3.42 Gears Towing

ace ventura · November 26, 2007

I'm a newbie here and I just got a 2005 CC 4x4 Z71. I really like the truck but when I bought it I knew it had the 3.42 gears. I had been looking for awhile and all I could find was the 3.42 gears. My question is when towing lets say a hybrid camper about 4000 pounds dry will I need to regear to pull this set up? Also what can I expect to pay to regear a 4x4. Thanks. Hoping to become a regular here. I had an s10 CC and did a lot to it.

hubbycap · November 26, 2007

I'm a newbie here and I just got a 2005 CC 4x4 Z71. I really like the truck but when I bought it I knew it had the 3.42 gears. I had been looking for awhile and all I could find was the 3.42 gears. My question is when towing lets say a hybrid camper about 4000 pounds dry will I need to regear to pull this set up? Also what can I expect to pay to regear a 4x4. Thanks. Hoping to become a regular here. I had an s10 CC and did a lot to it.

Welcome. I'd take a run and see what you thought. Unless it was a frequent need or extreme grades I would imagine the 3.42 would be adequate. You would still have economy the rest of the time. Tons of threads on towing and gearing. Search the archives when you have a chance.

thecraft · November 26, 2007

Unless it was a frequent need or extreme grades I would imagine the 3.42 would be adequate.

+1

Triki_Dick · November 26, 2007

If you change it, don't you have to change the front too because it's 4x4??

slimjim2525 · November 26, 2007

If you change it, don't you have to change the front too because it's 4x4??

yes

Havasubum · November 26, 2007

I own the same truck except it's an '06 with 3.42 gears. I tow a tri toon 24' boat and I can tell you that the gearing is lousy. During the summer when air temps in Lake Havasu reach 110+ a 1965 VW beetle running on 2 cylinders would beat me up hill back into town. I am looking at re gearing to probably 4.10, and yes you do have to change both front and rear differentials. Good luck.

ace ventura · November 26, 2007

If I went with 285's I bet I would have to go to 4.10's. Right?

TEE · November 26, 2007

Put it in Tow/Haul and go.

Keep it out of OD with that weight.

C & A s Dad · November 26, 2007

As you have already read, there are hundreds of posts here on towing and gearing.

Let me begin by telling you I tow a 30' 6500lb camper with my Yuk XL which does have 4.10s.

You may squeek by with the 3.42s but you will certainly not win any races. You would need to pull in drive and not OD but you will still be far below the 5.3s sweet spot when running 55 MPH. The 5.3 likes to pull with the rpms running above 2200 and really is happy when turning around 2400 to 2500 Revs on up. Above Jerry spoke of towing his boat and having problems. Remember a boat may be the same weight but it cuts the air much better than a brick of a camper.

Bottom line, IMO you can do it but the truck will struggle if you are pulling in an area with any hills at all. Be sure to check to see if your truck has an aux trans cooler. If not, adding a good stacked plate designed cooler should be your first move.

cmoore74 · November 26, 2007

Almost the exact same situation and questions as a recent topic:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70514

My suggestions remain the same (try it before you drop the $ on new gears).

ZZ327 · November 26, 2007

you should be just fine, as long as you arent over what your pickup is rated to tow. Keep that tow/haul mode button on with it!

I think you have to re gear the front to match the rear end if you do that, But that might be for a Straight front axle only.

cmoore74 · November 26, 2007

You would need to pull in drive and not OD but you will still be far below the 5.3s sweet spot when running 55 MPH. The 5.3 likes to pull with the rpms running above 2200 and really is happy when turning around 2400 to 2500 Revs on up.

With the 3.42's towing in 3rd if you push the throttle it will drop into 2nd and you have loads of power there (maintain speed up a long steep hill). When it first drops into 2nd the engine roars, but then quiets down and settles right in and you can hold speed easily. In 2nd I'm at 4000 RPM at 65 MPH, but from what I've read these RPM's are not a problem for these motors. Still makes me uneasy and if I had to buy again I would go with 3.73's for the load I'm pulling (~4000 lbs) and probably 4.10's if the load was heavier and/or the truck was not my daily driver. 3.42 gears is my only regret with this truck.

ace ventura · November 26, 2007

Just so I'm clear when you guys say tow in drive not overdrive you mean 3rd correct? Also will my mileage blow when I have the tow haul button on and towing in 3rd?

Thanks!

ZZ327 · November 26, 2007

Just so I'm clear when you guys say tow in drive not overdrive you mean 3rd correct? Also will my mileage blow when I have the tow haul button on and towing in 3rd?

Thanks!

I might be wrong but I think D is drive and OverDrive on these pickups, putting the tow haul button ON keeps it from going into OD. Use those lower gears for going up hills.