buying new tow rig need feed back

[rdanley]

i will be purchasing either a 3500 4x4 6speed drw or 3500 4x4 6speed srw. one ? i have is axle ratio if gas milage is not an issue would the 4:10 be the way to go. i only pull my camper twice a year but i go on long trips like to florida and up to the tetons. which with my current truck set up with the camper i have a combined weight of little over 23k. but other than that i mostly haul my work vans from job to job or my tractor. when i run empty down the highway i run 80mph. any input is apreciated everyone is telling me to stay away from 4:10 axle. but in order to get my gcwr i will have to go to 4:10 ?????

 

[KS_Cummins]

I have a 2004 3500 4x4 6 speed with DRW and 4. 10 gears and love it. I didn't by a $40,000. 00 truck for fuel economy. My last load of 24k from Coco, FL to Kansas City averaged 10 mpg, thats with a 5 hour engine running stop and towing 10 mph over the posted limit the whole way. I'd go with 4. 10's again if I bought another truck.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Go with the duals for real hauling. Safer, more stable, blah blah blah. I only have the srw 2500 because I got a helluva deal on it.

 

[RMcCulloch]

If you're planning to be at the 23K point, you'll need the 4. 10s.



Don't forget that, due to the increased tire diameter, the 4. 10s are like 3. 73s with the smaller tires.



FWIW, I've been border-to-border and back at that weight and rarely had my 48RE drop out of overdrive - and, when it did, the cruise control would have us accellerating up the hill so that we'd be back in o/d as soon as we crested it.



As to fuel mileage when not towing, I'm getting a tad over 17 these days (according to the odometer and fuel slips).

 

[Casey Balvert]

You need the DUALS and you need the 4. 10 axle. No doubt about it.



Casey

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I will stir the pot a bit. In the 5600 transmission 5th gear is direct. That is the strongest gear to run in because there are no reduction or overdrive gears taking power. Why not go with the 3. 73s and then shift it out of 6th overdrive into 5th-direct when you pull a hill??

If you have the 4. 10s the tendency is to leave it in overdrive and just lug it over the hill. If you have ever watched a temp gauge on a transmission you would see that the highest temps are reached in overdrive and the coolest are in a direct gear. The way you are going to use your truck I would reccomend the duals and 3. 73s. IMHO

 

[tgrfan2]

I recommended the same to a friend who has a 2003 3500SRW HO automatic. He is grossing 21K and he loves the gearing because in normal conditions he can cruise in OD and shift down to drive on the tough grades while still maintaining 70+.

 

[RustyJC]

To get the maximum GCWR and GVWR that you'll need, duals and 4. 10's are a necessity. See signature - we ordered our 2nd gen specifically to tow our 13,500 lb 5th wheel. The options we selected (3500 dually with HO, 6-speed and 4. 10 axle) provide the highest GCWR (21,500 lbs) and GVWR (10,500 lbs for a 4x2) available on a 2002 truck.



You already know you're going to be at or above the truck's ratings - why order anything but the most towing capacity you can get?



Rusty

 

[amillstream]

6spd 4. 10 DRW would be the way I would go. My 01 has 3. 55 and I hate them for towing but maybe the 3. 73 would be an ok compromise. My next one will have 4. 10s

 

[klenger]

The tire diameter on the 3rd gen trucks is the same as the 2nd gen trucks. Only the wheel diameter is larger. A 4. 10 2nd gen has the same final gearing as a 3rd gen with 4. 10s, and the 3rd gen 3. 73 really is inbetween the 2nd gen 3. 54 and 4. 10s.

 

[amillstream]

Can you still get the 16 inch wheels on the new ones, or just the 17 inch? All the trailers and dad and brothers trucks are the same size tire and would be nice to keep it that way for interchanging when needed.

 

[DPelletier]

16" rims won't clear the brake calipers.



Dave

 

[amillstream]

Dang! They just gota keep changing stuff like that don't they?

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by amillstream

My 01 has 3. 55 and I hate them for towing but maybe the 3. 73 would be an ok compromise.

Need more power, that's all.

 

[wbrown02]

How many of us have a trans temp gauge on a manuel 5 or 6 speed? I do and one thing that I always see is a big increase if temp while towing if trans is in overdrive. I have 3. 54 gear and tow 23,000 lbs often. Gearvendor overdrive lets me run in direct (4th gear) and stay out of 5th gear while towing... . trans runs super cool..... Works for me.

 

[DHawthorne]

I think you got a good idea by now, based on the imput given, which is right on the money. The only other thing you might ask is fuel mileage from someone that has not bombed their truck yet thats running 4:10's. That should make you mind up with regard to towing vs running light.



I towed my 5fer from Melbourne, Fl to Galveston, to Duluth MN to Harvard Mass back to Florida last year. More than once I wanted to get the rear changed out to 4:10. I really did not have any trouble except going up I-35 from Emporia Kansas to Albert Lee MN. Had a 35 mph head wind. Had to run in 5th at 60mph. Truck would not do more and would not run in 6th gear at all. That was last May 28th.



Dave

 

[BSchulte]

I have an 04 3500 HO SRW r48e, and tow a trailer, and scidstear totaling 13K pounds. I have a 3. 73 rearend. No problem running 65mph+. and am getting an avg. 15mpg. I have heard from many that running 4. 10's are great for performance in acceleration. However, 3. 73's have no problem accelerating on off ramps onto freeways! And once you get up to desired speed, there is no problem holding it. Also, it appears that most people that are running 4. 10's are not happy with mileage (10mpg or less) is what most owners have told me.

 

[ndurbin]

I like my 3. 54s just fine. Never had much of a problem getting trailers moving just getting them stopped.



I'll stick with SRWs too. You gus can have your extra 2 tires. I've never had a problem with my 3/4 ton pulling my trailer.

 

[rdanley]

thanks for all the replys



like hawthorne was saying i would like to know what the fuel mileage people are getting with the 4:10 six speed 4x4 3500 drw 04. 5 . loaded and unloaded. dealers around hear i telling me to stay away from the 4:10 but my heart tells me diffrent. this is not my first rodeo i have been pulling trailers since i was a pup, but i have had only one truck, with 4:10's (which was'nt a truck) > 3/4 chevy 4x4 6. 5 4:10. but i gave it back after 6 months of pure hell. i am going to stick with my heart and go with 4:10 and that is also tdr influnced > but i would like to know what type of full milage. the chevy i had the fuel milage was not bad 14 / 15 something like that not loaded but it could not pull a load either.



thanks again

 

[Hudsonhawk]

03/04 3500 SRW and DRW with 3. 73 are rated at 21,000 lbs. GCVWR

with 4. 10 that is upped to 23,000 lbs.



The Difference will be in the tounge weight. 9900 lbs. GVWR for SRW. 11,900 lbs for DRW.