as you can tow in M5 and it will kick down to 4th if needed. I would definately recommend trying it for a while before you jump to the conclusion of changing gears.

 

For the emblems...I replaced the "silverado" with "vortec max" badges on the doors of my truck. I parked it in the sun for a couple hours...then used fishing line to saw the letters off...then used 3M adhesive remover to get rid of the left over glue. My old lady's hair dryer helped soften up a few stubborn spots. It took a little time, but it was smooth as glass when I was done. When you're done, make sure you put a fresh coat of wax on the area where you applied the adhesive remover. If you're gonna put new/different emblems in their place, then put them on before you wax, and just wax around them.

terzmo Enthusiast

terzmo

Posted
Posted
People should try before jumping in. I have a 2010 silverado, 5.3/6 speed/308 gears...tow a one car trailer,(loaded) and have not real issues. Towed through PA mountains/hills with A/c at 72 MPH and got 13.5. I get 18 around town, haven't been long distance without the trailer. The 4 speed guys are stuck on 342's...the 6 speed compensates. The tranny when towing through PA stayed around 150 to 165 on normal hills, went as high as 190 on continuous steep ones. To keep it at 72, it did downshift to 4th but always had to let off well before the crest because the truck was hauling @$$ and I had to slow it down. Does it pull as well as the diesel I was used to...nope...but it does fine for what it is.

 

I'll take this combination any day. People who think the truck is "race ready" with 342's or 410's crack Me up; also laugh when they complain about MPG

 

Lets put 6000lbs wind sail camper behind that 3.08 gear and we'll see if you have the same opinion. Towing a car trailer is NOTHING like towing a travel trailer or similar wind sail. :)

 

 

 

My statement says LOADED for one car trailer...That means an almost 2 ton (4000 for the challenged)

vehicle plus the trailer....close to if not OVER the 6000 camper. .....

 

 

 

I think what he meant to say is when towing something with some height, ie tall camper, etc, that the wind resistance would make it much more difficult. I've never had a truck with anything higher than 3.73's until I bought my 97 and it has 3.42's. I cannot speak for the 3.08's specifically but I know for a fact that the taller your load gets, no matter the gearing, the resistance goes up a lot. Weight has a lot to do with all of it, but I think people fail to realize how much wind resistance factors in.

 

 

 

My interpretation was "weight"...not height. I don't even use "tow mode" when pulling it empty. It's like it's not there on any hill or mountain when empty.

crankman Enthusiast

crankman

Posted
Posted

Let her rip you got a 5.3 with the 6 speed thats somthing right there, i think you will be surprised what they can pull with the 3.08. i mean heck you can always pick out maybe a different gear on your next go around but that tranny will help you out a bit. i say go and watch the trans temp and give yourself adequate braking space and enjoy.

DwayneJ Enthusiast

DwayneJ

Posted
Posted

I am not doubting the ability of the deep first gear of the 6 speed to get things moving. What I am saying is that towing or not 6th is useless with the double overdrive and 3.08s. Lugging an engine towing or not is not a good thing.

terzmo Enthusiast

terzmo

Posted
Posted
I am not doubting the ability of the deep first gear of the 6 speed to get things moving. What I am saying is that towing or not 6th is useless with the double overdrive and 3.08s. Lugging an engine towing or not is not a good thing.

 

The setup trans/engine doesn't let it lug. It downshifts with no problem and running at 2100 rpm at 70mph plus is easilly done on straights and moderate hills. My experience has demonstarted to Me, the 308's are just fine, especially for the casual tow-er as the 308's give better MPG around town and non towing time. "Most" of US don't tow over a 1000 miles a year, most likely less. (of course there will be some who will post they tow ALL the time and rack up huge miles.)

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