Minimum gear for towing...
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,349
Likes: 1,779
From: Chicago, IL
Minimum gear for towing... What I will tow: 98 Formula + open 2-axle trailer
I will tow with: 99 Tahoe, 2WD, 5.7 Vortech V8, 255hp, 330tq at 2800 rpms, weighs 5100 with me in it
Issue: Hoe has 3.08's
Suggestions?
I will tow with: 99 Tahoe, 2WD, 5.7 Vortech V8, 255hp, 330tq at 2800 rpms, weighs 5100 with me in it
Issue: Hoe has 3.08's
Suggestions?
Re: Minimum gear for towing... you shoulda got a 2500HD 4x4 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
my 98 half ton tows pretty well... 3.73 gears
but it wont pull squat compared to a 3/4th ton pickup <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
hook her to the tahoo and let her rip <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
my 98 half ton tows pretty well... 3.73 gears
but it wont pull squat compared to a 3/4th ton pickup <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
hook her to the tahoo and let her rip <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,349
Likes: 1,779
From: Chicago, IL
Re: Minimum gear for towing... Yeah that's true I can't fit that much corn in the Tahoe, oh wait, I work in downtown Chicago.
I only need to tow once in a while. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
I only need to tow once in a while. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Re: Minimum gear for towing... </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Pro Stock John:
<strong>What I will tow: 98 Formula + open 2-axle trailer
I will tow with: 99 Tahoe, 2WD, 5.7 Vortech V8, 255hp, 330tq at 2800 rpms, weighs 5100 with me in it
Issue: Hoe has 3.08's
Suggestions?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know we were talking about a 410 and that would be nice for towing, but with that cop motor, your gas mileage would suck. For all around happiness, A 373:1 (w/posi) really can't be beat for towing and day to day drivability in thes big 2wd trucks.
<small>[ March 20, 2002, 09:41 PM: Message edited by: Fast4.8 ]</small>
<strong>What I will tow: 98 Formula + open 2-axle trailer
I will tow with: 99 Tahoe, 2WD, 5.7 Vortech V8, 255hp, 330tq at 2800 rpms, weighs 5100 with me in it
Issue: Hoe has 3.08's
Suggestions?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know we were talking about a 410 and that would be nice for towing, but with that cop motor, your gas mileage would suck. For all around happiness, A 373:1 (w/posi) really can't be beat for towing and day to day drivability in thes big 2wd trucks.
<small>[ March 20, 2002, 09:41 PM: Message edited by: Fast4.8 ]</small>
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: So cal.
Re: Minimum gear for towing... PSJ, you will be fine with the 3.08 gears,just dont use 4th gear. I have 3.73 gear and 33" tires, close to 3.08 with 265 tires, it tows fine with a tired old 454.I towed my little boat in 4th and the tranny blew up, caught fire,melted the fuel lines and did 4000.00 in damage from the resulting inferno. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> Needles to say i stay away from 4th.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,987
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, FL
Re: Minimum gear for towing... Ditto on the 3.08's. They may not be optimum, but they should work fine. Just stay out of OD as suggested.
FWIW, I tow my car/trailer (~4800lbs combined) with a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8 5-speed pickup w/3.55 gears. It's rated to tow 5700lbs. I have absolutely no trouble pulling my car/trailer with it, although I'm sure a 1-ton dually would have an easier go at it...
FWIW, I tow my car/trailer (~4800lbs combined) with a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8 5-speed pickup w/3.55 gears. It's rated to tow 5700lbs. I have absolutely no trouble pulling my car/trailer with it, although I'm sure a 1-ton dually would have an easier go at it...
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TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
Re: Minimum gear for towing... Yeah, they'll work ok. You'll just see 2nd gear a little more often than you'd like. OD will be useless except for downhill so might as well save the wear and leave it in D like others have said. You might consider installing a tranny temp gauge as those gears will work the tranny and converter pretty hard.
Damn I love my 4.10 gears in my Suburban. It's a pullin' SOB. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
Damn I love my 4.10 gears in my Suburban. It's a pullin' SOB. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,349
Likes: 1,779
From: Chicago, IL
Re: Minimum gear for towing... Great help boys!!!
I'll run it in 3rd then.
I can definitely see being in 2nd for long stretches, my police package 2-3 shift point is really high.
I'll run it in 3rd then.
I can definitely see being in 2nd for long stretches, my police package 2-3 shift point is really high.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,950
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From: Magee MS
Re: Minimum gear for towing... PSJ you should be fine pulling it with what you have...... We pull a 28 foot Wellcraft, with Twin 454's(weighing about 6000-6500# w/out trailer), with our 97 Tahoe z71.... with 3.73's and it pulls great, it just doesn't handle very well! I think you will be fine considering we have pulled cars with ours before too.... Just hope you don't get on any HUGE hills.... might burn some gas!
Josh S.
Josh S.
