Truck purchase help

[Diamondpilot]

My truck is a 2002 GMC regular cab 1500 4x4 5.3 liter, 3.73 rear end and it is rated to tow at least 8000lbs, I can't remember the exact numbers. I paid around $9000 for mine. A extened cab would be more money.

According to my book if its a long bed the tow rating is 8,000# and if its a short bed its 8,100#

Chris

 

[One Acre Farm]

Where is the best place to go to get some side by side comparisons? Also, do I dare ask someone to explain the technical rear end ratio that seems to play the biggest role in all of this?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Tough to find a side by side comparison that is not biased. I currently have a Nissan Titan. Its a pulling beast and the best gas truck I have owned but would not recommend it for you because you want good gas mileage. In the last 10 years I have owned Ford, Dodge, and GM also. Everything said and done in my opinion its tough to bet the F-150 for towing, ride, comfort, looks, toughness, ect. It may not be the best at this but may be the best at that. Its all a compromise.

As for the gear ratios there are mainly 3 common ones. 3.55, 3.73, and 4.10 In a nut shell the 3.55 gear will give you the best mpg all things being equal. The 4.10 will give you better power.

The way it works is on a 3.55 gear it takes 3.55 turns of the drive shaft to rotate the wheels one full revolution. On the other hand a 4.10 gear will take 4.10 turns of the drive shaft to do the same.

Think back to riding a 10 speed bike. When you had a low gear that took say 5 revolutions of the pedals to get 1 full revolution of the rear wheel it was easy to get going but you could not get a good top speed. When you sifted to a gear that maybe took 1 revolution of the the pedals to turn the rear wheel 1 full revolution you could go fast but struggled getting going and up hills.



Chris

 

[One Acre Farm]

Excellent explanation, thanks.

 

[slowzuki]

4.10 doesn't give any more power, just is lower gearing so you have more torque available at the tires starting, and in top gear your engine rev's higher so you don't have to downshift.

 

[One Acre Farm]

4.10 doesn't give any more power, just is lower gearing so you have more torque available at the tires starting, and in top gear your engine rev's higher so you don't have to downshift.

Wait, so in the bike example, 4.10 gearing is the same as when you are in an easy gear on a bike, easy to start, yet hard to go fast in. Is that correct or opposite?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Wait, so in the bike example, 4.10 gearing is the same as when you are in an easy gear on a bike, easy to start, yet hard to go fast in. Is that correct or opposite?

That is correct. I used the wrong phrase stating it "gives more power".

You are correct in your thinking. Sorry for the confusion.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

Going back to the 10 speed bike, use the front set of gears as the example, the ones on the pedals. The smaller gear at the front would be the 4.10 ratio, you have more pulling power but you have to turn the pedals faster. The bigger gear would be like 3.55 gears, you pedal slower, but don't have as much power to go up hills. With pickups, you can't change the rear gears, so you have one or the other, not both.

BTW D.P. your showing your age, they don't make 10 speed bikes anymore, they are all 21 speeds.

 

[om21braz]

Not sure about the others, but that 4.10 ratio is tough to find used around here in a 1/2 ton GM truck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Going back to the 10 speed bike, use the front set of gears as the example, the ones on the pedals. The smaller gear at the front would be the 4.10 ratio, you have more pulling power but you have to turn the pedals faster. The bigger gear would be like 3.55 gears, you pedal slower, but don't have as much power to go up hills. With pickups, you can't change the rear gears, so you have one or the other, not both.

BTW D.P. your showing your age, they don't make 10 speed bikes anymore, they are all 21 speeds.

Tell me about it. My back has hurt for a week. Guess I am getting old.

Chris