Hi guys,
I have a question: I currently have a 2003 Chevy Silverado with 3.73 gears. I am looking at a 2006 Silverado with 3.42 gears. I tow a dual axle trailer with a Ranger 519. Both of these trucks have the towing package.
Would I really notice a difference in towing? I don't tow a lot of hills but I want power to pass.
Would love to hear from someone who has had both.
Thanks!!
Chris
2014 Ranger Z119C 225 Pro XS
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris519 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hi guys,
I have a question: I currently have a 2003 Chevy Silverado with 3.73 gears. I am looking at a 2006 Silverado with 3.42 gears. I tow a dual axle trailer with a Ranger 519. Both of these trucks have the towing package.
Would I really notice a difference in towing? I don't tow a lot of hills but I want power to pass.
Would love to hear from someone who has had both.
Thanks!!
Chris</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, you will have only 91.7% of the torque (pulling power) with the 3.42 that you have with the 3.73. Ditto for passing power.
SSgt, US Air Force, 1967-75
Veteran - a person who at some time in their life wrote a blank check payable to "The United States of America" in the amount of "up to and including my life".
I have a 1990 Silverado w/ 350 and 3.42 rear. It has pulled both my boats around just fine. 88 201P and a 2000 R20 Jav. I borrowed my father in-laws 97 siverado and it has 5.7 w/ 3.73. I will say it pulled my boat much easier. Hard to say what fuel diff there may be. I would preferr the 3.73 but the 3.42 will be ok.
2000 Javelin Renegade 20 DC.
Strong men create easy times, Easy times create weak men & weak men create hard times. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.
In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings. "Author Unknown"
In 2021 18-40 year old's want to and work to cancel you out if you have a different opinion.
I definitely notice the difference in pulling my 482vs with my GMC truck (5.3 w/3.42), and my dad's chevy truck (5.3 w/3.73) They both pull it fine, but his has more get up and go and can get up to 55 much easier without going over 2000rpm. Mine has to go 2800rpm to get to 55 as fast as his, thus wasting more fuel. I bought my truck used so I didn't have a choice, but I love my truck, but if I had an extra $800 to blow i would change the gears in it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Ranger Z21 250 Vmax HPDI, Dual 12' Talons.
OLD - '97 Ranger 482VS Classic Edition #41 175EFI
OLD - '96 Ranger 207 Cherokee Aluminum with 115 Yamaha
BassClub - Gadabout Bassmasters
My Humminbird Side Imaging Forums --- http://www.sideimageforums.com
I just bought a new '08 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 rear end. When I bought it, based on what I read on this site, I was looking for a truck with the 3.73. The truck I landed on was perfect in every way except the rear end ratio but I bought it anyway. I was worried the first time I pulled my boat (Nitro 591) that it would pull like a sick cow. I was very impressed with the acceleration getting on the interstate. It cruised at 75 like nothing was back there and best of all I got almost 14 mpg on the trip. It usually gets just under 17 running around town. I don't know what the big deal is... I'm glad I got the higher gears and the higher gas mileage.
Don't worry Ma'am....
I'm only here for the Bass.
if you were able to compare you would see the diff. there is a trade off though. but like i said before the 3.42 does ok
2000 Javelin Renegade 20 DC.
Strong men create easy times, Easy times create weak men & weak men create hard times. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.
In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings. "Author Unknown"
In 2021 18-40 year old's want to and work to cancel you out if you have a different opinion.
Do they both have the same engine? I had a '98 2WD GMC extended cab with the 4.3L V-6 and 3.42 rear end that was pretty anemic. I now have an '00 GMC 4WD extended cab with a 5.3L V-8 and 3.73 rear end, and the difference is like day and night. I'm sure it had a lot more to do with the engine than with the rear end, though.
I've had both. My 99 had a 5.3 with the 3.73 rear end. My '06 has a 5.3 with the 3.43. I can tell a difference but the new truck tows just fine. It just doesn't have the low end torque and seems to downshift more often on hills. I pulled the same boat with both trucks so it was apples to apples. My current boat is a lot heavier and I never pulled it with the old truck so can't make the comparison. But with that first boat I could tell a difference.
NoCAL
2004TR-21X/2015 250 ProXS
2B112175
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AveryF »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do they both have the same engine? I had a '98 2WD GMC extended cab with the 4.3L V-6 and 3.42 rear end that was pretty anemic. I now have an '00 GMC 4WD extended cab with a 5.3L V-8 and 3.73 rear end, and the difference is like day and night. I'm sure it had a lot more to do with the engine than with the rear end, though.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes both trucks have the 5.7 and the same trans as well. The 97 may be the vortec though.
2000 Javelin Renegade 20 DC.
Strong men create easy times, Easy times create weak men & weak men create hard times. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.
In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings. "Author Unknown"
In 2021 18-40 year old's want to and work to cancel you out if you have a different opinion.
Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the gears changed from a 3.42 to a 3.73?
Will changing the gearing void your warranty?
2014 Ranger Z119C 225 Pro XS
I always has the 3.73's with my 5.3l gm products,Z71 tahoe and truck, pulled real good, I had 4.10's I think in my fords... My ram had 4.56's (35" tires), I think my thunder road ram has 3.90 somethings in it. Its not goig to kill you to run the 3.42 vs the 3.73 not enough diff to worry about with weight your pulling.... worry about the trans cooler more.
Reply With Quote
