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Anyone else running 3.73 rear axle out there?

rav3
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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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Just curious if anyone else has the 3.73  (GT4) axle ratio on their 5.3L with 6 speed. My '17 Silverado double cab came with the Max Trailering/towing package, which included NHT - MAX TRAILERING PACKAGE: * 9.76 REAR AXLE * TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER * ENHANCED COOLING RADIATOR * REVISED SHOCK TUNING * HEAVIER DUTY REAR SPRINGS AND INCREASED RGAWR which has the 3.73 axle. If you are running this option, I was curious how it does in the snow? I bought this truck back in Feb. and driving it the last 9 months, that if I'm on gravel, dirt or grass, the rear wheels will spin very easily when I barely step on the gas. I  assume this is partially because of the low axle ration. So, if it spins the tires so easily now, I assume I may have an issue when it snows this winter and the roads are slick.

My last Silverado, a '96 K1500 Z71, also had the 3.73 axle but didn't have the G80 auto locking differential and I don't recall it spinning the tires that easily like the '17 does.

You guys doing anything special in the snow? 

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Salsa De Piña
Salsa De Piña

I've got good news and I've got bad news: The good news is you're going to learn something today. The bad news is that you owe me a coke.   When you put the transmission in M2 at a

CamGTP
CamGTP

If there is snow on the ground put it in auto 4 wheel drive. I never have problems moving away from stop signs or traffic lights.

truckguy82
truckguy82

Lol at this thread   I have the same trans as OP, I have 3.42 instead of 3.73, I have the 6.2, I also have a blackbear tune.   So off idle, I probably have atleast 100ft lbs of tq

dieselfan1 Senior Enthusiast

dieselfan1

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Posted (edited)

That's a nice setup.

It has traction control. You'll be fine. Don't over analyze it. 

Edited by dieselfan1
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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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4 minutes ago, dieselfan1 said:

That's a nice setup.

It has traction control. You'll be fine. Don't over analyze it. 

humm, didn't think about the traction control....thanks

garagerog Enthusiast

garagerog

Posted
Posted

rav3, that is a nice setup on your pickup. 2wd or 4wd (maybe those options only available on 4wd, IDK)? Anyway, if only 2wd, some substantial weight in the bed of your pickup over the rear axle will make a world of difference in snow and in any poor traction conditions. A lot of people use bags of sand readily available from your local big box hardware store. Many moons ago when I lived in the snow country of eastern Wa. state I had a C10 that couldn't get out of it's way at the first sign of a snowflake. The boneyard at my family farm provided roughly 500lbs. of roller sprocket chain off an old crawler tractor, secured to plywood in the bed and I was good to go, no more slip sliddin away.

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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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50 minutes ago, garagerog said:

rav3, that is a nice setup on your pickup. 2wd or 4wd (maybe those options only available on 4wd, IDK)? Anyway, if only 2wd, some substantial weight in the bed of your pickup over the rear axle will make a world of difference in snow and in any poor traction conditions. A lot of people use bags of sand readily available from your local big box hardware store. Many moons ago when I lived in the snow country of eastern Wa. state I had a C10 that couldn't get out of it's way at the first sign of a snowflake. The boneyard at my family farm provided roughly 500lbs. of roller sprocket chain off an old crawler tractor, secured to plywood in the bed and I was good to go, no more slip sliddin away.

Sorry......4WD

JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, rav3 said:

humm, didn't think about the traction control....thanks

Yea, mash the gas somewhere where it is somewhat safe and see what the "nannies" do.

The power of the engine is greatly reduced, that is how the "traction" is reduced, so no matter how much pedal you apply, you are only going to get so much wheel spin.

Most don't like this, because you can not power yourself out of certain things.

 

Give it a shot before you need it, so at least you know how the truck is going to react with it engaged.

Edited by JimCost2014
Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

Some good suggestions.   I'll add tires to the list.  The tendency for my past three pickups to spin the rear wheels was greatly reduced when the factory tires were replaced with Michelins. 

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aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Some good suggestions.   I'll add tires to the list.  The tendency for my past three pickups to spin the rear wheels was greatly reduced when the factory tires were replaced with Michelins. 

Don beat be to it. I was going to guess you're still on the original tires, which are not great in snow to begin with, and now probably nearing the end of their life.

 

Mine has 3.42 axles, so not quite as high as yours, but I am able to easily spin tires if I want to. I'm also easily able to drive in 2HI with snow on the road and keep it from breaking loose if I want to do that. I am a big fan of Cooper Discover AT3 4S

rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, aseibel said:

Don beat be to it. I was going to guess you're still on the original tires, which are not great in snow to begin with, and now probably nearing the end of their life.

 

Mine has 3.42 axles, so not quite as high as yours, but I am able to easily spin tires if I want to. I'm also easily able to drive in 2HI with snow on the road and keep it from breaking loose if I want to do that. I am a big fan of Cooper Discover AT3 4S

yep, still got the oem goodyears and the tread is half worn. I didn't want to spend $800 on a new set just yet.

Edited by rav3
JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, Salsa De Piña said:

Put the transmission in M2 when you come to a stop in slippery conditions to start out in 2nd gear.  Problem solved.

If you come to a complete stop the transmission will still start off in 1st gear (M1), it just won't shift past M2 till you shift up manually or put it into D.

Edited by JimCost2014
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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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Posted
1 hour ago, JimCost2014 said:

If you come to a complete stop the transmission will still start off in 1st gear (M1), it just won't shift past M2 till you shift up manually or put it into D.

Any way to actually start off in 2nd gear?

JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, rav3 said:

Any way to actually start off in 2nd gear?

I don't think so, could be wrong, with the way the transmissions are set up. D is controlled by the truck, M is you, but they all start at 1 and work their way to 6, 8, 10 depending on what you have.

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

If there is snow on the ground put it in auto 4 wheel drive. I never have problems moving away from stop signs or traffic lights.

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rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

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Just now, CamGTP said:

If there is snow on the ground put it in auto 4 wheel drive. I never have problems moving away from stop signs or traffic lights.

no problem there. I'll gave it in full time 4x4. Our problem in WNC is we do not have is we don't have any level roads. They're all on hills; steep hills, not so steep hills, stop light at the top or bottom of a steep road. Driving in Northern PA was easier that WNC. They add the foreigners that have moved in to this area that don't know how to drive in the snow, even if they're from NY or where ever. We just don't have flat roads. Even my drive is on a 10-15 deg incline to get out to the street. That's why I buy 4x4's. Let's just hope for no snow this year.

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