Forum Discussion
Tow ratings vary by vehicle options. Long wheel base, short wheel base, reg cab, ext cab, manual or automatic, etc. You CAN throw certain parts at the truck to increase tow rating. We're upgrading the rear differential on our silverado from 3.42:1 to 3.73:1 and gaining about 1200 lbs. towing capacity. The 2002 4.8l 2wd silverado with 3.42:1 gear was rated at 6100lbs while the 3.73:1 was rated at 7300lbs. We're actually not looking for the added capacity as much as the easier towing of our current TT. The cost is $700 if I pull the rear end and take it to the shop to be rebuilt and reinstall it myself. We have no car note and don't plan on one when I can spend a few hours pulling the rear end and throw $700 in parts and labor and ease the stress on towing. Very worth the time and money and the truck is rated for the weight with only the gearing change. We've gone to the dealer, who wanted $2k by the way, and verified that there were zero differences between the factory 3.42 and the special order 3.73 as far as suspension, brakes, transmission or cooling. We've added an external transmission cooler which did help transmission temperatures on steep grades. Our total investment between the hd cooler and fan and gearing will be less than $1k.
About DIY Maintenance
RV projects you can tackle on your own with a few friendly pointers.4,357 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 25, 2025