GM and Gearing
Looking at maybe an upgrade to GMC 2500 HD, just curious if anyone has the 342 gearing and what they think. It would be with gas. your experience if you please. I have a comparison of the 3:73 and 4:10.
thanks
thanks
Forum Discussion
jffnkrn wrote:
Well, I guess I asked for it! my head is on my shoulders and not where some may think. No I am not Gear Savvy, so that is why I asked the question(s). I appreciated the knowledge and the input, I can afford the extra few dollars for gas, I am not a diesel person and so there ya have it. Thanks again for the input. I will do some further research before I buy the next truck. I am looking forward to it. Have a great rest of your day!!! Thanks again.
Now that understanding final drive ratios is under your belt, in that what you need to know is that pulling the weight you’re pulling with a gas pickup, the deeper the gears the better.
Also the more hp and more trans gears the better.
Understand, if you don’t want the cost or complication of a diesel. Whether real or perceived, there are differences.
2 things.
1. You appear to be “ok” pulling what you’re pulling with your current truck, which I’m quite familiar with it’s performance. And it’ll get your trailer up a hill, as you know.
2. You also appear to have the means to get whatever vehicle you wish to, and whether or not you think so, if you experienced a better towing experience, I’ll bet you’d like it.
That’s where the diesel recommendation comes in. However if you don’t want one, it’s your $.
Like you said, you can spend extra $ on gasoline, so sure as heck don’t skimp on the gasser you get.
GM is suckin hind teat right now. And the new 6.6 doesn’t match up to the competition... yet, with only a 6 speed imo.
At a min, I’d be looking at a 6.4 Ram. 4.10s and the 8HP trans is proven and a great performer.
But the best gasser numbers are coming out of the new 7.3 Ford. 10 speeds and I believe you can get 4.30 gears.
Very noticeable improvement over your current rig.
Good luck in your search!jffnkrn wrote:
What makes one a "Diesel person"?Grit dog wrote:
jffnkrn wrote:
I guess for me i would rather be in the middle somewhere, as stated earlier, i do tow about 8 to 10 thousand miles per year out of the 12 to 15 that we use the truck for. just thinking that I don't mind the chugging along on the hills a bit as we are not pulling hills all the time. that is about the biggest advantage i have seen with the 4:10 over the 3:73. well, to all, thanks and any other comments will be appreciated
So you have basically a new 2500HD with 4.10s. You tow a big trailer a lot of miles a year out west at altitude and big grades. You’re contemplating a few more hp, same number of gears and then saddling it with horrible gears for towing (which they don’t make so you’d have to change gear sets in a brand new truck), all for worse performance and worse mileage than you already have??
My comment is you’re not going to do appreciably better with ANY new gasser for your use and your propose plan is actually worse than your current vehicle.
You are solidly in the realm of making good use of a diesel. Or at a minimum get a new Ford or Ram with a better trans, more power and deeper gears.
I’m actually curious where your head is at. Think you’re going to save $ on gas for the few miles a year you drive bobtail, or just don’t understand the concept of gearing?
Well, I guess I asked for it! my head is on my shoulders and not where some may think. No I am not Gear Savvy, so that is why I asked the question(s). I appreciated the knowledge and the input, I can afford the extra few dollars for gas, I am not a diesel person and so there ya have it. Thanks again for the input. I will do some further research before I buy the next truck. I am looking forward to it. Have a great rest of your day!!! Thanks again.
My wife and her side of the family once thought that they would never drive diesels.... Over the years as diesels changed, they became converts.
Perhaps you should reconsider with an open mind.
You presently are at the upper limits of what gas motors can do.
A diesel is the only option to get appreciably better performance. IOW, it really isn't worth spending the money for a new gas powered truck, hoping/expecting better performance or fuel economy.... Now if you just want a new truck for the smell etc... That is a different story.Grit dog wrote:
jffnkrn wrote:
I guess for me i would rather be in the middle somewhere, as stated earlier, i do tow about 8 to 10 thousand miles per year out of the 12 to 15 that we use the truck for. just thinking that I don't mind the chugging along on the hills a bit as we are not pulling hills all the time. that is about the biggest advantage i have seen with the 4:10 over the 3:73. well, to all, thanks and any other comments will be appreciated
So you have basically a new 2500HD with 4.10s. You tow a big trailer a lot of miles a year out west at altitude and big grades. You’re contemplating a few more hp, same number of gears and then saddling it with horrible gears for towing (which they don’t make so you’d have to change gear sets in a brand new truck), all for worse performance and worse mileage than you already have??
My comment is you’re not going to do appreciably better with ANY new gasser for your use and your propose plan is actually worse than your current vehicle.
You are solidly in the realm of making good use of a diesel. Or at a minimum get a new Ford or Ram with a better trans, more power and deeper gears.
I’m actually curious where your head is at. Think you’re going to save $ on gas for the few miles a year you drive bobtail, or just don’t understand the concept of gearing?
