Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

[Larry E.]

Will be buying new 2014 Silverado Shortbed. Had to search for the one I wanted to meet my specs. (Too late to order them now) Only ones with all
the trailer options had 3.08 gears. My GCWR is around 11000 pulling my Corvette in enclosed trailer. The new Silverado's have the new 6 Speed
Auto. Trans. The GM specs. with my "standard box V8" for GCWR(3.08) is 12000 so I am within their specs. We all know the final drive ratio is trans. X
rear end not just rear end. Below is a comparison of new vs. old transmission ratio's.

I'll make it easy for ya. Here are the transmission ratios for the old 4 speed trans GM put in the half tons prior to 2010. And here is the trans ratios for the current 6 speed they use now in the half tons. You can see the 3.08 is a little better than the old 3.73 and the 3.42 is a lot better than both the 3.08 and the old 3.73. People get lost in the rear end gearing when it's a combination of both the rear end gearing and trans gearing.


4L60E with 3.73
1st-3.059=11.410
2nd-1.625=6.061
3rd-1.000=3.730
4th-0.696=2.596

6L80E with 3.42
1st -4.027=13.772
2nd-2.364=8.084
3rd-1.532=5.239
4th-1.152=3.939
5th-0.852=2.913
6th-0.667=2.281

6L80E with 3.08
1st -4.027=12.403
2nd-2.364=7.281
3rd-1.532=4.718
4th-1.152=3.548
5th-0.852=2.624
6th-0.667=2.054

So: with all this info does anybody see a problem? Need comments. Larry P.S. My specs. are very unique (Color,length, trailer controller and etc.)

[Robert K.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Larry,

Just my opinion and I'm sure you will get more, but I believe your truck is undersized. You are within 1000 lbs of the GCWR, did you account for passengers, luggage and spare parts? I believe that towing with 3.08 gears you will never see 5th and 6th gears. Does the 6L80E have the ability to keep the trans from shifting into 5th. Constant up and down shifting causes heat and heat destroyes transmissions. Personally, I would opt for the largest ratio I could get and let the overdrive reduce the rpms when running empty.

[Larry E.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Larry,

Just my opinion and I'm sure you will get more, but I believe your truck is undersized. You are within 1000 lbs of the GCWR, did you account for passengers, luggage and spare parts? I believe that towing with 3.08 gears you will never see 5th and 6th gears. Does the 6L80E have the ability to keep the trans from shifting into 5th. Constant up and down shifting causes heat and heat destroyes transmissions. Personally, I would opt for the largest ratio I could get and let the overdrive reduce the rpms when running empty.

Robert: Thanks for the reply. Couple added notes: Towing now with a 3.42 ratio I6 Trailblazer w/o any difficulty. I'm a short haul tower (Max. 200 Miles 1-way). All
flat ground mostly. Tailblazer has 4 sp Auto in which I don't let it get into overdrive when towing. I'm even closer to Max. Towing specs. with it. Waiting for a larger (3.42 gears) is not an option now. (With rebates/incentives and etc.) I will ask the dealer though if the 6L80E have the ability to keep the trans from
shifting into the last two overdrive gears. Thanks again. Larry

[Terry D.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

If you only go 200 miles why do you need a trailer? The General built them to be driven! Just sayin

[Chris S.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Larry
I tow with a 2009 crew cab , 5.3 with the 6 speed, with 3.42 rear gears (only mod is a true CAI) - trailer is a 24 ft Hallmark race trailer
Truck has the HD cooling RPO and trans cooler RPO
Trans runs around 100 degrees plus outside temp - normally right around 175 or so
High is 190
Normal around town is 130 to 150 degrees

Question - How heavy is your trailer ?
have you weighed it - if not stop by a scale and weigh it empty and then full
I figure my trailer weight 4,200 lbs - car weight 2800 - plus gear, luggage, etc....

IMO - go for the 3.42 at a min

[Larry E.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

If you only go 200 miles why do you need a trailer? The General built them to be driven! Just sayin

Terry: You car is not a "Top Flight" 1968 Corvette with original tires on it I bet. Larry

[Larry E.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Chris: Thanks for the reply. My trailer (Spec. real low total hight--7'--18' long) weights 2850 MT. Corvette weighs 3300#. Spec. of Silverado Max trailer
weight is 7100#. Well within the limits. Larry

[Michael J.]

