4.10 gear ratio and tow ratings

calsdad · May 23, 2016

I may shortly be upgrading my 2003 Suburban 2500 6.0L (which has 4.10 gears) - to a 2010 Yukon XL 2500. I forgot to check for the codes when I checked the vehicle out - but I know that it's probably 99% certain that it is going to have 3.73 gear ratio.

I have used the 2003 in the past to tow some pretty heavy loads - over 10k (it was a 8000 pound mini-excavator plus it's trailer) . I've also taken the 2003 on a few long trips - and didn't think it was at all bad on the highway with the 4.10's. Most of my driving is around town anyway.

I would like to be able to use the 2010 to tow the same type of load. It's got a more powerful 6.0L than the 2003 - and it's got the 6 speed transmission (so the gas mileage should be a little better)

It's my understanding that the 2500HD SIlverados and Sierras add about 3000 pounds to the tow rating with 4.10 gears. The Yukon XL has pretty much the same drivetrain as a 2500 pickup - so I should pick up a similar increase in tow capability.

My other question is: How is the increase in tow rating "marked" on a vehicle with 4.10 gears? Does the label on the hitch reflect the increase - or is the VIN decal printed different?

Raptordude · May 23, 2016

I don't have much technical information for you, but I'll say this. I drove my grandmas (lol) truck the other day. It is a 2006 2500HD with the 6.0. It is an extended cab, long bed, 4 wheel drive, with the 4.10 gears. Let me tell you, it is a complete dog compared to my truck. My truck is a 2001 2500HD with the 6.0 and 3.73 gears. Now granted, my truck is a little lighter than hers, because it is only a single cab long bed, and it's 2 wheel drive. But still, the difference is huge. My truck has MUCH more get up and go than hers, I think largely due to the lower ratio

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newdude · May 23, 2016

So lets say, a 1500 truck for example(2016)...the highest trailer capacity is a Max Trailer Package Double Cab Standard Box 6.2 at 12,000lbs. The hitch on there is the same as a truck rated at 7,000lbs, so there should be no difference in the hitch itself, but the ratings vary on powertrain and gearing.

From what I can gather, a 2008-2013 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL only had 3.73 gears in them, with a max towing capacity of 9,600lbs. 2007 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL had 3.73 or 4.10 gears, but 4.10 gears had a 9,500lbs tow capacity.

calsdad · May 23, 2016

So lets say, a 1500 truck for example(2016)...the highest trailer capacity is a Max Trailer Package Double Cab Standard Box 6.2 at 12,000lbs. The hitch on there is the same as a truck rated at 7,000lbs, so there should be no difference in the hitch itself, but the ratings vary on powertrain and gearing.

From what I can gather, a 2008-2013 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL only had 3.73 gears in them, with a max towing capacity of 9,600lbs. 2007 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL had 3.73 or 4.10 gears, but 4.10 gears had a 9,500lbs tow capacity.

I've been reading thru some of the other threads here where people talk about their pickups and the factory tow ratings with 3.73 vs 4.10 gearing, and it looks like the tow rating for the pickups with 3.73 is around the same as the Suburban/Yukon 2500 with 3.73 gearing.

The pickup guys are saying that going to a 4.10 ratio ups the tow rating to 12,000 pounds. I know there was a similar change in rating in the GMT800 Suburbans with the 8.1L engine. If I remember correctly going to the 4.10 gears upped the tow rating to like 11 or 12k.

The hitch on the SUV's is a potential weak spot - but I'm not worried about that. It's a fixable problem IMHO.

Is there anybody here who has a later year 2500 with 4.10's ? How is the increased tow rating called out? Does the VIN decal change - or does the rating on the hitch change?

What I'm basically wondering is this : I know it's possible to upgrade components on the truck and potentially up it's tow rating . Whether that matters in the end of the law is looking at it is the question.

davester · May 24, 2016

Just switching components on the truck doesn't alter what you are legally allowed to tow. Whatever the GVWR is when the vehicle shipped from the factory is the limit.

calsdad · May 24, 2016

Just switching components on the truck doesn't alter what you are legally allowed to tow. Whatever the GVWR is when the vehicle shipped from the factory is the limit.

