How will a 5.3 with a 3.08 fair?

fedmogul89 · June 1, 2016

My 2015 Ram had a 3.42 and had absolutely no issues at all. When I tow, i usually tow a 6 foot flat-bottom boat, welding trailer, or an 8 foot trailer with a zero-turn, push mower, and a couple weedeaters. I'm wondering how the 3.08 will compare with towing these things versus the 3.42

Beer Belly · June 1, 2016

I cannot answer by experience, but my understanding is that it's not the best set up, so when I bought my Sierra, turned down a truck with the 3:08, and went for the 3:42. I'm only towing about 4k, and have no issues with giddy up.

fedmogul89 · June 1, 2016

Well, i know it can haul 840 pounds just fine lmao

diyer2 · June 1, 2016

I would go with the 3.42.

fataslp · June 2, 2016

I have that setup and it tows my 5k boat and trailer from Indianapolis to Lake Cumberland no problem as fast as I want to go. Do i sometimes wonder what 3.42 or 3.73 feels like? Sure, but I don't yearn for it enough to do a gear swap.

treesovertexas · June 2, 2016

I have that setup and it tows my 5k boat and trailer from Indianapolis to Lake Cumberland no problem as fast as I want to go. Do i sometimes wonder what 3.42 or 3.73 feels like? Sure, but I don't yearn for it enough to do a gear swap.

I pulled daily with 5.3 and 3.73's. Up to 5k range with good brakes and (or) trailer brakes, she will do okay. 4.10's would be a great option here imo.

I currently tow 10k range daily with 3.73's on 6.0. About to go to 4.88's more then likely.

KMGZ400 · June 2, 2016

It's not gonna be too enjoyable. But it will get the job done. I've towed 5k with my dads 5.3/3.08 and it wasn't enjoyable but it got the job done. Wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis.

NoProblem · June 2, 2016

I towed close to 6000 lbs and from a stop, I hardly noticed that I was towing that much weight with my 5.3/3.08. You won't have any problem.

fedmogul89 · June 2, 2016

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Honestly i dont notice a gas mileage difference between this 5.3 3.08 and my 5.7 3.42. I was a little nervous at first in regards to the gear ratio. How much would it cost if were to install 3.42's on it? Or if I'm installing 3.42's, should i just go the rest of the way and install an even high gear ratio? What would be a good ratio for the 5.3?

ember1205 · June 3, 2016

You're going to be fine. The downside to your configuration is that you're going to eat through a little more fuel when you tow because of the gearing and the motor revving a bit higher and being in a lower gear. The detractor is you can't "tow heavy" with that setup, but the stuff you're talking about seems to all be under about 3k.

fedmogul89 · June 3, 2016

Ember1205: I really appreciate this feedback. Very reassuring! And I suppose you're right about that weight, even though I've never really tried to see how much weight it is, but i feel like it's close to what you say. I think I'll just stay with the 3.08! What type of trailer or haul do you think will be too much?

ember1205 · June 3, 2016

If you're trying to pull something over 3k, you'll "feel it". 5k is going to make it feel like it's working pretty hard.

It's all a balancing act and getting what you really need. For the infrequent, lighter tow needs, the 3.08 is perfectly fine. If your typical tow is more like 4k-5k, then the 3.42 is a better choice unless you're pulling short distance, infrequent, and mostly flat ground.

I can pull 8k-9k with mine (3.42) but the truck is going to work harder than if I had the 3.73 rear end. I might pull that kind of weight every couple of years, so I don't care if my MPG is in the toilet when I do it because I make it up with better MPG for my daily driving.

Test Alpha · June 5, 2016

We pull a 26' 5,900 pound travel trailer with my wife's CC 5.3 w/3.08 gears. I hit the tow haul button, put it in M5 and off we go. Pulls just fine, you'll feel it going up some hills but it's not the terrible experience some have made it out to be, the 6 speed really helps! Some folks in here are to young to remember the underpowered pickup trucks we pulled trailers with in the 1970's. BTW, I'm under all published weights, GCVW, RAWR, etc.

treesovertexas · June 5, 2016

If you're trying to pull something over 3k, you'll "feel it". 5k is going to make it feel like it's working pretty hard.

It's all a balancing act and getting what you really need. For the infrequent, lighter tow needs, the 3.08 is perfectly fine. If your typical tow is more like 4k-5k, then the 3.42 is a better choice unless you're pulling short distance, infrequent, and mostly flat ground.

I can pull 8k-9k with mine (3.42) but the truck is going to work harder than if I had the 3.73 rear end. I might pull that kind of weight every couple of years, so I don't care if my MPG is in the toilet when I do it because I make it up with better MPG for my daily driving.

I'm with this guy. ^^^

I don't understand some of the comments on this thread. Especially, comments like "NoProblem." How do you tow 6,000 pounds with a 5.3 and 3.08's and "hardy notice" it? Reason I ask, I towed a "true" 6,000 pounds, 6,200 to be exact, for five years straight on a every day basis (6-days a week) with 3.08's. And believe me, I felt it back there until upgrading gears.

My honest opinion, 3.08's shouldn't be put in a TRUCK. Especially one, that is sold with a towing hitch on the back. 3.08's just aren't built for towing, nor do they work for towing. If your towing mild weight (2-4k) on a every now and then basis, get 3.73's. If your towing heavy daily with the 5.3 in the 5-7k range, get 4.10's. And don't look back. Fuel mileage? I'm assuming I read this right. But are any of us really, seriously concerned with fuel mileage and driving a truck?

Stepping out of my own shoes from being a daily tow person, let's say I wasn't towing. If I still anticipate to use my truck as a truck, I would ditch the 3.08's in a heart beat, even if that meant giving up one or two miles a gallon. Wifey wants to go pick up a few yards of garden soil? I'll sleep better knowing when I need to use my truck, it will be ready to work. Otherwise, I'd be driving the Prius.

To take things a little further, let's emphasize that you need to tow 6,000 pounds as an example, for no stated reason tomorrow. Will your 3.08's get the material from point a to point b? I'd bet so. But will it get it there without putting strain on your expensive engine and entire drive-train, transmission included? No. But again, you drive a truck, you should be able to pick up some yards of garden soil for wifey with your truck without having to put strain on the drive-train.

Does anyone see my point? What's the point of having a truck if you can't use it for such purposes without worrying about what kind of strain or wear and tear your putting on the truck?

Only makes sense.

3.73's for daily / mild towing. 4.10's for heavy towing.

fedmogul89 · June 5, 2016

So how much would it cost if I had a dealership install a 3.42 or 3.73? I dont tow/haul anything besides what I stated, but i completely understand what you mean. Hell, I'm averaging 18.4-18.8 mgs now anyways.