Towing Question

[David Pendleton]

Hello all.



The latest TDR suggests that the 3. 54 mated to the auto trans is a lousy towing for all but the lightest of loads. Is the 3. 55 any different? Better? Worse?



I don't see much mention here of the 3. 55. My sticker says I have one; am I the only one?



I'm only towing ~6500lbs with my 01, but I'd like to think that my truck is somewhat 'over-qualified' for this load. It's been good 'piece of mind' on the highway.



What do you think?



Thanks folks.

 

[EricBu12]

it's actualy 3. 54 but oh well, for that load, no problem, the only advantage is, the 4's are better for pulling, the 3. s are better for mileage. your sit. is light so no problem. .

I have 3. 54 ona stick (6sp) so I have the best of both

 

[Fireman Dave]

Dave,



The 3. 54/3. 55 is the same thing. I think it's truely a 3. 54, but listed as 3. 55 some places. I have it and my TT is about 6k. I have no problems and would say it's more than enough for that weight. A lot of guys like the 4. 10 for towing with the auto. I like the 3. 54, and I tow with OD off, so it works well for me. It's also a nice ratio for the empty runs at 75mph.



Dave

 

[Farmall Hauler]

Hello David!



I know that the 4. 10 gears are better suited for the pulling/hauling but here is a little something to keep in mind. In my Sig. you will see that my brother has the same gears that you have. His combined truck and trailer weight when fully loaded is over 22-thousand. He does regret not getting 4. 10's but, what he has will do acording to him That is where the bombing will come in!!

 

[chuck3]

Don't under estamate the 3. 54s with auto, with a little help from some injectors and EZ, and don't forget the trans. upgrade and you got a puller, not as good as the 4. 10s but it makes up for it when not towing which is the majority of the time for most of us.

 

[pwr2tow]

Like Chuck3 said and with that combination you will have a better truck than a stock 4:10 ratio and probably better than a bombed 4:10 ratio, all depends what your doing with the truck and better fuel mileage to boot, bombed that is.



Ron

 

[Ramboy]

I believe the manuals have 3. 54 and the autos have 3. 55. I have an auto with 3. 55, tow over 24K GCW and have never regretted buying the auto with this gear ratio. Add a few mods to your truck and you'll love it.

 

[klenger]

I can't find the ring and pinion numbers for the Dana 80 axle, but the Dana 70 is either a 41/10 = 4. 100000 or a 46/13 = 3. 5385 which rounds to a 3. 54. I suspect that the Dana 80 numbers are the same as all trucks use the same front axle, I think.

 

[CJ Lagos]

3. 55 and 3. 54 are the same. It just works out differently on some axles because of ring gear and pinon sizes... . a lot of times if your front and rear axles are different you'll get 3. 55/3. 54 or 4. 10/4. 11, these slight differences are nothing worry about, there is more slack in the 4wd to take it up.



CJ

 

[HiPerf360]

I think the Dana 80is 3. 54545454545454545454... . or 3. 55 LOL

 

[B.G. Smith]

4:5what?

Glad I didn't know that I couldn't tow with the 4:55 and auto a couple of years earlier. I have aldeady been coast to coast and to Colorado and New Mexico a few times in between, 73,000 miles and 19,500 GCW. Still going strong and stock too. bg