Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) overloaded

[SPatyna]

This is reg; the article overloaded TDR issue53/pg. 40. My truck is 1994/2wd/auto/#10bd plate, 230 hp/605torqe/cat removed/walker superturbo muffler/big K@N/no air box/boost 29#/autometer pyro/ trans temp/ boost/silencer ring removed/265-75-16 tires. The article states a24valve with 3. 54 gear is not as optimum as 4. 10 gear because the truck is not in it's sweet spot/ hunting in and out of OD. I did have 3. 54 gears in my truck and pull a 10,500lb. arctic fox fifth wheel. I found in rolling foothill country or praireland it never wanted to gear down, except for steeper mountain grades in western Montanna/ Canada. I installed 4. 10 gears because i noticed the truck laboring a bit from a stop or up some steeper long grades with a little bit of TC shutter. Crusining at 62mph or 100 KM /HR i find the truck was reving about 1400-1500rpm in OD, right on the edge of TC shutter/ remember my tire size is taller than stock so my effective gear raio is actually 3. 40. I have not pulled the trailer yet with the 4:10's which with the other than stock tire on it makes my actual gear a 3:95 . My actual ? is , does a 12 valve truck also with auto-trans and 4:10 gears run as much in the sweet spot as the 24 v engine as described in the article. My truck with the 4:10's runs at about 1800-1900rpm at 62mph in overdrive with 265 tires . I did manage a 16. 5 mpg with the 3. 54's pulling the fox, i expect that to drop somewhat with 4:10's at the same speed but will sacrifice for the sake of less stress on the trans and easier takeoff and hill climbing. Thoughts welcome. ---SPatyna