Tow truck help

BAG29qbh · 02-03-2014, 12:10 PM

I am getting ready to trade for a new pu. Looking at getting a 2014 chevy 2500HD gasser. Truck will be used as a daily driver. Our camper has a gross wtg of 9200# and out camping trips mainly consist of less than 2 hr trips on mainly pretty flat ground with some hills. (no moutains). My question is what gear ratio to get? 3.73 is rated for 9500# and should get a little better gas mileage, while the 4.10 is rated for 13,000#. Have driven a 3.73 and cruising at 60mph it runs around 1700rpm, what rpm does the 4.10 run at 60mph? Worried about noise and comfort why not towing with the 4.10 gears. Any comments from anybody that has this setup would be appreciated. Current PU is a ford f150, 5.4 with 3.73, little overweight on payload but have not had any trouble pulling camper power wise.

clubhouse · 02-03-2014, 01:20 PM

I don't have personal calcualtions to confirm this -- but when I was shopping for a new TV a couple years ago I looked into this. What I recall is the 6.0L 6-Speed 3.73 vs 4.10 resulted in .5MPG differnce unloaded highway speeds. For me .5MPG or even a full MPG I would want the 4.10s.

Also during this search is when i started looking Diesel. I ultimatly when with a very clean used Diesel opposed to a new gasser and don't regret that one bit.

FWIW, Just yesterday I was talking with a buddy who has a '06 2500HD gasser 6.0L 4.10 -- he claims daily driving 14MPG (mixed highway and town).

David472 · 02-03-2014, 04:01 PM

Regarding rpm, my guess is that the 4:10 would equivalent to the 3:73 in one gear lower in the transmission.
My 2500HD is the 3:73 rear end. Got it used and it was in excellent shape with low miles. For me, finding one like that with the 4:10's would have been much more difficult. Given the choice, I would have preferred the 4:10's.

Also, I've spoken to a couple fellows with this truck and 3:73 rear end, who tow fivers in the 10,000 lb class. They say they have no trouble in hilly terrain. A lot of it depends on your hill climbing performance expectations when towing.

**norty1** · 02-03-2014, 04:14 PM

I have had both. I could not tell any difference in noise or towing ability. Both mine were Diesels.

**Crabman** · 02-03-2014, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clubhouse

snip...
FWIW, Just yesterday I was talking with a buddy who has a '06 2500HD gasser 6.0L 4.10 -- he claims daily driving 14MPG (mixed highway and town).

That`s about what I get in mixed driving with the 6.0/4.10. If it were me I would get the 4.10 rear. Never know when you might want to pull a bigger TT in the future.

carey965 · 02-03-2014, 06:06 PM

4.10's all the way
im about to put 4.56's in my truck (equivalent to 4.10 with my tires)

Dadof4Girls · 02-04-2014, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAG29qbh

I am getting ready to trade for a new pu. Looking at getting a 2014 chevy 2500HD gasser. Truck will be used as a daily driver. Our camper has a gross wtg of 9200# and out camping trips mainly consist of less than 2 hr trips on mainly pretty flat ground with some hills. (no moutains). My question is what gear ratio to get? 3.73 is rated for 9500# and should get a little better gas mileage, while the 4.10 is rated for 13,000#. Have driven a 3.73 and cruising at 60mph it runs around 1700rpm, what rpm does the 4.10 run at 60mph? Worried about noise and comfort why not towing with the 4.10 gears. Any comments from anybody that has this setup would be appreciated. Current PU is a ford f150, 5.4 with 3.73, little overweight on payload but have not had any trouble pulling camper power wise.

May want to look at the 2015s. They have some nice enhancements. Although you will get a better discount on the 2014.

What type of daily driving. GM indicated that the 4.10 became standard because it delivered better fuel economy in city type driving. If your driving is normally consistent above 60, then the 3.73 was better. I am guessing that the 4.10 is running 2000 rpm. I have 3.73 in mine, and noise is not an issue at low 2000s rpm.

If you find the 2014 you want, you better get it. They are now building 2015s.

clutch · 02-05-2014, 09:33 PM

If you don't tow in OD then the 3:73 would probably work. In a lot of automatic transmissions the OD gear is not the strongest gear in the tranny. My truck is a diesel with 3:73 gears and my fuel mileage is better when I tow in 5th gear. It tows ok in 6th but the fuel mileage isn't as good. I only use 6th if it is down hill.

**norty1** · 02-06-2014, 06:29 AM

I use the OD and CC until it starts down shifting. The RPM drops 500 when it shifts. Much better economy for me.

BAG29qbh · 02-10-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAG29qbh

I am getting ready to trade for a new pu. Looking at getting a 2014 chevy 2500HD gasser. Truck will be used as a daily driver. Our camper has a gross wtg of 9200# and out camping trips mainly consist of less than 2 hr trips on mainly pretty flat ground with some hills. (no moutains). My question is what gear ratio to get? 3.73 is rated for 9500# and should get a little better gas mileage, while the 4.10 is rated for 13,000#. Have driven a 3.73 and cruising at 60mph it runs around 1700rpm, what rpm does the 4.10 run at 60mph? Worried about noise and comfort why not towing with the 4.10 gears. Any comments from anybody that has this setup would be appreciated. Current PU is a ford f150, 5.4 with 3.73, little overweight on payload but have not had any trouble pulling camper power wise.

We went ahead and bought chevy 2500hd with 4.1 gears. GM increased rebate $1000 on 2014 so we couldn't resist. After driving 4.1 gears cruising at 60 mph rpms run less than 2000 and truck is very comfortable to drive. Quite a change from the f150 and I was never comfortable pulling camper long distance with a high mileage truck that was overweight on payload very far from home, now I can't wait for spring weather and trying it out with the camper on back. Wife & kids are excited about extending our camping trips to farther distances. thx for the input.

David472 · 02-10-2014, 08:30 AM

I'm sure you'll enjoy the towing power of that truck. Happy Trails!

**Crabman** · 02-10-2014, 10:30 AM

Good choice...

Livinglife2 · 02-16-2014, 11:39 PM

We love our 2500

tell us more about it, options, color, add ons, pics

Adk Camper · 02-17-2014, 06:15 AM

I have a 2500 HD crew cab with a 6.0 and 410 gears and at 65 mph the engine is turning 2300 rpm's. As far as gas mileage not towing at 65 mph I get 13.5 max and while towing our 33RLDS at 60-65 I get between 7 and 7.7 miles per gallon max.
In conclusion I do like the 2500 HD as is performs as expected and then some for towing.When towing a TT you get what you get for gas mileage however if I had to use it for a daily driver not towing l would say the gas mileage sucks and would get a small car to drive daily which I did or get a smaller TT that can be towed with a half ton and get that 17 mpg.

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