what gear to tow with.

[lmills]

I have been considering swapping out the factory 4. 10's to go to the lower 3. 55's. I just wanted to get some feedback from guys that tow trailers. I have a 32 foot camping trailer that I only tow about 4 times a year. It mostly sits at a campground during the camping season. I commute about 40,000 miles a year and rarely pull the trailer. Do you think I could get by with the 3. 55's? I think I would be OK since the route i take is flat, just want some experienced input.

 

[Steve M]

For towing 3. 55s do ok but with the auto I'd stick with 4. 10s if it already had them. 3. 55s are good for 65-70mph on flat ground but 55-60mph really puts the rpm too low in O/D or too high in 3rd. I could get away with this with our 7k lb 5th wheel but our recently aquired 10,400 lb high profile 5th wheel is a little too much for it. A 4. 10 ratio with auto in O/D would put the motor in the power band from 50-70mph. You can turn up the power and force it but I beleave the right gear ratio for the load is the better choice.

Just for curiosity, I drove 211 miles towing flat and rolling hill highway at 58mph/2250rpm. I got the same 10. 5 mpg that I get running 68mph/1800rpm in O/D. I don't know if you'll ever recover the cost of the change. It'll just be alittle quieter and relaxed sounding in the cab.

 

[klenger]

I would leave it alone. You will never recover the cost of the conversion from fuel savings, and the 3. 55's won't tow near as well.

 

[lmills]

The conversion is next to free. I am thinking about trading with another TDR member close by. We would do the swap out in my garage. As I say I only tow 4 times a year on the same route. It is about 60 miles one way.

 

[ewcmr2]

I'd go for the swap if I was you. Both my trucks have 3. 55's and tow my 11,000lb enclosed gooseneck race trailer with no problems.



FYI, If I was doing the swap I'd swap the entire axle not just the ring & pinion.



Eric

 

[Joe G.]

3. 54s work fine. As long as your EGT is ok and you don't die on the hills whatever you have is ok. My EGT got high on one long hill in BC, but otherwise it has been ok. I don't have any trouble keeping up with other trailer traffic on the Donner Grade with my 3. 54s. Out pull most of them.

 

[lmills]

Originally posted by ewcmr2



FYI, If I was doing the swap I'd swap the entire axle not just the ring & pinion.



Eric

wouldn't it be easier to drop the driveshaft and swap the third members rather than unbolt the front and back axles?

 

[Philip]

The diesel powered trucks do not have a removable center section like you are thinking of. Imills



You eather change the ring and pinion or the complete housing out.

 

[lmills]

Originally posted by Philip

The diesel powered trucks do not have a removable center section like you are thinking of. Imills



You eather change the ring and pinion or the complete housing out.

You got me. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I should have looked before I leaped.



Besides give me a break, when I posted that I had only been out of bed for about 10 minutes.

 

[Joe G.]

You can post after being out of bed only ten minutes? At that point I'm still trying to find the kitchen so I can start the coffee and open my eyes.

 

[champspa]

I tow heavy 14000 goose-neck and a tractor , in the same area you tow in Middletown and the east coast . I have 3. 55s and they are great . 128000 miles and are doing it.