Changing running gears
My 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 has the 5.3L (300hp) with 3.23 gears. I'm towing an 18' TT with a stated dry weight of 3215 pounds and I realize that this number is only a starting point for what I will be t...
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If the transmission is hunting gears, lock it in the next lower gear. Your engine can run at 3000rpm all day long and hit 5500rpm when accelerating or up hills. Fuel consumption should be about half, like 8-10mpg towing any high walled RV with a gas engine.
I would save up for a newer truck with more gears. If this truck is 2wd, it may be worth $500 to swap to 4.10 axle. However, you'll still be tied to 3 usable towing gears. Something with a 6-spd will get you 4-5 usable towing gears. 8/10 spd transmissions means more like 5-7 towing gears. Those will be more significant than changing your truck to 3.73 or 4.10.
I would save up for a newer truck with more gears. If this truck is 2wd, it may be worth $500 to swap to 4.10 axle. However, you'll still be tied to 3 usable towing gears. Something with a 6-spd will get you 4-5 usable towing gears. 8/10 spd transmissions means more like 5-7 towing gears. Those will be more significant than changing your truck to 3.73 or 4.10.
