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Old 01-10-2022, 01:32 PM   #1
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Gear Ratio Change?

Was looking to upgrade the camper and found that my 18 silverado with stock 3.08 gears will allow me to tow up to 6100lb. If I had 3.43 gears, then I could tow up to 9100lbs. Has anyone done this? I often see people with 1500/F150 trucks towing campers that seem to be way outside the limits.
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Old 01-10-2022, 02:14 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by CodeMan View Post
Was looking to upgrade the camper and found that my 18 silverado with stock 3.08 gears will allow me to tow up to 6100lb. If I had 3.43 gears, then I could tow up to 9100lbs. Has anyone done this? I often see people with 1500/F150 trucks towing campers that seem to be way outside the limits.
If it looks like they are towing outside the limits, they probably are

But for your original question, you can swap out your gears but I would ask at a GM shop as you may need a carrier too. Also note, generally the 3.08 setup only comes with a 9.5 axle not the 9.75 so you will not get the full upper weight limit you see from a stock setup.
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Old 01-10-2022, 03:24 PM   #3
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Mods dont change the sticker inside your trucks door. Take what you would spend on the upgrade and get the right truck with the right number on the plate on the door.
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Old 01-10-2022, 04:02 PM   #4
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Mods dont change the sticker inside your trucks door. Take what you would spend on the upgrade and get the right truck with the right number on the plate on the door.
The "sticker on the door" on 3/4 ton trucks is artificially held to under 10K GVWR to keep them in Class 2 and has no real correlation to real world capabilities.

Mods do in fact increase those capabilities, if done correctly.

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Old 01-10-2022, 05:20 PM   #5
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The "sticker on the door" on 3/4 ton trucks is artificially held to under 10K GVWR to keep them in Class 2 and has no real correlation to real world capabilities.

Mods do in fact increase those capabilities, if done correctly.

Tim
You can get a 3/4 ton truck with a higher GVWR than that. I've seen them plenty of times. Not all states have stupid regs in regard to that. You can get a 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 with a GVWR as high as 11,550 lbs. 3500 models are capped at 14,000 lbs.
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Old 01-10-2022, 05:22 PM   #6
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With GM trucks you have to do your homework. RPO's for certain gear ratios often call for additional RPO's such as axles, and deletions of other RPO's.
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Old 01-10-2022, 05:58 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Cowracer View Post
The "sticker on the door" on 3/4 ton trucks is artificially held to under 10K GVWR to keep them in Class 2 and has no real correlation to real world capabilities.

Mods do in fact increase those capabilities, if done correctly.

Tim
This is something that gets repeated by folks who don't know what they are talking about. Complete hogwash sir...

There is no 10k limit on 250/2500 series trucks. Both Ford and GM offer that class vehicle above 10k. If you look at the different configurations Ford has above 10k in that class, it looks like Ford would disagree with your last sentence as well.
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Old 01-10-2022, 06:32 PM   #8
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There is no 10k limit on 250/2500 series trucks. Both Ford and GM offer that class vehicle above 10k. If you look at the different configurations Ford has above 10k in that class, it looks like Ford would disagree with your last sentence as well.
Yeah my F250 is rated up to 12.5k pounds with a WD hitch.
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Old 01-10-2022, 07:41 PM   #9
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With GM trucks you have to do your homework. RPO's for certain gear ratios often call for additional RPO's such as axles, and deletions of other RPO's.
precisely, this is what I was referring to when I stated that the OP would not get the same limits as the stock setup. Not that the OP shouldn't make mods to improve the TV, just that there is more to it then just changing out some gears to increase the tow limit levels.
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Old 01-10-2022, 07:53 PM   #10
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gas or diesel 2018. ? i have the 2018 6.6 ltz. silverado. 30 ft. t- hauler,1000 lb. trike in box, and a boat in tow . its a breeze towing anywhere.
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Old 01-10-2022, 08:34 PM   #11
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gas or diesel 2018. ? i have the 2018 6.6 ltz. silverado. 30 ft. t- hauler,1000 lb. trike in box, and a boat in tow . its a breeze towing anywhere.