Well, I guess I asked for it! my head is on my shoulders and not where some may think. No I am not Gear Savvy, so that is why I asked the question(s). I appreciated the knowledge and the input, I can afford the extra few dollars for gas, I am not a diesel person and so there ya have it. Thanks again for the input. I will do some further research before I buy the next truck. I am looking forward to it. Have a great rest of your day!!! Thanks again.- I’ve pulled low profile trailers the same weight or less with same trucks as your current rig and even at low altitude they are turds pulling any decent grade.
I wouldn’t subject myself to the abuse and frustration with my personal rig provided I had the financial means to have enough power to pull a trailer with authority rather than wringing the truck out for all it’s worth. jffnkrn wrote:
I guess for me i would rather be in the middle somewhere, as stated earlier, i do tow about 8 to 10 thousand miles per year out of the 12 to 15 that we use the truck for. just thinking that I don't mind the chugging along on the hills a bit as we are not pulling hills all the time. that is about the biggest advantage i have seen with the 4:10 over the 3:73. well, to all, thanks and any other comments will be appreciated
So you have basically a new 2500HD with 4.10s. You tow a big trailer a lot of miles a year out west at altitude and big grades. You’re contemplating a few more hp, same number of gears and then saddling it with horrible gears for towing (which they don’t make so you’d have to change gear sets in a brand new truck), all for worse performance and worse mileage than you already have??
My comment is you’re not going to do appreciably better with ANY new gasser for your use and your propose plan is actually worse than your current vehicle.
You are solidly in the realm of making good use of a diesel. Or at a minimum get a new Ford or Ram with a better trans, more power and deeper gears.
I’m actually curious where your head is at. Think you’re going to save $ on gas for the few miles a year you drive bobtail, or just don’t understand the concept of gearing?dodge guy wrote:
MFL wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
There is no free lunch. The "extra umph" comes at the price of increased fuel consumption, lower mileage, worse fuel economy, however you want to say it.
The 4.10's make the engine rev higher at all times. Higher revs consume more fuel, but also produce more power when needed.
Sounds like 3.73 is the only option with the gas engine in 2021, so there's no question here.
No free lunch, towing any trailer that size/weight. A diesel would net better mileage, but costs more overall. The only gain to be had with the gasser, is to slow down. I know...some people don't have time to slow down, so need to pay for lunch!
Jerry
Depends on it’s intended use. My V-10 Excursion cane with 3.73’s. 15 hwy and 6 towing and it sucked! Swapped to 4.30’s, my hey mileage dropped to 14.3 and towing mileage went up by almost 1 mpg to 6.8! Most off all the truck didn’t feel like it weighed 10k lbs, it could actually get out of its own way.
I saw the same thing. I had a 2011 2500HD with a 6.0 that had 3.73s. I traded it in 2015 for a 3500 HD with 4.10s both SRW CC. My hwy mileage dropped about 1 mpg on the interstate, but towing was better, not only in mileage but in performance. Much better at starting a heavy load. It downshifted less loaded and unloaded. The 6.0 makes its power at higher RPMs, so 4.10s keep it up where it wants to be run at. There was a reason that they only gave you 4.10s toward the end of the 6.0 run. It just is a better HD truck with that gear ratio.- I guess for me i would rather be in the middle somewhere, as stated earlier, i do tow about 8 to 10 thousand miles per year out of the 12 to 15 that we use the truck for. just thinking that I don't mind the chugging along on the hills a bit as we are not pulling hills all the time. that is about the biggest advantage i have seen with the 4:10 over the 3:73. well, to all, thanks and any other comments will be appreciated
MFL wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
There is no free lunch. The "extra umph" comes at the price of increased fuel consumption, lower mileage, worse fuel economy, however you want to say it.
The 4.10's make the engine rev higher at all times. Higher revs consume more fuel, but also produce more power when needed.
Sounds like 3.73 is the only option with the gas engine in 2021, so there's no question here.
No free lunch, towing any trailer that size/weight. A diesel would net better mileage, but costs more overall. The only gain to be had with the gasser, is to slow down. I know...some people don't have time to slow down, so need to pay for lunch!
Jerry
Depends on it’s intended use. My V-10 Excursion cane with 3.73’s. 15 hwy and 6 towing and it sucked! Swapped to 4.30’s, my hey mileage dropped to 14.3 and towing mileage went up by almost 1 mpg to 6.8! Most off all the truck didn’t feel like it weighed 10k lbs, it could actually get out of its own way.mkirsch wrote:
There is no free lunch. The "extra umph" comes at the price of increased fuel consumption, lower mileage, worse fuel economy, however you want to say it.
The 4.10's make the engine rev higher at all times. Higher revs consume more fuel, but also produce more power when needed.
Sounds like 3.73 is the only option with the gas engine in 2021, so there's no question here.
No free lunch, towing any trailer that size/weight. A diesel would net better mileage, but costs more overall. The only gain to be had with the gasser, is to slow down. I know...some people don't have time to slow down, so need to pay for lunch!
Jerry- When towing always go with the lower ratio (numerically higher) you will never regret it!
