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2014 CC 3.42 & 5.3, 7" lift with 35's... 4.10's or 4.5


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I have a 2014 Silverado supporting the 5.3 running 3.42 gears. It's lifted by a 7" Rough Country lift on 35x12.50R18's. I'm curious as to what are the best gears for my setup. 4.10's or 4.56's? I realize with 4.10's I'd get a little better MPG on the highway but it may not be worth the money. I'd have plenty of power with 4.56's and decent mileage around town. I do drive on the highway, I'm thinking I'd be running around 2200 RPM at 70MPH.

 

Can y'all please give me any info possible...

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I am personally going with 4.10's once I get around to it (last item on my list) and you'll find that most people with 35s run 4.10s. Obviously gas mileage isn't much of a factor, if at all, when owning a lifted daily driver. Still, I am not going to put myself in a position where I would lose gas mileage when it's not necessary. I don't pull 10,000lbs uphill regularly lol.

Currently exceeding 20mpg with 35s and factory 3.42s. 1600rpm at 70mph.

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I am personally going with 4.10's once I get around to it (last item on my list) and you'll find that most people with 35s run 4.10s. Obviously gas mileage isn't much of a factor, if at all, when owning a lifted daily driver. Still, I am not going to put myself in a position where I would lose gas mileage when it's not necessary. I don't pull 10,000lbs uphill regularly lol.

 

Currently exceeding 20mpg with 35s and factory 3.42s. 1600rpm at 70mph.

I am curious how you are getting over 20 mpg with the 35's and 3.42 gears? Not calling BS just don't understand how it is possible. A lot of guys that are stock don't consistently average over 20. I averaged 14 with the 35's and 3.42 gears, I get better mileage with the 4.56 gears due to the reduced engine load. Just curious what you did different.

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I am curious how you are getting over 20 mpg with the 35's and 3.42 gears? Not calling BS just don't understand how it is possible. A lot of guys that are stock don't consistently average over 20. I averaged 14 with the 35's and 3.42 gears, I get better mileage with the 4.56 gears due to the reduced engine load. Just curious what you did different.

He's probably referring to that one time he was on the highway rolling down a hill in neutral.....I kid...I kid.

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He's probably referring to that one time he was on the highway rolling down a hill in neutral.....I kid...I kid.

I would just like to know the secret. I am sure myself and 99% of others could benefit from the additional 4-6 mpg. Would pay for itself pretty quickly. The guys not running lifts would benefit also. Y'all should average around 26 consistently.

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I would just like to know the secret. I am sure myself and 99% of others could benefit from the additional 4-6 mpg. Would pay for itself pretty quickly. The guys not running lifts would benefit also. Y'all should average around 26 consistently.

In my stock truck with 3.42s I've been able to hit 25mpg on rural country roads for 50-60 mile stretches. But I was only running about 55-65 mph which was a sweet spot. And it was in V4 a lot.

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In my stock truck with 3.42s I've been able to hit 25mpg on rural country roads for 50-60 mile stretches. But I was only running about 55-65 mph which was a sweet spot. And it was in V4 a lot.

Yea that is what I am figuring he is referring to. Cruise set at 55 my best 50 mile is 20.8 and 25 mile is right at 22. Highway speeds are a different story though. Once you hit 70 mph these things turn into a brick with the lift and tires.

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I don't want to start an argument here, but I need to get a better understanding of the whole lifted truck culture. See - I come from a background of modding muscle cars - I'm the type of guy that would have full headers, cam, stall converter on my ride before worrying about dropping it, changing the rims, adding a spoiler etc etc etc - I'm all about spending $$$ toward adding to the vehicles performance/designed purpose.

I've ridden in lifted trucks - I think they look badass when done right and it is certainly cool to ride that high - and while one could argue they'd be "better off road" due to the increased clearance and mudder tires, one thing I noticed in ALL lifted trucks I've been in is, they have no balls. They're slow. They are effectively neutered, then you do a gear swap and while that helps in the get up and go torque dept, its more a trick than an actual power increase, you lose top end power and put more strain on the motor and rev higher.