[Dick W.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

While it would not be my first choice, the 3.08 gears will work for occasional towing. It will not be a left lane runner, but driven like it should be, would be adequate. With the short wheelbase I would assume that you have equalizing bars and anti sway controls. That would be more of a worry to me than the gear ratio.

You will be in the gearbox more with the taller gear, but without the trailer you will appreciate the 3.08 when you pull up to the gas pumps.

[Robert K.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Larry,
In my humble opinion, your rear is headed in the wrong direction (pun intended). Many experts say that the tow vehicle should out weight the trailer by 2:1, well that never happens, but! I tow with a 7.3 power stroke Excursion with NO issues. Last week I towed with my son's truck, Chevy K2500, extended cab, short bed, pickup with my wife's 71 VW convert inside. All flat ground, less than 200 miles and I had a couple of white knuckle experiences of tail shaking, not fun. I didn't say it couldn't do it, but, do you really want to be white knuckle driving? Yea, I've seen Trailblazers towing a 28' boat too, not me.

My advice, wait until next year, get a long wheel base, 3/4 ton with towing goodies (got to have the trans cooler) and the biggest rear you can get and relax when you tow. Something to think about, let's say you short out your brake wire, no brakes on the trailer. Now you got to stop! That trailer is going to shove you right through the stoplight. That mine friend is a scary feeling that I know first hand. It super heated my disc brakes causing air (gas) in the calipers and the pedal went to the floor towing a 7000 lb boat in mid day holiday traffic. Don't skimp on the tow vehicle.

[Bill W.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

I have a 2014 short bed Silverado with the 5.3 and 6 speed auto with a 3.42 . It gets about 24.5 on the highway 17.8 city . If you get less than a 342 it will shift it self to death and it also drops to a v4 . I have not pulled my trailer yet but I love the truck except it sits to &%$#@*% high . ps be sure you get the towing package .

[Larry E.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Ok; thanks to all for the advice; you guys are the best. Someone still has to explain to me the following:

If the total final drive ratio is achieved by a different transmission/rear end gear (In this case a 6L80E vs a 4L60E) and everything else is the same(equalizing bars and anti sway controls;weight and etc.)


WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE??? (Sorry I stole the line from a famous politician)

Larry

[Larry E.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

I have a 2014 short bed Silverado with the 5.3 and 6 speed auto with a 3.42 . It gets about 24.5 on the highway 17.8 city . If you get less than a 342 it will shift it self to death and it also drops to a v4 . I have not pulled my trailer yet but I love the truck except it sits to &%$#@*% high . ps be sure you get the towing package .

Bill: You could be correct but I don't see your logic. True my setup will be shifting more in the 2-3-4 range(less torque) but yours would be shifting more in the higher ranges. (4-5-and 6) Also your set up would tell the computer is OK to go to a V4 my set up would tell the computer to stay at a V8. Larry

[Leif A.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

Terry: You car is not a "Top Flight" 1968 Corvette with original tires on it I bet. Larry

This reminds me of the folks back in the fifties who would have the dealer install clear plastic covers on their new car seats to protect them...for who??? The next owner?? I never understood the logic...enjoy it, you paid for it!! DRIVE IT!!! While I certainly appreciate originality, low miles and survivor status and the thrill it must convey to the owner...nothing, and I truly believe nothing, can replace the sheer joy of driving these classic automobiles. JMHO...I'm done now.

[Jack H.]

Re: Need opinions on trailer towing with 3.08 vs. 3.42 gears.

IMHO it is all relative to your tolerance, outlook, and comfort zone.

While I personally wouldn't be completely comfortable and happy with the setup you're considering, I'd not even consider towing what you did with your 4.2L I6 Trailblazer. As mentioned in another thread, I also have a 4.2L Trailblazer and never even considered towing anything but a completely empty open car trailer or little utility trailer with the Trailblazer. When I still had my car trailer, and it was an open car trailer at that, I towed with a heavy pickup truck with towing package including appropriate gearing.

Not trying to be critical. Actually stating just the opposite. If you were okay with towing that package with your Trailblazer, I'd think even the highway geared Silverado would be a huge improvement. Just not my comfort zone.