Sounds like you have an HD truck. Looks like OP has a 1/2 ton.
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Old 01-10-2022, 11:32 PM   #12
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Was looking to upgrade the camper and found that my 18 silverado with stock 3.08 gears will allow me to tow up to 6100lb. If I had 3.43 gears, then I could tow up to 9100lbs. Has anyone done this? I often see people with 1500/F150 trucks towing campers that seem to be way outside the limits.
Sure and I wouldn't do it unless at east 2 steps lower ratio but keep in mind, it doesn't increase the CCC of your particular pickup.
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Old 01-10-2022, 11:34 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Cowracer View Post
The "sticker on the door" on 3/4 ton trucks is artificially held to under 10K GVWR to keep them in Class 2 and has no real correlation to real world capabilities.

Mods do in fact increase those capabilities, if done correctly.

Tim
Wrong. You cannot increase the CCC (payload) of any vehicle by modding.
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Old 01-10-2022, 11:36 PM   #14
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OP has a halfton pickup !
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Old 01-10-2022, 11:45 PM   #15
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Yeah my F250 is rated up to 12.5k pounds with a WD hitch.
WD hitch has nothing to do with F250’s GVWR
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Old 01-11-2022, 02:48 AM   #16
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Nevermind GVWR. You will hit the CCC limit first.
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Old 01-11-2022, 10:53 AM   #17
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This is something that gets repeated by folks who don't know what they are talking about. Complete hogwash sir...

There is no 10k limit on 250/2500 series trucks. Both Ford and GM offer that class vehicle above 10k. If you look at the different configurations Ford has above 10k in that class, it looks like Ford would disagree with your last sentence as well.
Yes they do. And they also offer the EXACT SAME truck with a 10K GVWR. The reason is, commercial users (landscapers, construction, etc) would fall under DOT regs with a 10,001 and above GVWR and they usually don't want to have to mess with everything that goes with that.

Order a GM 2500 with the C7A RPO code and it comes with a 10K sticker (rating). Check the C7G box, and you get 10,600. Exact same truck. Not a single washer has been changed.

Its all bureaucratic, not engineering.


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Old 01-11-2022, 11:33 AM   #18
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Yes they do. And they also offer the EXACT SAME truck with a 10K GVWR. The reason is, commercial users (landscapers, construction, etc) would fall under DOT regs with a 10,001 and above GVWR and they usually don't want to have to mess with everything that goes with that.

Order a GM 2500 with the C7A RPO code and it comes with a 10K sticker (rating). Check the C7G box, and you get 10,600. Exact same truck. Not a single washer has been changed.

Its all bureaucratic, not engineering.


Tim
Yes and No,

Agree not a single washer difference, but
CA7 kicks in California Emissions(YF5). C7G does not require Cali emissions testing, but "DEPENDING" on your state may require commercial plates and DOT registration. In Ohio we can put passenger and or non commercial plates and avoid the DOT registration, but you need to check with your state prior to ordering a C7G code as the dealer will report it on the paperwork. Cali will not register a non YF5 RPO as non commercial.
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Old 01-11-2022, 11:37 AM   #19
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3.08:1 is terrible for towing.
I had a 1/2 ton Chevy 40 years ago with a 3.07:1 rear end. It went through clutches if I tried to tow anything, even a two horse trailer.

I like a 3.73:1 in a Ford for towing.
Changing out the rear end gears is not cheap, but probably cheaper than finding a different truck.
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Old 01-11-2022, 12:21 PM   #20
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I often see people with 1500/F150 trucks towing campers that seem to be way outside the limits.
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If it looks like they are towing outside the limits, they probably are
You REALLY need to check the truck specifications as provided by the manufacturer. I can't control if YOU don't believe them or "feel" the numbers are too high.

With that said, my F150 has a max trailer weight of 12,700 - specified by Ford. So, I consider my 7k lb trailer well under the limit. FWIW, based on actual weighing, I am also comfortably under my CCC and GAWR numbers.
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