Posted by blue beast on December 19, 01 at 12:52:17:
In Reply to: What gears to get? posted by Chris L on December 19, 01 at 08:57:42:
You're probably already over your Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating of 11,000 lbs. by a good bit with the 3.42. My Sub weighs in at 5420 lbs. empty, and yours is likely to be as heavy. By the time you add a few passengers along with the driver and any amount of gear, you're over your limits. If your Sub is 5400 lbs, and you have the 3.42 gears, that only leaves you a payload of 5,600 lbs. for everything in the truck (you, family, friends, dog, etc.), the camper, and everything in the camper. If you have 4WD, it cuts your tow rating by 500 lbs. The 3.73 gears will raise your GCVWR to 12,000 lbs.
A few "oh yeahs" -- GM didn't equip most 3.42's with tranny coolers unless the towing package was ordered. Without the tranny cooler, the Suburban with a 3.42 is only rated to pull 2,000 lbs. This probably doesn't apply to you, since you're already towing and more than likely have one.
And the transmission isn't going to change; remember that most folks think the transmission is the weakest link in the Suburban's drive train. Conventional wisdom amongst knowledgeable people who pull travel trailers is that you want to leave a margin of safety in your GCVWR. Most will say leave 10%; some fanatics demand 25%. Personally, I think that's overkill, especially for the relatively flat lands of Texas. I pull a travel trailer in Texas, also, running 90% GCVWR. It's not a fun pull, but acceptable. (Then again, I should admit that the 3.73 differential burned up with 8,800 miles on the truck.)
: Well here is the big question. I have a 1990 1500 with a 350 auto w/od 3.42 and LT235x75R15 and I tow a 5-6000lb travle trailer around Texas. I was wondering if I should go with the 3.73 or go all out and get the 4.10? I was not shure if the 4.10 was over kill with that small of tires. I do not want to blow all my gass I just want better low end when towing.
: Thanks,
: Chris L