Why 4.1 axle?
I tow an 8000 pound trailer with a GMC 2500 with 6.0l engine, 4 speed transmission, and 4.1 axle ratio. I rarely need 3rd gear on the highway; only on steep hills. For my next truck, why not get si...
Forum Discussion
rjstractor wrote:Lantley wrote:
If your talking 4 speed transmissions the gear ratio can be critical and make a significant difference but with the newer multi speed 8-10 gear trannies the ratio is less of a factor
Winner winner chicken dinner! Towing 8K with a 6.0 and a 4L80E you want 4.10s for sure. The 3.73 would do fine on gentle hills but if you find yourself stopped on time2rolls aforementioned 26% grade you'll be sweating bullets since
the 4L80E doesn't exactly have a great 1st gear ratio for launching on hills.
Actually, with a 4 sp 4.10 gear ratio, said truck would literally NOT be going up said hill. At 20K lbs, you have a max gradability of around 16-20%. The 6 sp with the higher torque, you have over 30% gradability. meanwhile, my old 05 dmax had 26% at 20K lbs..........this is grade in first gear, no 4lo, just regular old rwd!
I would get the 4.10, or 4.33 if available with the new 6sp, then my final tall gear would be equal to a 4 sp with 4.1's. I usually only drive a max 60 mph, 70 is less than 5% of my driving, so I setup up for a 60-62 mph in high gear. Then I usually have ALL the low gear I need for said STEEP grades to launch on. I've never been worried about the 6% freeway grades, if I can not pull one of them in 1st gear, you are in a BIG world of hurt!
Marty
