Chevy 4.8 with 3.42 Towing

[asylum575]

I stick with GM because of the discount I get with the GM card. I have over $3000 built up so it makes the GM products affordable. Right now if I could find a 2007 Silverado Classic(old body style) equipped the way I want it I would get $5-6000 in rebates, dealer negotiating of $3-4000 and up to $3500 in GM dollars. That's up to $13500 off MSRP. A reasonably equipped Crew cab goes for $35000 and an extended for $32000. So a reasonable equipped ext. cab 4x4 can be fetched for under $20000. Not bad

 

[zzvyb6]

The current joke in the industry, based on their ads, is that people think the Toyota hauls so much. Actually, thats a combination load, and since the truck is so much heavier that the Fords or Chevys, it can't actually haul that much. The ads brag about stopping 10k lbs, but the dang truck itself is 3/5ths of that amount. Its not hauling a trailer that weighs 10k lbs. If you have not seen the stories about Toyota's TRD race teams having to use Chevys or Fords to haul their triple axle test team transports, better check it out. (Not the semi trucks shown near pit road, these are the trailers used to haul the race cars and equipment to and from the tracks on other than Race Day deals). Its because the Tundra's gross combination load capacity is used up by the truck itself. This was a Toyota hurry-up design supposed to "outdo" GM, Ford, and Chrysler. It worked on your girlfriend, not on the actual market.

 

[crbr]

A reasonably equipped Crew cab goes for $35000

Gassers, yes. Add a bit for a diesel burner.

With the 3:42:1 you'll miss towing performance on an uphill grade. Otherwise, the 3.42:1 will suffice, but if I were swapping gears or trading vehicles, I'd do a 3.73:1 and be done with it. I've had them all for my opinion of testimony. You just can't beat the 3.73 for overall delivery of performance.

 

[tony123]

I've got an 03 4.8L with 3.42's. I live in a hilly area, and tow a 3,000 pound bout regularly. I'm disappointed in the performance. Didn't know much about gearing, as this was my first truck.

It's plenty good for the flat stuff, but hills give it fits.

 

[wushaw]

The current joke in the industry, based on their ads, is that people think the Toyota hauls so much. Actually, thats a combination load, and since the truck is so much heavier that the Fords or Chevys, it can't actually haul that much. The ads brag about stopping 10k lbs, but the dang truck itself is 3/5ths of that amount. Its not hauling a trailer that weighs 10k lbs. If you have not seen the stories about Toyota's TRD race teams having to use Chevys or Fords to haul their triple axle test team transports, better check it out. (Not the semi trucks shown near pit road, these are the trailers used to haul the race cars and equipment to and from the tracks on other than Race Day deals). Its because the Tundra's gross combination load capacity is used up by the truck itself. This was a Toyota hurry-up design supposed to "outdo" GM, Ford, and Chrysler. It worked on your girlfriend, not on the actual market.

Curb weight is 5220.
GVWR is 6900lbs and the towing capacity is 8600/10,600.
GCWR is not listed online.

Toyota doesn't have a one ton dually. They have to use something to pull a big trailer.

I don't think there is a half ton built to haul a tripple axle trailer.

On the weight of the truck, my old 81 Chevy half ton long bed weighed 4900lbs, I don't think it's too much to ask for a 300lb increase for a double cab and a much beefier frame.

She still has her 06 4.6L F150 that is limited in hp and the brakes feel like a plum when you mash on them.
So far she is happy with her purchase, she doesn't pull anything with it but I will pull my Jeep from time to time and a 16ft 7k utility trailer.
I know the Tundra has alot more pep and the brakes are much better.

It wasn't the ads that got her it was the spec sheet that I showed her.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Its not a GM but I have a 2007 F-150 Supercrew 4x4 with the 5.4L and 3.73 gears. It gets a honest 15.5 mpg in town and 18-20 mpg on the highway. I did a 800 mile trip towing my 7,000# boat and got 11 mpg at 75. It has a 5 speed auto and runs in 4th gear most the time while towing.

There is a reason the 4.8 has good deals. They are not very desirable and lack on grunt. It would be ok for a 2 wheel drive work truck or light delivery truck but stay away from it for towing.

 

[asylum575]

I agree the 4.8/3.42 setup is a little weak. Not made for towing anything more than a single axle landscape trailer. The 5.3/3.73 setup is a better tow vehicle and you don't give up MPG. Problem is I searched GMC and Chevy's site for crew and extended cab trucks with the towing package which included the transmission cooler. The vast majority of the inventory is 4.8/3.42. I first searched 2007 classics, then 2007 new body and then tried the 2008. I guess GM believes the majority of truck buyers don't tow. It's surprising how many don't come with a hitch.

 

[jwstewar]

I agree the 4.8/3.42 setup is a little weak. Not made for towing anything more than a single axle landscape trailer. The 5.3/3.73 setup is a better tow vehicle and you don't give up MPG. Problem is I searched GMC and Chevy's site for crew and extended cab trucks with the towing package which included the transmission cooler. The vast majority of the inventory is 4.8/3.42. I first searched 2007 classics, then 2007 new body and then tried the 2008. I guess GM believes the majority of truck buyers don't tow. It's surprising how many don't come with a hitch.

I think it is the other way around, these are just what hasn't sold because they aren't as good as the 5.3/3.73 combo.

It also depends on where you are searching dealerships. If I search in Columbus (where I work), a lot of the trucks are equipped this way, go to Chillicothe (Southern Ohio where I live) you will find them equipped more for towing.

 

[asylum575]

Good point about these being the trucks that haven't sold. When you look at the EPA ratings, the 5.3/3.73 gives 15/19 and the 4.8/3.42 gives 14/18. This would also make the 5.3 more appealing to the general public.
The 4.8 comes with a 4.10:1 as a $100 option. I haven't found one yet. Point I was making is the 4.8/3.42 is such an undesireable setup.

 

[hemiguy]

I also don't have a Chevy. You can probably guess what I drive (hint from my username). I have about 50K miles on my Dodge which has 3:55 gears and the 5.7 Hemi. It moves the truck by itself very nicely, but towing is another story in my opinion. For towing, you really need the right combo of engine torque, transmission performance, and the rear gears. I'm in hilly upstate NY and my JD2520 TLB/16 foot trailer and "stuff" weighs in at around 6.5k. My truck is rated to tow 7.5k but really bogs down on most hills often going down into 2nd gear (its a 5 speed auto).

I bought the truck before I had the tractor and trailer and if I could have a redo I would have gone for a 3:92 limited slip (also better in winter) or paid big bucks for diesel torque. Mileage??? Don't ask (OK, 11-13 not towing and 9-10 towing). I believe excessive down-shifting due to wrong rear gears (I got that) really kills the mileage.

My point here is if you need to tow, get a truck thats made for towing. I think a 4.8/3:42 is going to be a REAL dog, even towing only 4.5k. I agree with others that those trucks are available because nobody wants them. Around here those trucks are only used for for stuff like fetching auto parts, utility meter-readers or other "gopher" like commercial applications. By the way, my twin axle, wood deck, 7.5k trailer with dual brakes weighs 2000lb empty.

Good luck in your truck search.