Axle ratio question

[MillerTime]

Oh, I forgot other than the gear ratio difference of 3.08 or 3.42 everything else will be the same from drivetrain- cooling- paint- wheels. The gears are their own option code. So in therory the sales guy was correct if he was refering to those gear ratios- I don't know the specs but I would think that 3.42 gears would have a higher rating- but I don't know the specs. Bearings in the axles are all the same too.
Ps. Little known fact- if the truck has a factory installed trailer hitch. It will have the trailer package with the trans cooler- infact it is extremely rare for us to see a truck without a factory tow hitch or trans. cooler- usually on base models, or LS package with 4.8 or 4.3

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

Oh, I forgot other than the gear ratio difference of 3.08 or 3.42 everything else will be the same from drivetrain- cooling- paint- wheels. The gears are their own option code. So in therory the sales guy was correct if he was refering to those gear ratios- I don't know the specs but I would think that 3.42 gears would have a higher rating- but I don't know the specs. Bearings in the axles are all the same too.
Ps. Little known fact- if the truck has a factory installed trailer hitch. It will have the trailer package with the trans cooler- infact it is extremely rare for us to see a truck without a factory tow hitch or trans. cooler- usually on base models, or LS package with 4.8 or 4.3

The truck in question is an LT with factory tow package and 5.3 engine, 2010.

[Dave_Monica]

From the 2010 Trailer Life towing guide...
Silverado 1500 Ex cab 2WD - 6900 lbs with 3.08
- 9700 lbs with 3.42
4x4 - 6800 lbs with 3.08
- 9600 lbs with 3.42
Silverado 1500 CC SB 2WD - 6800 lbs with 3.08
- 9600 lbs with 3.42
4x4 - 6700 lbs with 3.08
- 9500 lbs with 3.42

Dave

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

From the 2010 Trailer Life towing guide...
Silverado 1500 Ex cab 2WD - 6900 lbs with 3.08
- 9700 lbs with 3.42
4x4 - 6800 lbs with 3.08
- 9600 lbs with 3.42
Silverado 1500 CC SB 2WD - 6800 lbs with 3.08
- 9600 lbs with 3.42
4x4 - 6700 lbs with 3.08
- 9500 lbs with 3.42

Dave

Thanks, Dave. Very helpful. Those figures are exactly the same as my owner's manual. This is mine: 4x4 - 6700 lbs with 3.08. I tow less than 5,000 lbs, and I'm convinced after reading all these posts that pulling 9,500 lbs would be very unwise, regardless of what the dealer thinks. I assume that I can go all the way to 6,700 without endangering anyone or harming my truck. I realize the formula is more complicated than that, but I figure I could add another 1,000 pounds of camper and be okay. I'm not sure having the factory towing package makes much difference in all of this. Thanks to all.

[Dave_Monica]

The max towing number can be a little deceiving. For example, towing a 6000 lb car trailer is a lot different than towing a 6000 lb, 10' high TT. In some cases, the frontal area and drag are more the limit than the weight.

Staying under the 6700 lb towing limit would be wise.

Dave

[grayfox]

Please do the math yourself. There is so much info available from the auto mfg website and other sources. There is no reason not to arm yourself with this info. before you visit the dealer showroom. Don't let those sales people SNOW you. Please educate yourself , you'll save yourself alot of heart ache and expense. IMHO