Silverado 1500 with 3.08 gears?

[Brendon44]

Well thank you again for everyone's input with this. I towed my brother in laws boat yesterday, approx 4600 lbs with trailer. The engine seemed like it was working pretty good off the line. (I drive slow too). With that said, today I found a 2016 Ford F150 4x4 Screw 5.0 with 3.55 gears. I'm going tomorrow to trade it in plus $1300. I'm really hoping this works out- Though 95% of the time I won't be towing, from advice given to me I'll like having the 3.55 vs 3.31 gears. This allows my towing capability to nearly double from my trucks ratings. (I have no intentions of pulling more then 6-6500 lbs BTW) Just will be great to know I won't have to be pushing my truck to it's limit.

I get about 20mpg average with my Chevy (hand calculated) Hoping with my driving style I can average 18 or so with the Ford and hopefully 20 on the highway.

[rockfordroo]

Before you sign on the dotted line, open the drivers door and check the payload.

Then remember that until you weigh it, assume a trailer with a GVWR of 6500 lb will have a tongue weight of 12-15%, so for 13%, that would be 845 lbs. Add a weight distribution hitch (and you SHOULD have one!) for another 75-100 lbs and you could have a tongue weight of 945 lbs. Subtract that number from the payload on the drivers door and what's left over has to cover you, wife, kids, dogs, and "stuff."

And ignore any "dry weights." They're just a marketing ploy to suck in suckers. No trailer ever really weighed it's "dry weight."

Good luck.

[hdmtnrider]

Brendon44, When your pushing that new ride you may get better than 18mpg. You'll be OK, the roads are pretty flat in Fla. SORRY! I just had to post this. LOL! (p.s. I too did own one Ford in my life, But don't tell anyone!")

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by hdmtnrider

Brendon44, When your pushing that new ride you may get better than 18mpg. You'll be OK, the roads are pretty flat in Fla. SORRY! I just had to post this. LOL! (p.s. I too did own one Ford in my life, But don't tell anyone!")

This time of year, GM owners in the northern states and Canada really appreciate the heated tailgate option for pushing their trucks home. HAHAHAHA

Brendon: In all reality, if you stick with a trailer around 5000 pounds and buy a truck that can pull anything over 7500, you'll be happy with it. The Big 3 trucks and even the Tundras and Titans are all good these days.

[Brendon44]

Originally Posted by hdmtnrider

Brendon44, When your pushing that new ride you may get better than 18mpg. You'll be OK, the roads are pretty flat in Fla. SORRY! I just had to post this. LOL! (p.s. I too did own one Ford in my life, But don't tell anyone!")

Originally Posted by clarkbre

This time of year, GM owners in the northern states and Canada really appreciate the heated tailgate option for pushing their trucks home. HAHAHAHA

Brendon: In all reality, if you stick with a trailer around 5000 pounds and buy a truck that can pull anything over 7500, you'll be happy with it. The Big 3 trucks and even the Tundras and Titans are all good these days.

HaHa! Those are great! Although I did actually have to push my chevy s-10 for about a 1/4 mile back in high school. Thing actually moved pretty easy

[Brendon44]

I did the trade this morning- an F150 crew 4x4 with 5.0, 3.55 gears. Total weight allowed is 1980 lbs on the door label, tows 9200 lbs. Now all the campers advised to me will be towed with ease and I won't worry about being over loaded with the Chevy. This is my first Ford I've owned so hopefully it works out. Thanks guys.

[clarkbre]

Congrats man. That truck should fit the bill for ya. When does trailer shopping start?

[Tpop]

Ignore the posts about their favorite trucks. What you have is nice, the only thing I experienced a problem with is 308 gears. It tended to heat up the transmission, causing it to blow smoke. Once I got a new truck with higher gears all was good. What my Chevy didn't have was a transmission cooler. That is very important in keeping the oil cool. Check for that one feature and if you do not have it I recommend getting one. Very cheap and easy to install.
Good Luck, T-pop

[Brendon44]

Tpop, you're saying the actual transmission blew smoke? I didn't even know that is possible. Must have been pretty hot.

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by Brendon44

I did the trade this morning- an F150........ Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by Tpop

Ignore the posts about their favorite trucks. What you have is nice.......

A little late to the party

Originally Posted by Tpop

....the only thing I experienced a problem with is 308 gears. It tended to heat up the transmission, causing it to blow smoke.....

Yes, Brandon, ignore what other posters said about vehicles that can tow easily. Smoke is a natural and normal occurrence.

Originally Posted by Tpop

...Once I got a new truck with higher gears all was good. What my Chevy didn't have was a transmission cooler. That is very important in keeping the oil cool......

Your new truck had lower gears, not higher gears. Instead of 3.08, the truck was likely geared in the 3.30 to 4.10 range. Those are much more suitable for towing. The transmission cooler is always good compared to a vehicle without.

Brandon, again, I'm happy for you that you got a vehicle well equipped to tow (doesn't matter what make it is); however, your problem is now circled in blue.

[Brendon44]

Haha! Still amazed Chevy sells a truck with every option to tow heavy duty, yet sells it with a 3.08 gear ratio🤔

[TheWolfPaq82]

You'll tow just fine. MPG is gonna suck with the 3:08. That tranny is built for speed and acceleration, my Silverado had the 3:73 and I towed 7000 lbs just fine for 9 years.

[benchmarks]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

You'll tow just fine. MPG is gonna suck with the 3:08. That tranny is built for speed and acceleration, my Silverado had the 3:73 and I towed 7000 lbs just fine for 9 years.

Yeah 5,178 UVW + say 1000 lbs. of misc. Tow with Chev Silverado 1500 Crew /tow pkg up and over Snoqualmie and Stevens pass regularly.

[benchmarks]

Originally Posted by Brendon44

Haha! Still amazed Chevy sells a truck with every option to tow heavy duty, yet sells it with a 3.08 gear ratio[emoji848]

I agree, why did they bother? Had a Tahoe thinking no sweat, but 3.08.

[gwolfe]

My truck has the 3.08 and does fine with my little TT at 3500 lbs., don't think I'd want to go much heavier though. I have the 6 speed transmission and usually tow in 4th at around 2300 RPM and get between 9 & 11 MPG depending on wind and such. Not towing I can get just over 20 MPG if I drive easy, around 18 is the norm for highway driving at speeds around 70-75.

Congrats to the OP on the new truck, I hear those 5.0l V-8s Ford has are great towing engines.

[Brendon44]

Thanks Gwolfe, I'm pretty excited. I agree with you, after towing my brother in law's boat I just would not have liked towing a 4500-5k lb trailer.

[Mad Cow]

The only real issue with 3.08 is starting ability on some tougher pulls. Taller (numerically lower) ratios like that place a lot more stress on the driveline. Knowing that, one can keep the trans in manual mode and keep it out of the top gear while towing and keep the RPM's up a little. That will keep the trans from gear hunting on every little mole hill and keep trans temps lower. While 3.08 is a little tall to be towing comfortably with, a good driver can overcome some of the limitations.

I left the 1500 Chevy world a few years ago and went back to 2500 Chevy's for a number of reasons. My one foray into the 1/2 ton realm with a 2013 1500 5.3L 3.42 ride was causing me to invent new swear words. I then got me a 2015 2500 6.0 4.10 and am have been a much happier citizen.