Chevy 4.8 with 3.42 Towing

RollingsFarms · Oct 18, 2007

hemiguy said:
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.

i had no idea Dodge even offered two different rear end choices with the Hemi. my friend has an '03 Hemi 4x4 reg cab and i'm guessing he has the 3.92's. i say that because i remember him pulling something close to your weight and not complaining about the performance on hills. what year is your Ram? i wonder why Dodge doesn't offer 4:10's or 3:73's. this might sound really dumb, but are those specifically for GM trucks and suv's? Ford runs something else in their trucks that's why i asked if every manufacturer had their own gear ratio's.

hemiguy · Oct 19, 2007

Mine is an '04 1/2 ton and if memory serves me well choices were only 3:55 and 3:92. I believe there was also a 3:21 available on V6, manual trans econo work trucks. 4:10's were available on the 3/4 and 1 tons. I also remember the 3/4t "Power Wagon" version had 4:56's available that year for extreme offroad use. Hate to think of the highway mileage that would get. I believe 3:92's would make a big difference but the wife's car needs replacement before I get a new truck. I'm wondering if Dodge is still working on a diesel for the 1/2 tons.

asylum575 · Oct 19, 2007

Thanks Hemi guy,
I will try to find a 5.3 with the 3.73 gears. It's probably the best all around setup chevy makes. I'm trying to stay away from the 6.0, I have one now and seem the be at the gas station a little too frequently.

Diamondpilot · Oct 19, 2007

RollingsFarms said:
i had no idea Dodge even offered two different rear end choices with the Hemi. my friend has an '03 Hemi 4x4 reg cab and i'm guessing he has the 3.92's. i say that because i remember him pulling something close to your weight and not complaining about the performance on hills. what year is your Ram? i wonder why Dodge doesn't offer 4:10's or 3:73's. this might sound really dumb, but are those specifically for GM trucks and suv's? Ford runs something else in their trucks that's why i asked if every manufacturer had their own gear ratio's.

I have owned many Ford Trucks and currently have 3 diesels F-250/F350 and a F-150, all 4 wheel drive, and they all came with the option of 3.73 or 4.10 gears and the F-150 also had the option of 3.55 gears. You can get any in limited slip which I have on all my trucks with 3.73's.

Chris

Reg · Oct 19, 2007

I think fuel economy is much like "safety", in that it is much more dependent on HOW you drive than WHAT you drive. One of the BETTER things about diesels is that you soon learn that there is little/no point in stomping on the go pedal, so you might just as well take your time and let it pull like a truck.

Tow/haul mode to save the trannie.

swines · Oct 19, 2007

I have a 2007 F350 Crewcab, dually, diesel with the Tow Boss package (4.30 differential) - it gets 13.3 at 70 mph towing my JD3320 FEL / box scraper package - oh, and I barely know it's back there. Unfortunately, I rarely get over about 16 mpg at highway speeds with no load unless I keep it under 65.

Frankly, I'd be looking at the GM (Chevy or GMC) with the 6.0 liter engine - and I've driven mostly Fords for the past 30 years. The 2008 GM models have launch assist (variable valve timing for greater torque), and active fuel management (4/8 cylinders). With the trailering package you automatically get larger brakes, larger rear axle, sway bar, tow/haul mode on the transmission, and locking differential.

Or, you may want to wait for the 2008 Fords to see if they really come out with a diesel in the F150.

I've looked at the Tundras - crawled under them, tested one - they make me laugh every time I see one. FWIW - Consumer's Report has just put the Tundra and Camry on the "not recommended" list because of all the quality problems Toyota's been having with those two vehicles.

gemini5362 · Oct 19, 2007

have you considered getting a diesel. They are a bit pricey but you wont have to worry about what you are towing then. I have a duramax and I really like that. I had a 2005 that I traded in for a 2006 so that I could get a allyson 6 speed. I have seen a lot of people talk about what they get in the way of fuel mileage. Some of them I wish would publish how they get it. I would love to see how they do it because I can not. I get around 17 mpg on the freeway that is because I look at speed limit signs some times as a suggestion of speed. I usually drive around 80 to 85 and get 17 with my truck unloaded no trailer. On a trip one time with police officers everywhere I had to drive the 70 mph speed limit and I was seeing between 20 and 21. Duramax diesels get the best fuel mileage at 1800 rpm and that is 70 on my truck. If i put my sons jeep on a trailer and haul it back to my place when it breaks down I get around 15 or so. With my 6000 pound tractor I drop down to around 14. I live in a mountainous area so the above mpg rates are for driving in the ozark mountains.

asylum575 · Oct 19, 2007

Since I started the post, let me fine tune the issue. Currently have a 2WD 2006 Silverado crew with 6.0 and 4.10 gears, a capable tow machine. Looking to go back to 4WD and better fuel economy, this truck is giving 10-12 MPG. The 5.3 with 3.73 seems to be the perfect truck for my tasks. Here are my requirements.
1. Four wheel drive, Just because
2. Crew or extended, every so often the Mrs and two little guys come along
3. The ability to tow a 7000GVWR trailer. This was the catch the 4.8/3.42 is rated to tow 5500lbs. My maximum tow would probably be my tractor with implements 3000lbs plus trailer weight should total 4500-5000lbs.
4. Better fuel economy.

I know it's tough to mix tow capabilities and fuel economy in the same list. My primary use of the vehicle will not be towing, so fuel economy is important, Just need the ability to tow every so often.
I'm currently looking at dealers leftover inventory of 2007s. Can't believe how many 4.8/3.42 are out there. Very few 5.3s and the 2500/3500 series come with 6.0 or deisel.

Z-Michigan · Oct 19, 2007

Chevy rates their 5.3L engine for better gas mileage than the 4.8L, believe it or not, and that would get your tow rating up to around 7500 with 3.73 gears. With the V4/V8 feature the gas mileage is pretty good.