Fed up with 3.23

[ZZebes]

I just got back from towing a 20 ft box trailer for a friend of mine, I had it weighed and it was 3500lbs fully loaded, i could not hold speed AT ALL i would be in 3 with T/H on at 60 mph and drop to near 50 on the I-45 interchange. This is ridiculous.

 

I need some input from ya'll, I am looking for information on 3.73 and 3.42, Such as: Towing performance, RPM's at 70mph and at 80mph, Gas Mileage, Performance. any info will help, but i just want these god forsaken gears gone.

 

FYI: i am looking for info with the 5.3L

[mannymach1]

If you want to do some towing, I would put 4.10s. My 6.0 HD revs a little high (2800 at 80), but once you tow, its awsome. I'm sure the same applies to the 5.3.

[Nice rig]

The only RPM's I remember for mine is 65 mph @1950 RPM's...not towing of course. But with the towing in T/H mode I keep it in 3rd around 60 mph and there not bad at all, maybe 2200-2300ish. See signiture for motor and gears.

[5.3almnblk]

I put 1800 lbs on my bed once and it has the 5.3 with 4.10s i was doing 65 like it was nothing with the 4.10s just kept at 3 just for safety, but the truck was moving so good that i put it in d and even on the hills the truck would not go below 65 and it did not rev higher thought these hills were not steep but i guess with my aztek it would rev higher on the same hills unloaded and this truck was over the payload and it ran like a champ.

 

My mileage is 13 if i dont take it easy (keep going above 2000rpm i dont like gettin outaccelerated at lights) if i take it easy i reach 15 and highway is at 17-18mpg

[pm26]

3.73 gears would be a happy compromise for your truck. You will tow better and the mileage will be decent too when running empty.

 

Box trailers cause very significant drag because of the large frontal area. If you towed a low trailer of the same weight, your truck would perform a lot better.

 

I still do not understand why would GM use 3.23 gears on trucks equipped with the factory tow package. For people who do not tow, I can see getting taller gears for better mileage, but why put tow package on such trucks? IMHO, they should not use anything higher than 3.73 gears on a 2WD with the tow package, or 4.10 on a 4WD.

[crazymjb]

My 3.73 is hovering around 2K at 70 MPH.

 

Mike

[ZZebes]

5.3almnblk, Where did you get your 4.10's and what did you pay for install and parts. PM me when you get this

[drumset5994]

Ive got 3.08's in my truck. Start off is REALLY fast. I mean seriously...i was surprised how the 4.3L V6 with 3.08's take off. However, once it gets about 35-40, its zero balls. It has to struggle sometimes just normal driving. Towing is ok, considaring i dont do it alot.

 

This gas mileage deal really gets me...do you think ill get better gas mileage with 3.73's instead of 3.08's?

 

95% of the time, i'm unloaded. This truck is merely for the roomyness of my 6 foot 5 structure to go back and forth to school.

 

What do you guys think? I like how my 3.08's ride...My sister's 3.73's in her Jimmy ride like a dog.

 

I apologize for whoreing the post...you may ignore me if you wish...very sorry.

[Wingnut]

I towed well over 6000 lbs in my '02 1500 all the time, and never had a problem holding 65. It had 3:73's.

 

Of course, this is a flat-a**ed state too.

[RyanZ71]

It's all about fuel economy in this day and age, thats why they put the gears in the trucks the way they do. Ford, GM, Dodge. THey figure that most folks who get trucks are the rednecks who don't really use them for heavy duty stuff like towing so... THey can get away with it

[ZZebes]

I may be a redneck but i want decent gears

[SoCalChris]

Box trailers cause very significant drag because of the large frontal area.  If you towed a low trailer of the same weight, your truck would perform a lot better. 

 

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I towed a GMC Safari on a 2,00lb trailer (It was around 6,500lbs total). I had to tow about 75 miles, up over a 6,000' pass. The truck had no problems whatsoever holding 70mph, although I slowed down to around 50 for the last mile over the pass. I certainly wouldn't tow that much with my truck often, but it did do much better than I expected.

 

It's a 4.3L V6, work truck. 3.23 gears, and a 5 speed.

[ken1mod]

Gentlemen,

 

I think my 3.73s are barely adequate. I get decent mileage and good performance but I wish I had the 4.11s.

 

Ken

[Buggle_96]

Box trailers cause very significant drag because of the large frontal area.  If you towed a low trailer of the same weight, your truck would perform a lot better. 

 

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I towed a GMC Safari on a 2,00lb trailer (It was around 6,500lbs total). I had to tow about 75 miles, up over a 6,000' pass. The truck had no problems whatsoever holding 70mph, although I slowed down to around 50 for the last mile over the pass. I certainly wouldn't tow that much with my truck often, but it did do much better than I expected.

 

It's a 4.3L V6, work truck. 3.23 gears, and a 5 speed.

 

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With a 4.3L you towed 6000+ lbs???

[SoCalChris]

With a 4.3L you towed 6000+ lbs???

 

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Yep. Like I said, the truck did far, far better than I thought it would.