Why so many 3.42 haters?

SteveSierra · February 1, 2005

I look at other sites and see a bit of bashing on 3.42's. My question is why?

3.42's can tow 7300 lbs

3.73's can tow 7800 lbs

4.10's can tow 8300 lbs

If you take a 3.73 geared truck and change the tire size to 285's(from 265),

the effective ratio is now 3.46?

Why the haters? Why are people saying 3.42's are crap? Is it a mental thing?

If it isn't a 3.73 or 4.10 than it blows?

I will say, I am definately digging my gas mileage. My first tank I averaged 18 mpg with around town driving. And this is with winter blend gas.

When I had 4.10's on my 01 Z71, I never saw anything better than 13 around town.

Anyone with experience between the different gears know why the 3.42's are so

hated?

They worked great in my 01 Camaro SS

BTW - I will never have a need to tow more than 5-6000 lbs.

Yikes, I forgot about the Bash/Rant forum. Mods, please feel free to move my post there as I believe I have erred.

99-2door · February 1, 2005

AS for the Camaro SS:

3.42 is a pretty deep set of gears for a car. The car has smaller diamter tires and weighs a lot less.

I love the 3.42s in a 2wd truck, but in a 4x4 I don't really care for them that much. The tires are too tall and the trucks are heavier.

It really just depends on your driving habits and how you use the truck.

asilverblazer · February 1, 2005

Too hard to get a heavy load moving at low speeds. (with 3.73's even)

SteveSierra · February 1, 2005

Okay. I can see where you guys are coming from.

Unloaded, even with the tm that it has, this thing still takes off fine.

Feels stronger than my 01 Z71. Not like the 300C, but then, it's not a car.

Fair enough.

ozman2005 · February 1, 2005

I was very disappointed to see that GM stole our beloved 3.73's from the gear selection for 2005. I've got a 4x4 Suburban and the 3.73's are perfect for the all-around use I bought my Suburban for. Gets decent mileage on the highway (as good as something that heavy can get), pulls my toy hauler extremely well, and still has enough grunt to have some fun off the line every now and then. My old 2001 Tahoe 2wd had 3.42's and they were ok, but my Suburban with 3.73's is much better for the type of driving and towing I do. I would have never even considered getting a Suburban with 3.42's, which GM stuck us with purely for fuel economy. When I get ready for a new vehicle in a year or so, if GM doesn't go back to offering 3.73's in their light duty line-up, I'll be heading for the blue oval.

Ozzie

Truckman031 · February 1, 2005

3.42s are good for a 2WD that doesn't tow alot. However, they do limit the towing and tire size. I think the 3.73s are a very good gear for all around driving. Then, the 4.10s are ideal for someone who tows most of the time or pulls heavy loads.

Ozman, why don't you want 4.10s?

ozman2005 · February 1, 2005

Ozman, why don't you want 4.10s?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, because I don't want to get any worse gas mileage than I do now. That's why I think the 3.73's are a perfect balance. They have enought grunt to pull a decent size load, but still get reasonable mileage doing about 75-80 on the highway. In my situation, 3.42's aren't enough (ESPECIALLY for a Suburban) and 4.10's are too much (unless you tow all the time). I use my Suburban as a daily driver around town, and then as a toy and people hauler on weekends. I wish GM would figure out that if it ain't broke, DON'T fix it.

Ozzie

kevenn · February 1, 2005

I currently have a 2005 Sierra Crew Cab Z71 with the 3.42 gears. Previously I had a 2000 Reg Cab Z71 and a 2002 Ext cab Z71 all with 3.73 gears, and I can tell you that I have just as much pep at low speeds towing or not and that is with a heavier truck Part of that has to do with the redesign of the 5.3 votec, they went from 285 HP to 295 HP and a little more torque, but overall I don't see a difference at all. Also if you have a 1/2 ton truck, weather it's 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 gears the GVMR is still 14,000 lbs. I think GM knew what they were doing when they changed the gears, because the only time you'll notice it is if you're hauling over 7,000 lbs., and if that's the case you should own a 3/4 ton.

Ric · February 1, 2005

quoted improperly, sorry

Ric · February 1, 2005

I look at other sites and see a bit of bashing on 3.42's. My question is why?
3.42's can tow 7300 lbs

3.73's can tow 7800 lbs

4.10's can tow 8300 lbs

If you take a 3.73 geared truck and change the tire size to 285's(from 265),

the effective ratio is now 3.46?

Why the haters? Why are people saying 3.42's are crap? Is it a mental thing?

If it isn't a 3.73 or 4.10 than it blows?

I will say, I am definately digging my gas mileage. My first tank I averaged 18 mpg with around town driving. And this is with winter blend gas.

When I had 4.10's on my 01 Z71, I never saw anything better than 13 around town.

Anyone with experience between the different gears know why the 3.42's are so

hated?

They worked great in my 01 Camaro SS

BTW - I will never have a need to tow more than 5-6000 lbs.

Yikes, I forgot about the Bash/Rant forum. Mods, please feel free to move my post there as I believe I have erred.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've kinda been asking the same but I wasnt defending 3.42 ratio. I am still waiting to find someone who pulls 3 or 4k and is happy with the 5.3/3.42 combo

I searched far and wide to get the 6.0/3.73 combo again due to towing our boat, because that combo worked so well in my '02,1500hd4x4.