 

With a truck that is already the MOST under powered of all 1/2 tons available in its class, wile also being the heaviest, wouldn't it be prudent to address the power issue before jacking it up and throwing on massive tires???

So I would definitely go w/ 4.10's at a minimum, but I would add a nice mid range cam, headers, and an intake too if I was going to keep the vehicle for a while and wanted it to run right.

 

Or I Would have opted for the 6.2, bought a diesel 3/4, or a ford raptor/tundra

 

Do you guys who lift these trucks have plans to address the power at some point?

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Do you guys who lift these trucks have plans to address the power at some point?

Without a doubt. I bought my truck with the lift installed so I had to go backwards this time. First thing was a good tune, 2nd was the gears, 3rd was exhaust, 4th was lighter tires; the MT'S it came with were 78 lbs each, I found some that were a little taller, a little narrower and 15 lbs lighter. They made just as big of a difference on mileage as the 4.56 gears did. Next is intake and headers. If that doesn't get me where I want it I will go cam or supercharger. The truck runs pretty good now but still not quite where I want it. I absolutely embarrassed a guy in a 14 hemi with 4" lift and 33's the other day that would not quit revving his engine at me. I have had a lifted tundra as well; it was gutless also after 34" tires. The 2011 ecoboost was the same after the lift and tires but better than the tundra. My 2012 Duramax held up the best but even it lost over 3 mpg with 33" tires, performance wise it didn't care about them though. The LML is a beast of an engine and I dearly miss the torque.
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I think they look badass when done right and it is certainly cool to ride that high - and while one could argue they'd be "better off road" due to the increased clearance and mudder tires, one thing I noticed in ALL lifted trucks I've been in is, they have no balls. They're slow. They are effectively neutered,

 

Is that so?

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I am personally going with 4.10's once I get around to it (last item on my list) and you'll find that most people with 35s run 4.10s. Obviously gas mileage isn't much of a factor, if at all, when owning a lifted daily driver. Still, I am not going to put myself in a position where I would lose gas mileage when it's not necessary. I don't pull 10,000lbs uphill regularly lol.

Currently exceeding 20mpg with 35s and factory 3.42s. 1600rpm at 70mph.

 

I do believe that "most" are running 4.56 and 4.88 if my many years spent on the forums is any indicator, since 4.10s would be considered undergeared. And your truck needs to be in the Guiness Book with that mileage.

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I am curious how you are getting over 20 mpg with the 35's and 3.42 gears? Not calling BS just don't understand how it is possible. A lot of guys that are stock don't consistently average over 20. I averaged 14 with the 35's and 3.42 gears, I get better mileage with the 4.56 gears due to the reduced engine load. Just curious what you did different.

 

He's probably referring to that one time he was on the highway rolling down a hill in neutral.....I kid...I kid.

 

I suppose to me it is not hard to believe since I actually experience it. Custom tune, custom exhaust, and CAI is my recipe. I averaged 28.5mpg before I had my lift and only the custom exhaust over a 1200mi trip to California and back. I have video's and pictures on my instagram getting 18, 19, 20+ mpg with the lift and 35s. Driving habits have a lot to do with the mileage one gets, and most people aren't willing to admit that. I'm not trying to say I don't slam my foot into it all the time, because I do and when that happens sure I go down to 13-17mpg average. However, I am exceeding 20mpg with normal driving habits (not gunning it). Looking from others point of view, I have no clue how or why I am getting, and have always been getting, the mileage I do with 3.42s. Everything worked in perfect synergy. We've done the exact same thing with our 2014 Crew Cab and that truck is on 33" BFG A/Ts getting 21+ mpg with 3.42s.

 

My tune and CAI is in the signature. If you want to know how I did my exhaust,

 

I'm more than happy to answer any questions or steer anyone in the direction I went. Many from the Instagram community have followed my methods and they too are getting excellent mileage with 35s.

 

Regards,

Nikko

 

 

I do believe that "most" are running 4.56 and 4.88 if my many years spent on the forums is any indicator, since 4.10s would be considered undergeared. And your truck needs to be in the Guiness Book with that mileage.

 

Not going to give any thought out response after you said 4.10s are considered undergeared.

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