Will my truck tow safely in the Smokys?

bshack wrote:
What if I changed my axel ratio to a 3.42? Night and day or not worth it?

If you have six or more gear transmission I would not change the rear. You may use 1-2-3 a bit more than 4-5-6 and that is fine.

If you do change the rear I would go 4.10

I'd do it. You are likely over the rated tow capacity but that's not a big deal in my opinion. You will be slow up hill with your foot on the floor. That's not unsafe, just annoying. I don't really see a safety issue if your rig is set up correctly with the right hitch.
If you want to keep that truck then changing the gears would go a long way to improving your towing experience. I'd skip the 3.42 and go right for the 3.73 if you go to the trouble and expense of changing.

bshack wrote:
What if I changed my axel ratio to a 3.42? Night and day or not worth it?

Will help some. 3.73 would be better.

You are in Ohio so you are familiar with the uphill grade on 75 out of Covington KY are you not? The Smokies on the main roads and freeways is not any worse really. Depending on where you are going in the Smokies you should not have that much difficulty really. As others have said though, you don't have the best matched combo but I think you can still manage to do your trip. The most improtant thing is to downshift on the down hill grades so the engine and tranny do some of the braking so you don't burn up your brakes riding them all they way down hill.

In the last few years the manufacturers have gotten a little more realistic about their trucks tow capabilities. Stay within their specs and guidelines and you will be fine. Your weak point is the 3.08 gears. If you exceed your limits by a little bit, the wheels won't fall off. Just take it easy and allow it to shift down to maintain RPMs. JMHO

It won’t be enjoyable but if you are really careful.... A 3.08 rear end?

What if I changed my axel ratio to a 3.42? Night and day or not worth it?

Take it easy, gear down and don't keep it floored up the hills and don't ride the brakes down the hills and you'll be OK.

bshack wrote:
I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?

You will be right at your limit, and then a little more.

But yeah the truck will tow safely. it is up to the driver to drive it safely..

since you have never towed in the mountains. Remember. Going up is not the problem. It will go up maybe slow, but it will go up. Coming DOWN is the problem. You do have an advantage in that it is gas for downhills. NEVER start down the mountain in a gear higher than it took the TV to go UP the mountain. Even if that is FIRST gear. Let the engine do most of the work holding back the rig. NEVER ride the brakes. Use them sparingly. Let the engine do the work. I can come down the 7% grade from Blowing Rock, and the 7% grade of Black Mountain , and only touch my brakes for the sharp curves. I come down 321 out of Blowing Rock in SECOND gear. I come down Black Mountain in SECOND, and THIRD.

Biggest trick is. NEVER let the rig get away from you, never let it run away. It is way harder to get it back than to keep under control to begin with.

And this goes the same for the 5.7 in the Tundra. Be slow, and careful coming down.
Coming down the mountain is where you go from passenger, to driver.

If it's just you and your wife and nothing in the tanks one propane tank half full other half full or less and you don't try to pull Newfoundland gap in tow you should be fine. Take it slow and don't get in a hurry. The trailer brakes should stop the trailer and truck brakes the rest. Go and enjoy. The Tundra is a strong truck with a limited payload and it is heavy on gas. Take that from a former owner.