SteveSierra · February 1, 2005

I currently have a 2005 Sierra Crew Cab Z71 with the 3.42 gears. Previously I had a 2000 Reg Cab Z71 and a 2002 Ext cab Z71 all with 3.73 gears, and I can tell you that I have just as much pep at low speeds towing or not and that is with a heavier truck Part of that has to do with the redesign of the 5.3 votec, they went from 285 HP to 295 HP and a little more torque, but overall I don't see a difference at all. Also if you have a 1/2 ton truck, weather it's 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 gears the GVMR is still 14,000 lbs. I think GM knew what they were doing when they changed the gears, because the only time you'll notice it is if you're hauling over 7,000 lbs., and if that's the case you should own a 3/4 ton.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Finally! Someone who sees it from where I'm coming from! haha! I guess the reason why mine feels at least as strong as my 01 with 4.10's is because of the newer 5.3. I have the all aluminum 5.3 and this thing pulls great off the line, even with the allegedly inferior 3.42's. I will be towing a friend's boat this summer, so I guess that will be the real test. But in all actuallity, I use my truck 85-90 % of the time for non towing duties. Just people hauling or lumber and other stuff in the bed. I'm more of a hauler I guess.

Ric - A friend of mine has a 95 2 door 4x4 Tahoe with what he says are 3.42 gears. He tows his boat(19 footer) fine with it. I'd guess the weight of that boat/trailer is about 3000 lbs. And the 95's 350 had about 205 or so hp and about 315 tq.

Roostman · February 1, 2005

I hunted far and wide for my truck with the 6.0L/3.73 gear combo and am very happy with it. It has just enough off the line launching ability with great mileage on the highway at cruising speeds (which for me is about 70-80 ). I had 4.10s on my 96 3/4 ton ex. cab long bed, and that thing drank gas like a sailor on leave, but definately had better launching prowess. For a half ton 2wd truck, I think 3.42s would be fine, especially coupled to a close to 300hp motor. Most people that buy a truck in that config. arent hauling much more than groceries anyway...

SteveSierra · February 1, 2005

I hunted far and wide for my truck with the 6.0L/3.73 gear combo and am very happy with it. It has just enough off the line launching ability with great mileage on the highway at cruising speeds (which for me is about 70-80 ). I had 4.10s on my 96 3/4 ton ex. cab long bed, and that thing drank gas like a sailor on leave, but definately had better launching prowess. For a half ton 2wd truck, I think 3.42s would be fine, especially coupled to a close to 300hp motor. Most people that buy a truck in that config. arent hauling much more than groceries anyway...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is what cracks me up! A 3.73 geared truck can tow only 500 lbs more. That's it! Hauling groceries? Eh, nope, not here.

I guess many here don't remember the days of the 3.08 geared half tons huh.

I'm beginning to think if GM offered a 4.56 in these trucks, people would buy em just to say they have 4.56 gears, mileage be darned!

Ric · February 1, 2005

I hunted far and wide for my truck with the 6.0L/3.73 gear combo and am very happy with it. It has just enough off the line launching ability with great mileage on the highway at cruising speeds (which for me is about 70-80 ). I had 4.10s on my 96 3/4 ton ex. cab long bed, and that thing drank gas like a sailor on leave, but definately had better launching prowess. For a half ton 2wd truck, I think 3.42s would be fine, especially coupled to a close to 300hp motor. Most people that buy a truck in that config. arent hauling much more than groceries anyway...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is what cracks me up! A 3.73 geared truck can tow only 500 lbs more. That's it! Hauling groceries? Eh, nope, not here.

I guess many here don't remember the days of the 3.08 geared half tons huh.

I'm beginning to think if GM offered a 4.56 in these trucks, people would buy em just to say they have 4.56 gears, mileage be darned!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd bet you are right!

SteveSierra · February 1, 2005

I hunted far and wide for my truck with the 6.0L/3.73 gear combo and am very happy with it. It has just enough off the line launching ability with great mileage on the highway at cruising speeds (which for me is about 70-80 ). I had 4.10s on my 96 3/4 ton ex. cab long bed, and that thing drank gas like a sailor on leave, but definately had better launching prowess. For a half ton 2wd truck, I think 3.42s would be fine, especially coupled to a close to 300hp motor. Most people that buy a truck in that config. arent hauling much more than groceries anyway...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is what cracks me up! A 3.73 geared truck can tow only 500 lbs more. That's it! Hauling groceries? Eh, nope, not here.

I guess many here don't remember the days of the 3.08 geared half tons huh.

I'm beginning to think if GM offered a 4.56 in these trucks, people would buy em just to say they have 4.56 gears, mileage be darned!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd bet you are right!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know what man,

after re-reading this thread that really I posted just to find out why someone would say one set of gears are so superior over another, I've realized I've accomplished nothing but start a flame war thread. I am dumb for ever starting it and now wish I hadn't.

People choose the 3.42's or 3.73's or 4.10's for similar reasons that people choose a Ford or a Chevy or a 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 8.1 or 6.6. Everyone is different and has different needs.

I haul about 1000 to 1500 lbs in the bed and that's what I mainly use a truck for.

Hauling capacities are the same for 3.42 - 4.10's, so gearing makes no difference to me. Some people need a gear that can tow more than 7300 lbs. That's all.

Sorry to everyone for coming across like a major A-hole.

This is my last stupid thread here, really.

Okay, that's all, drama is over.