3:73 Or 4:10 Gears?

Big Whiskey · April 18, 2008

As some of you already know, I'm looking into trading my 06 Z71 for an 08 Z71. I'm looking for a graystone ext. cab with the 5.3 engine. The dealer can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for, so I may have to order one from the factory and just wait it out. Since the price is the same, would it be better to order the 3:73 or 4:10 gears?

I plan to level it and put 285 tires on it. My driving is about 50/50 city & highway and it will be my only vehicle/daily driver. I never tow anything heaver than a pop-up camper. Gas mileage is a factor. My leveled 06 with 285's and 3:42 gears lacks power and gets 13-14 mpg

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

firecombs · April 18, 2008

As some of you already know, I'm looking into trading my 06 Z71 for an 08 Z71. I'm looking for a graystone ext. cab with the 5.3 engine. The dealer can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for, so I may have to order one from the factory and just wait it out. Since the price is the same, would it be better to order the 3:73 or 4:10 gears?

I plan to level it and put 285 tires on it. My driving is about 50/50 city & highway and it will be my only vehicle/daily driver. I never tow anything heaver than a pop-up camper. Gas mileage is a factor. My leveled 06 with 285's and 3:42 gears lacks power and gets 13-14 mpg

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

music · April 18, 2008

As some of you already know, I'm looking into trading my 06 Z71 for an 08 Z71. I'm looking for a graystone ext. cab with the 5.3 engine. The dealer can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for, so I may have to order one from the factory and just wait it out. Since the price is the same, would it be better to order the 3:73 or 4:10 gears?

I plan to level it and put 285 tires on it. My driving is about 50/50 city & highway and it will be my only vehicle/daily driver. I never tow anything heaver than a pop-up camper. Gas mileage is a factor. My leveled 06 with 285's and 3:42 gears lacks power and gets 13-14 mpg

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Well... the 3.73 is a "good" match for the 265/70-R17 tires, so I'd imagine that the 4.1 would provide about the same response with 285s on a 17" wheel. Look up tire dia for both, ratio the numbers and multiply by 3.73 to see where it's at. Personally, I wouldn't mate a 3.42 to 265/70, since the 3.73 just "feels" right with the 4-speed.

desrtrat · April 18, 2008

me, i would go with the 4.10 you will turn a little more rpm's but with the larger tires should be fine. also if you ever decide to use it as a truck, you'll have the extra gearing when needed...

good luck

snarkee · April 18, 2008

I ordered my 08 5.3 with 4.10's with the intention of getting 285/70/17 tires.....since my order got cancelled, i took an in stock truck with 3.73's.....with the 285 tires and pulling my pop up trailer its fine, but with the larger tires i would go with the 4.10's

thecraft · April 18, 2008

4.10 FTW

redvett · April 18, 2008

Ditch the oversize tires and go back to the oem and your performance will return along with fuel economy. If you insist on larger tires get the 3:73 and get the speedo corrected. Corrects the speedo & ABS,SDM, & engine performance & economy.

m10jb · April 19, 2008

Go with the 4.10s, you will not be disappointed. I have the 4.10s in my vmaxx and my buddy has the 3.73s in his vmaxx, both have 20" tires, and the gas mileage is almost identical. My last tank was 16mpg with an average speed of 37mph.

hodo78 · April 19, 2008

3.73 IMO

I have the 5.3 w/ 3.73 and factory 20in wheels. I can average 18-19 MPG on a highway trip with cruise on 70 mph. This of course is as long as the truck doesnt have to down shift for hills or wind. The longer the trip the better my average of course.

VMax2007 · April 19, 2008

I have the 3.73's in my max and they're ok, no complaints. With that said, if I were to do it again, I would go with 4.10's.

slimjim2525 · April 19, 2008

I have never heard of anyone with 4:10's wish they had 3:73's, but have heard it the other way around plenty of times.

Big Whiskey · April 19, 2008

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to have to see if my dealer can find a 4:10 truck. When I tell people around here I'm thinking of getting 4:10's they look at me like I've bumped my head. In central IL, 3:73 trucks outnumber 4:10 trucks 100 to 1. We will see what I can find. Any other input will help a lot. I figure either combo will be better than I have now

Rob M · April 19, 2008

If you do a fair amount of city driving, the 4:10's will get similiar or possibly better milage. Less work for the engine to get the truck moving.

If planning on the 285's, the 4:10's will give you similar acceleration to the 3:73's with the 265's. You can't lose!

MountaineerTom · April 19, 2008

me, i would go with the 4.10 you will turn a little more rpm's but with the larger tires should be fine. also if you ever decide to use it as a truck, you'll have the extra gearing when needed...

good luck

I agree. I have 3:73's and have had 285/75's and now 305/70's and wish I had 4:10's. The 3:73's do ok for what I tow/haul, but the 4:10's would be better.