Towing Problms

diesel04 · August 15, 2011

Hi I asked before on this forum about changing the gears in the rear end of my truck. was suggest to change to a 410 rear end. Question I have if I do not what will happen? I am pulling a travel trailer weighing about 7400 loaded and have a 07 Chevrolet 1/2 ton with 5.3, and a 4 speed trans and a 342 rear end. I found only one person to change it and he said if it was his he would not do it. I only use maybe once every 2 months and mostly on flat land.

tyhuck · August 15, 2011

You could go that way, but given the frequency towing and the fact that you arent towing in the mountains or anything, it may not be worth it. The only other question I have is how long of a trip are you making with the trailer?

That weight is getting on up there, but as long as you keep some commons sence practices when towing, you should be OK. Use your Tow/Haul, and keep your speed down to around 55mph and it will have no trouble.

The only reason to regear in your situation would be to make it easier on the trans by bot having to hunt a gear. I have the same setup in my 05, and if I keep it to 55, then she will rock along in OD with no problem. But if I try to maintain 70mph, then it will constantly jump back and forth from 3 to 4.

If you did want to regear, I wouldnt go with a 4.10 unless you tow all the time, or plan on running larger tires. Ide go with a 3.73 if you just tow occasionally. The swap will cost the same, but it will save you some gas over the 4.10 when unloaded, but still give you a little extra grunt when towing ot hauling.

But again, the difference you will notice may not be worth the cost of the swap.

APT · August 15, 2011

Going to a shorter gear tends to gain FE while towing and the city unloaded . Highway unloaded may go down, less than 10%.

$1500 for 4WD and $500-750 for 2WD.

3.42->3.72 is a waste of money.

3.42->4.10 is a good jump for the 5.3L. It likes to sing, so let it.

I would pull it with what you got first. Then you can determine how well YOU like the experience. Gotta establish a baseline, point of reference.

My current setup, I would like 4.10 axle and have 3.73 now. The engine likes 2800rpm better than 2400rpm, even if it means 10mph faster. But each engine/tire/gear/axle and load/TT is unique. 4.56 would be interesting for me, not sure I could hold 4th gear then. But now that I've tested 3 different vehicles/engines and 6-spd trans, I won't spend the money on current 4-spd truck.

ERIE_ONE · August 16, 2011

I towed pretty heavy with my 04 1/2 ton and would just use tow haul mode in 3rd gear. Never had any issues. Roughly 7k lbs. and 200-300 miles approx. 10-12 times per year. I had 3:73 gears but they are not "that much" different than your set up.

diesel04 · August 16, 2011

I have been towing this trailer I stay around 55-65 mph. The truck pulls well I do not try to speed when pulling the trailer. I was looking to change the rear end, but I only found one person that would do it and he said he wouldn't if it was his. I have a lot of questions about this. I do not want to be tearing up the transmission, and or the truck. Being that should I be looking to go to a 3/4 ton truck. The reason I ask this I am at 13400 GCVW. I am using a Equilize 4 point Hitch. Which really helps out. I see on some other forum's that some people pull a lot smaller trailer and use a 3/4 ton truck. I have to say for the weight I am pulling Chevrolet makes a reallly good truck. If I didn't get another truck should I put a larger transmission cooler, and air bags. If I did this would this help out anymore. One last question If I do all this at the end what will I end up with? I have come up that every body has an answer. and I would like to hear froma lot of ou all Thanks Ed

ERIE_ONE · August 16, 2011

I have been towing this trailer I stay around 55-65 mph. The truck pulls well I do not try to speed when pulling the trailer. I was looking to change the rear end, but I only found one person that would do it and he said he wouldn't if it was his. I have a lot of questions about this. I do not want to be tearing up the transmission, and or the truck. Being that should I be looking to go to a 3/4 ton truck. The reason I ask this I am at 13400 GCVW. I am using a Equilize 4 point Hitch. Which really helps out. I see on some other forum's that some people pull a lot smaller trailer and use a 3/4 ton truck. I have to say for the weight I am pulling Chevrolet makes a reallly good truck. If I didn't get another truck should I put a larger transmission cooler, and air bags. If I did this would this help out anymore. One last question If I do all this at the end what will I end up with? I have come up that every body has an answer. and I would like to hear froma lot of ou all Thanks Ed

What trans temps are you seeing now?

diesel04 · August 16, 2011

Tranmission running from 185 to 210. I let the engine warm up and tranmission before I start to move. The Engine is at 210 and tran over 100 sometime's it is up to 150. I always use the towing mode when pulling the trailer. If the weather is cooler it run's cooler. 2 weeks ago 95 outside pulling nerver dropped below 196.I was running btween 60-65 MPH. I never tried putting it in 3rd gear like someone mention in a post. The most we have pulled it is about 175 miles so far. With out the trailer the tran get's up to 165 during the summer. The truck has just under 31,000 miles on it.

