3.42 vs. 3.73 GEAR RATIO ???

MRHURT · Jul 11, 2003

i have a chevy with 3.42 ratio and 5.7 motor and 4L60E transmission. Every weekend for 5 years straight i towed my race car and trailer 45 miles to the race track. the race car weighted 3200lbs and the trailer was 1500lbs. I have 110,000 plus on the truck and no real complaints. there are two large mountains between me and the track, my truck would run 70 mph, cruse and a/c on just fine. now it would slow to about 60 on the mountain top, but for the hill i was on, that was accepable to me.
Now if i had two trucks setting on a lot side by side, i would pick the 3.73 just for more umph. Would i change my truck, not a chance, not worth the time or money.
just my 2 cents /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chief · Jul 11, 2003

GEP, maybe my assumption or estimate as to what a 24' trailer weighs loaded is too high. I was guessing maybe around 7,000 to 8,0000 lbs. A race car and trailer, I would consider a light and reasonably managable load. I have enclosed a picture of what my rig looked like ready to roll and it was a hand full on hills. I would estimate the load weight to be around 8,500 to 9,000 lbs. maybe more when the gas tank is full. (has a 100 gal. gas tank, 32 gal. of water, 454 Big Block Chevy, plus all the goodies) I can tell you from experience if you plan to pull a load similar to mine; you will burn up the transmission sooner or later.

F350Lawman · Jul 11, 2003

Hey Chief that Sub most have been straining with that setup. Now wonder you got the diesel PU.

I had been using a Chevy conversion van to pull a couple of horses and the difference now is like night and day. I could never go back to the van. It didn't seem all that bad but now the difference is huge.

The kids do miss the vans TV, video games, bed and all the rest though. We never realy use it for trips anymore, because I like the truck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chief · Jul 11, 2003

Like you said before; great minds think alike! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It is sooooooooooooooooooo much nicer accelerating when I put the fast pedal down instead of listening to the engine scream and transmission go crazy hunting back and forth between gears and not going any faster. Only thing I here now is the sweet sound of the Holset turbocharger spooling up nice and smooth. And I still get between 15 - 18 mpg. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

F350Lawman · Jul 11, 2003

Yeah, I used to remember towing the horse trailer to a show down the Garden State Pkwy (NJ Shore area) and looking at the traffic and the temp. gauge...and the traffic...and the temp. gauge....

You get the picture /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Never overheated but it climbed and just the feeling in the back of your mind ruins the drive. Now it's AC on max and who cares if it's stop and go for 2 hours the gauge NEVER moves.

Nice not to have to worry about or baby your vehicle. I know it's iimmature, but it is also nice to pull out of the tolls with a nice sized travel trailer and STILL be in FRONT of that teenage idiot who's been tailgating in the "ricer with the oversized tailpipe"

They LOVE that /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Kelvin · Jul 11, 2003

GEP,

For what it's worth, I upgraded from Dodge Dakota #1 to Dodge Dakota #2 after I bought my first Kubota and had to trailer it 5 miles each way to my property.

Dakota #1 was a V-6 standard cab 4x4 with 3.55 axles.

Dakota #2 was a V-8 extended cab 4x4 with 3.90 axles.

Dakota #2 accelerates MUCH better, tows MUCH better, doesn't kick in and out of overdrive near as much, and much to my suprise, this heavier extended cab Dakota with bigger engine and supposedly less fuel effecient axle ratio actually got about 3mpg BETTER highway gas mileage and about 1 mpg better city mileage.

The V-8 Dakota was getting 20.5-21.5 highway mileage up until around 90,000 miles, now it is only getting around 17.5 mpg. I loved the higher mpg while it lasted.

So...I'd recommend the 3.73 given the choices that you have.

Kelvin