I tow my Jayco hybrid with a 2012 Chevy Silverado with the 4.8 V8 and 3.23 gears. It does just fine in Florida where it's flat. The owners manual says I can gain 2000 lbs. towing capacity changing to 3.73 gears. Does this make sense to you? How would that effect my RPMs at any given speed? Right now at 55 MPH I am turning 2000 RPMs. Just curious.

The gearing will make towing in the mountains and accelerating much better. I can't say wihthe GM, but with my Excursion it made a huge difference in towing performance because the engine isn't working as hard, RPM's will go up slightly but not a lot unless you go up to a 4.10. Your towing mileage and around town mileage may improve also.Then again if your trailer is light you shouldn't have any issues in the mountains. I would wait and see how it does out of Florida before considering changing the gearing (front also if it's a 4X4!)

I have the same model tv and I changed to 3.73 and it made a huge difference towing hard to tell trailer is back there without looking in mirror. The gear change also increased my gas mileage.

If you cannot remember to shift I it out of OD when climbing a long hill then changing gear ratios is for you.:S It's also a good idea to do the same going down if you need to lower your speed. You are right to question how a higher ratio increases it by 2000 lbs. You can make it a 3.73 by never towing in OD but on flat ground you do not need a 3.73.

Gruu wrote:How would that effect my RPMs at any given speed?Since there's approximately 15% difference in ratios RPMs with a 3.73 ratio would be approximately 15% higher ... plenty of axle ratio charts online if you need to be more precise than that. ;)

Ivylog wrote:If you cannot remember to shift I it out of OD when climbing a long hill then changing gear ratios is for you.:S It's also a good idea to do the same going down if you need to lower your speed. You are right to question how a higher ratio increases it by 2000 lbs. You can make it a 3.73 by never towing in OD but on flat ground you do not need a 3.73.That is a very simple explanation.But the question deserves more than a "simple" answer.:SThe reason that the tow rating increases is not the final rpms in cruising gear.... ALL of the gears will see a boost in power. Does that matter? You bet. Since you have to accelerate from a stop, and drop gears for climbs, it makes for a much better tow. Lower gears will also increase the lifespan of the u joints, as they will see less stress in every gear. Lower gears will also make for better engine braking in EVERY gearIn other words... simply not using OD does NOT make it a 3.73.:S

TV gearing. | Good Sam Community

Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2016
OP, do you have the 6L80 tranny? If so I stand by my previous post assuming you can remember to manually shift out of more than the first OD as needed. Even if you have the 4L60 I would try it before changing as you are in the SE, not the West. Campers have a way of growing and you will be looking for a larger TV sooner than you might think.
westend
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
3.23/2000 x 3.73/X, 3.73x 2000 = 7460, 7460/3.23 = 2309.6, X=2309.6

Arithmetic Rule of Three. Your RPM's using the 3.73 gear would be 2309.
Gruu
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
Thank you all for your replies, the deciwsion has been made. I WILL go with the lower gears, thanks gain. Golfcart, you can buy the ring and pinion online from summit racing for $169.00 brand new. Just saying.
Golfcart
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
The fact is, a lower gear ratio gives you better torque multiplication(power) when you need it.

An easy way to describe it is using a tiny ratchet wrench to turn a nut vs using a big breaker bar. The little ratchet may give you less overall turns(rpm), but requires more force to move it. The breaker requires alot less power, but needs to turn more to be efficient.

I have a 3.08 rear end in my truck and hate it. Every little hill i drop a gear just to keep up. Ive been prowling the junk yards for a 3.73 for the right price for a while now
LarryJM
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2016
Huntindog wrote:
Ivylog wrote:
If you cannot remember to shift I it out of OD when climbing a long hill then changing gear ratios is for you.:S It's also a good idea to do the same going down if you need to lower your speed. You are right to question how a higher ratio increases it by 2000 lbs. You can make it a 3.73 by never towing in OD but on flat ground you do not need a 3.73.
That is a very simple explanation.
But the question deserves more than a "simple" answer.:S
The reason that the tow rating increases is not the final rpms in cruising gear.... ALL of the gears will see a boost in power. Does that matter? You bet. Since you have to accelerate from a stop, and drop gears for climbs, it makes for a much better tow. Lower gears will also increase the lifespan of the u joints, as they will see less stress in every gear. Lower gears will also make for better engine braking in EVERY gear

In other words... simply not using OD does NOT make it a 3.73.:S

I agree and it's unfortunate folks like Ivylog make what IMO can only be called very misleading and incorrect statements that unless corrected can leave the less informed with a false set of what is presented as facts.

Larry
Huntindog
Explorer
Sep 21, 2016
Ivylog wrote:
If you cannot remember to shift I it out of OD when climbing a long hill then changing gear ratios is for you.:S It's also a good idea to do the same going down if you need to lower your speed. You are right to question how a higher ratio increases it by 2000 lbs. You can make it a 3.73 by never towing in OD but on flat ground you do not need a 3.73.
That is a very simple explanation.
But the question deserves more than a "simple" answer.:S
The reason that the tow rating increases is not the final rpms in cruising gear.... ALL of the gears will see a boost in power. Does that matter? You bet. Since you have to accelerate from a stop, and drop gears for climbs, it makes for a much better tow. Lower gears will also increase the lifespan of the u joints, as they will see less stress in every gear. Lower gears will also make for better engine braking in EVERY gear

In other words... simply not using OD does NOT make it a 3.73.:S
SoundGuy
Explorer
Sep 21, 2016
Gruu wrote:
How would that effect my RPMs at any given speed?

Since there's approximately 15% difference in ratios RPMs with a 3.73 ratio would be approximately 15% higher ... plenty of axle ratio charts online if you need to be more precise than that. ;)
Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 21, 2016
If you cannot remember to shift I it out of OD when climbing a long hill then changing gear ratios is for you.:S It's also a good idea to do the same going down if you need to lower your speed. You are right to question how a higher ratio increases it by 2000 lbs. You can make it a 3.73 by never towing in OD but on flat ground you do not need a 3.73.
Phil_M
Explorer
Sep 21, 2016
I have the same model tv and I changed to 3.73 and it made a huge difference towing hard to tell trailer is back there without looking in mirror. The gear change also increased my gas mileage.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2016
The gearing will make towing in the mountains and accelerating much better. I can't say wihthe GM, but with my Excursion it made a huge difference in towing performance because the engine isn't working as hard, RPM's will go up slightly but not a lot unless you go up to a 4.10. Your towing mileage and around town mileage may improve also.

Then again if your trailer is light you shouldn't have any issues in the mountains. I would wait and see how it does out of Florida before considering changing the gearing (front also if it's a 4X4!)

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