ERIE_ONE · August 16, 2011

If your trans isn't "hunting" between 3rd and 4th you should be ok leaving it drive. My 04 would "hunt" between gears so I just left it in 3rd. Your trans temps seem ok. Do you have a good brake controller?

I think bottom line is, would a 3/4 ton be better? Heck yes. However with the limited towing you said you were doing at the moment and the relatively short distances; your 1/2 ton will likely live a very long life assuming its maintained properly.

This is just my opinion, no doubt someone will be a long and tell me I'm nuts for saying 11k plus GCWR is ok on a half ton. Good trailer brakes, brake controller, keep the trans temps in check, and service the fluids regularly.

Diesail · August 17, 2011

If your trans isn't "hunting" between 3rd and 4th you should be ok leaving it drive. My 04 would "hunt" between gears so I just left it in 3rd.

^X2

diesel04 · August 17, 2011

Thank you all for your time. Looks like I am ok for a while but I see something bigger coming in the future. I still say Chevrolet make's a Good Truck. I can't believe the prices of 3/4 over a 1/2 ton truck.

wavery · August 17, 2011

I wouldn't switch to 4:11s. You wouldn't like it when you aren't towing, cruising down the highway @ 75MPH will have your engine singing.. Installing a new ring & pinion is pretty tricky business and you'd better have a lot of confidence in the tech. If he doesn't know how to set it up right, you will be big time sorry that you ever touched it.

I would sell the truck and buy a 3/4T before I dropped $800 into a truck that I know is not the right truck for what I'm towing anyway. Chances are, you'll be selling it soon anyway. That's a lot of weight for any 1500. I know that my truck wouldn't handle it and not just because I have 3.23 gears. I'd just drop it into 2nd and run 60MPH @ 3600RPM if necessary. I do that now with my 4000# trailer when I'm on a 6+% grade (but I don't have the wind resistance that you do).

APT · August 18, 2011

75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 3.42 is 1883rpm

75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 4.11 is 2263rpm

2263rpm is not high for the 5.3L.

But I'd pull it with what you got and invest the money on a heavier duty truck in the future.

tyhuck · August 18, 2011

75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 3.42 is 1883rpm
75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 4.11 is 2263rpm

2263rpm is not high for the 5.3L.

But I'd pull it with what you got and invest the money on a heavier duty truck in the future.

Maybe not from a durability standpoint, or speaking in terms of power, but in fuel mileage it is. If you dont keep it under 2K, then you can kiss your MPG goodbye. On my truck, the difference between 1800 and 2200 RPM equals about 3 - 4 MPG. Thats just with the 5.3. I wont even get started on the 6.0.

ERIE_ONE · August 18, 2011

75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 3.42 is 1883rpm
75mph, 4spd trans, 4th gear, 4.11 is 2263rpm

2263rpm is not high for the 5.3L.

But I'd pull it with what you got and invest the money on a heavier duty truck in the future.

Maybe not from a durability standpoint, or speaking in terms of power, but in fuel mileage it is. If you dont keep it under 2K, then you can kiss your MPG goodbye. On my truck, the difference between 1800 and 2200 RPM equals about 3 - 4 MPG. Thats just with the 5.3. I wont even get started on the 6.0.

Empty I agree, at that speed towing a 7,000lb brick it doesnt hurt fuel economy at any noticeable level. Towing 7k though the hills (small southern Ohio hills) 3rd gear worked best for me with a 3:73 4 speed. I tried towing in 4th a couple times and lost mileage actually and feared for the trans because it was hunting. Just my experience.

On Edit: If I remember correctly I was holding near or a touch above 3k rpm's

APT · August 18, 2011

On my truck, the difference between 1800 and 2200 RPM equals about 3 - 4 MPG.

You've done this with different gearing to compare? Because 2200rpm is 22% higher speed with the same geared truck, or 85mph vs. 70mph. That will cost 3-4mpg in aero drag. It's not much different than those with 6-spds running in 5th gear vs. 6th. How much FE difference are those people getting unloaded?

It's a tradeoff for sure or you'd have a 1-ton diesel. 7400 pounds loaded (i hope not the MFR dry rating) is just below, at or above your tow rating. That's into 3/4 ton duty for payload with a family and camping "stuff" in the bed. Save the regear money for a higher rated truck in the next year or two. Drive carefully and load lightly until then. This is from someone who is in a very similar situation.