That's what I thought. Do the 2500 trucks with a 4.10 gear have a different VIN number decal then?

davester · May 24, 2016

I don't know, but if they do, the sticker in the door lists different values for the various weights. But that would surprise me a little, as the 2500's now are generally up against the 10000# gvwr [where there tends to be a difference in licensing/registration costs]

KMGZ400 · May 24, 2016

I really wouldn't worry about it, I personally couldn't notice too much of a different between 3.73 equipped trucks to 4.10. They will be able to do the same thing, also the bump in power with the GMT900 6.0 will make up for the little difference.

sdeeter19555 · May 24, 2016

The 2500hd is 9600# with 3.73s and 13k with 4.10s in the 2012 model year...the GVW of either truck is 9200#, it's the GCVW that changes because the trailer carries the weight.

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calsdad · May 24, 2016

The 2500hd is 9600# with 3.73s and 13k with 4.10s in the 2012 model year...the GVW of either truck is 9200#, it's the GCVW that changes because the trailer carries the weight.

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The Yukon XL 2500 shows in any of the specs I can find that it's max tow capacity is 9300. I don't think the Yukon/Suburban 2500's were even offered with anything but a 3.73 ratio. So my take on this is that the Suburban/Yukon 2500 basically has the same tow capacity with the 3.73 ratio - as the 2500HD pickups. The 300 pound difference is likely because the SUV itself just weighs more than the pickup does.

The GVW of the big SUV 2500's is 8600 pounds. So it's 600 pounds less than the pickup. That again makes sense because the SUV weighs that much more. The rear seat alone has to weigh 75 pounds. Rear hatch, all the extra glass - etc. That would easily add 600 pounds.

When I compare the specs for the 2WD vs the 4WD - the max tow capacity goes up to 9600 for the 2WD - and the weight of the vehicle goes down by a corresponding 300 pounds or so.

So long story short - what I'm saying is that going by what appear to be GM's own ratings rules - if the Yukon had 4.10 rear end ratio in it - it would seem to be capable of towing the 13k.

Making the vehicle capable of towing that weight doesn't appear to be the issue - the issue appears to be how that capability is "recognized" What does GM do on a 2500HD when it gets a 4.10 rear end? Does the decal on the trailer hitch change? Does the door post VIN decal change?

Pulled this off the web as an example - does the GAWR RR change if it gets an upgraded axle with the 4.10 gearing?

sdeeter19555 · May 24, 2016

On the 2500hd, the hitch is already 1400/14000# (or is it 1800/18000?) on the 2012, so the equipment is not a problem. So it's purely a sticker change...the rest of the truck is the same, same axles, same springs, etc.

This argument was big on the diesel forums, guys with 3500s grossing 40k pounds were considered legal because they were within specs on tires and axles.

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sdeeter19555 · May 24, 2016

And the rear axle weight will not change as the change is purely what can be towed, not what can be hauled.

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calsdad · May 24, 2016

On the 2500hd, the hitch is already 1400/14000# (or is it 1800/18000?) on the 2012, so the equipment is not a problem. So it's purely a sticker change...the rest of the truck is the same, same axles, same springs, etc.

This argument was big on the diesel forums, guys with 3500s grossing 40k pounds were considered legal because they were within specs on tires and axles.

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I'm guessing that the 1400/14000# number is correct . Too much over that and I think you're getting into CDL territory.

And I realize there are multiple issues here. Correct load range tires. Hitch rated for the weight that is being pulled. A trailer with correct axles and tire load range for the weight it is hauling.

I don't believe the hitch on the 2500 series SUV's - is rated at 1400/14000. In fact I think it's only rated for 9600 because that's the max tow rating of any of the variants in the SUV line. But that to me is a fixable problem. There are aftermarket hitches available that go up to 14,000 pounds.

sdeeter19555 · May 24, 2016

You can rate the equipment at anything you want, getting pulled over with that on the hitch is something else. CDL does not apply as long as your not commercial.

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calsdad · May 24, 2016

And the rear axle weight will not change as the change is purely what can be towed, not what can be hauled.

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I think you pointed out why I'm wondering where - if anywhere - there's anything " legal" stated about what the tow rating is for a vehicle.

I have read on other forums where people said they had upgraded vehicles - and went thru the list with inspectors and pointed out the upgraded axle, correct load range tires, upgraded hitch , trailer with correctly rated axles and tires for the load that was being carried - and were ok.