Silvertip
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
- Messages
- 28,770
Re: which axle ratio to pick for new Chevy silverado?
Tic -- I assume you are going for a 4WD truck since you are towing snowmobiles so there will be some winter driving involved. If you go to Chevy's web site and look at the towing charts, there are only a couple of models in the 1500/6L 2WD category that are rated to tow over 8000# with a 3.73 gear (and you can actually go to 10,000 on some models). Once you are into 4WD, anything over 8000# indicates 4.10 is "required" and the rating goes to about 10,000#. 8000# is at the upper limit of trailer weight for a 3.73 gear which is what I've been trying to get across. You have a choice here -- lug the engine more and "hope" you can save a few bucks on gas or cruise a little more effortlessly and quite possibly get equal or slightly better towing mileage with the 4.10.
Tic -- I assume you are going for a 4WD truck since you are towing snowmobiles so there will be some winter driving involved. If you go to Chevy's web site and look at the towing charts, there are only a couple of models in the 1500/6L 2WD category that are rated to tow over 8000# with a 3.73 gear (and you can actually go to 10,000 on some models). Once you are into 4WD, anything over 8000# indicates 4.10 is "required" and the rating goes to about 10,000#. 8000# is at the upper limit of trailer weight for a 3.73 gear which is what I've been trying to get across. You have a choice here -- lug the engine more and "hope" you can save a few bucks on gas or cruise a little more effortlessly and quite possibly get equal or slightly better towing mileage with the 4.10.