'97 2wd Suburban/ best rear gears for towing (10 Bolt, 460le)

rkf63k10 · May 10, 2015

I'm thinking about changing my rear gears to get better towing out of it. I tow a 6x12 enclosed trailer that's capable of hauling 2010lbs sometimes and the 3:42s aren't really good at towing. My choices are 3:73, 3:90 or 4:10's. I would think 4:10 would be to low and just kill mpg. When I'm towing it right now the converter kicks in and out. I would like to have it to where it can just tow smooth.

thanks!

chevy529 · May 10, 2015

The 3.73's are a good choice but you shouldn't be in Overdrive when towing ... you should be in Drive. Always. Or the electronic torque converter will always be engaging\disengaging depending on conditions.

EDIT: The 4l60E is a crappy transmission. For a truck\suburban. Good for a car.

desrtrat · May 11, 2015

3.73 are a good all round gear for what you will be towing. you should see no real decrease in mpg, you may even see a slight increase. i have 4.10's and i can get 16.5-17.5 mpg + on the highway in my 5500 lb SS

00Silverado4x4 · May 12, 2015

I think the 3.73 would be a great option for what you are towing. It'll give you everything you need, including respectable gas mileage.

rkf63k10 · May 12, 2015

The 3.73's are a good choice but you shouldn't be in Overdrive when towing ... you should be in Drive. Always. Or the electronic torque converter will always be engaging\disengaging depending on conditions.

EDIT: The 4l60E is a crappy transmission. For a truck\suburban. Good for a car.

I've towed a lot of stuff in Overdrive with my 3:73 geared 2005 GMC crew and never had a problem with it disengaging the converter. I'm not towing a lot of weight. My enclosed trailer just has a lot of drag to it. I saw somewhere that TCI or B&M made a tow/haul module for these models, but i'm not sure.

3:73's were what I was thinking. I didn't want to go to high of a gear numerically.

chevy529 · May 12, 2015

rfkski.

Well you must live where it is flat. That tranny with that gearing will barely pull itself empty without overheating. Up any hills with a couple thousand pounds of weight will cook it. Been there ...

00Silverado4x4 · May 12, 2015

rfkski.

Well you must live where it is flat. That tranny with that gearing will barely pull itself empty without overheating. Up any hills with a couple thousand pounds of weight will cook it. Been there ...

I have to kindly disagree. 3.42 agreed are not real great for towing but not horrible either. My previous truck had 3.42 gears and I towed and hauled a lot with that truck and never had any problems. I even drove with it from Alaska to Georgia (6300 miles) and it was still running strong before it was decommissioned without my permission (wrecked).

chevy529 · May 12, 2015

00silverado4x4

Then I stand corrected.

My experience was very different.

00Silverado4x4 · May 14, 2015

00silverado4x4

Then I stand corrected.

My experience was very different.

No not really I've read just as many bad stories as good. I just feel I got a lucky one. Plus in this case I'm comparing my apple to OP's orange.

rkfski,

Make any decisions?

rkf63k10 · May 15, 2015

No not really I've read just as many bad stories as good. I just feel I got a lucky one. Plus in this case I'm comparing my apple to OP's orange.

rkfski,

Make any decisions?

Yeah, I think I'm going to order 3:73's. I've got a lot going on right now. Trying to get ready to move to a new town (San Angelo, Tx) in the next couple of weeks so I'm going to try to get this done. I'm doing this myself so I've got to have a good weekend to do it! I'm down to one vehicle as my wife is working in said town right now and I'm being a single Dad right now until the end of the school year.