Truck Decision UPDATE: Decison Made (pending)

Redsky wrote:


Where people routinely go wrong is in getting a truck for heavy hauling or towing with the wrong gears. Going with 3.42 instead of 3.73 reduces the towing capacity of a truck by 25%. Going with 3.73 instead of 4.10 gears also reduces the tow capacity by 25% - check the manufacturers' specs. With 6-speed transmissions and even 5-speed transmissions there is one or more overdrive gears and these more than compensate for the 4.10 gears in terms of fuel economy on the highway with an empty truck. With a full loaded truck the fuel economy is going to be mediocre regardless of the gearing.

But with the 4.10 gears your engine will be in its peak power range more of the time and acceleration when merging with traffic will be much better and going up steep mountain grades will be much easier on the engine.

If you plan to haul a 5,000 lb. camper and at the same time tow a 8,000 lb. trailer around the country then get the diesel. If not then go with the gas engine and 4.10 gears.

The OP never mentioned towing, so I have to chime in that a gasser with 3.73 gears is just fine for hauling a heavy camper like my AF 990. Truck + wet camper + gear + people and dogs scaled at 12,700 lbs and no problem with acceleration or climbing hills. I get between 9.75 and 10.75 MPG now and don't want to get even less with lower gearing.