Posted 2011-09-04 1:16 PM (#137227) Subject: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
New User
Posts: 4
I have found a 2008 GMC 2500HD extended cab with 28K miles in my price range (at the top end of it). It has all the equipment I need to tow and all the features I'd want in my "ideal truck" if I was to order it- the color even matches my trailer. However, it has a 3.73 axle ratio and not 4.1. One of my friends with a lot of towing experience says to find a 4.1 instead- I'm not sure what to do- most of the newer used 2500HDs around here have the 3.73- the 4.1 is now an added option for GMC. Tow rating for the 3.73 is about 9700 lb., tow rating for the 4.1 is about 12000 lb. The lower rating is ok for my rig, but my friend says it isn't as good for my horses- I'm not sure what she means.I'm buying this primarily as a tow vehicle for a 2H Hawk with dressing room (weighs 3465lb empty). I expect to use tow about 2-4 times per month from late March until late October. Most trips are 1-2 hours each way. A couple will be 3-4 hours and 1 will be 15 hours each way). I'll probably drive it a couple times a week in the winter as we get a lot of snow and a 4x4 would be useful on some of those days. I'll also use it for home improvement projects.Again I'd appreciate any advice- thanks!
Posted 2011-09-04 1:30 PM (#137229 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Veteran
Posts: 109 Location: Bella Vista, AR
My last two trucks have had the 3.73 and it was / is fine for me. Current truck is GMC 2006 2500 HD with 8.1 gas engine. Trailer is 22 ft. 8 wide full LQ. Have been to the mountains many times and this truck handles like a dream. Good luck.
Posted 2011-09-04 3:12 PM (#137230 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Veteran
Posts: 134
I have a 2008 Chevy with the 3.73 axle and it works great. I pull a much bigger trailer than what you have and I live in the mountains. I have never had any problems with mine. Enjoy your new truck.
Posted 2011-09-04 3:50 PM (#137231 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: Newnan, GA
interesting - my "buyer" shopped the east coast for the 2008 f350 with the options i wanted and he said i should get the 3.73 for better fuel mileage. glad i did - i can't imagine spending anymore at the pump:(
Posted 2011-09-04 4:52 PM (#137233 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
To the OP. You talking about a 6.0 gas engine truck? I got a 2500HD GMC 6.0 gas 6 speed auto with 3.73 gears, wish it has 4.10's... Get a 4.10 truck if you can, the 4.10's will yield about the same mileage as the 3.73's and it will pull alot better in the hills... I got a 4.10 truck that will drag this 3.73 truck around like a play toy!!!
A 3.73 truck will pull the trailer you're talking about just fine, but a 4.10 truck will do it better.
All of the Duramax Diesel trucks since their inception have 3.73's, that's the only way they come.
Posted 2011-09-04 5:16 PM (#137235 - in reply to #137233) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by retento on 2011-09-04 4:52 PM
To the OP. You talking about a 6.0 gas engine truck? I got a 2500HD GMC 6.0 gas 6 speed auto with 3.73 gears, wish it has 4.10's... Get a 4.10 truck if you can, the 4.10's will yield about the same mileage as the 3.73's and it will pull alot better in the hills... I got a 4.10 truck that will drag this 3.73 truck around like a play toy!!!
A 3.73 truck will pull the trailer you're talking about just fine, but a 4.10 truck will do it better.
All of the Duramax Diesel trucks since their inception have 3.73's, that's the only way they come.
Really? That 4.10 doesn't have the 8.1 in front of it, does it? :)
Been a few years since we were playing with the trucks, but I really couldn't tell any difference between the 3.73 / 4.10, just a couple hundred rpms. If the 6.0 can't get it done with the 3.73/6L90.....seems the logical next step is the Dmax.
Posted 2011-09-04 5:57 PM (#137236 - in reply to #137235) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by chadsalt on 2011-09-04 5:16 PM
Originally written by retento on 2011-09-04 4:52 PM
To the OP. You talking about a 6.0 gas engine truck? I got a 2500HD GMC 6.0 gas 6 speed auto with 3.73 gears, wish it has 4.10's... Get a 4.10 truck if you can, the 4.10's will yield about the same mileage as the 3.73's and it will pull alot better in the hills... I got a 4.10 truck that will drag this 3.73 truck around like a play toy!!!
A 3.73 truck will pull the trailer you're talking about just fine, but a 4.10 truck will do it better.
All of the Duramax Diesel trucks since their inception have 3.73's, that's the only way they come.
Really? That 4.10 doesn't have the 8.1 in front of it, does it? :)
Been a few years since we were playing with the trucks, but I really couldn't tell any difference between the 3.73 / 4.10, just a couple hundred rpms. If the 6.0 can't get it done with the 3.73/6L90.....seems the logical next step is the Dmax.
Yessa yessa massa Chad, We're living in the past, running about one week behind!! We just got our power back on from Hurricane Irene...!!
One of them trucks has the 8.1 with 4.10's the other truck had a 6.0 with 4.10's. Sold the 6.0 4.10 and got me a new 6.0 3.73 because it was suppose to be so much better. May be better to folks that are running to pick up groceries, but put it to work and it's lacking just a little grunt. (why the difference in tow ratings between the two axle ratios?) Just got back from Harrisburg, Pa. and the 6.0 3.73 truck just seemed too busy shifting... It pulled a 6000# trailer fine, it's just the fact that on most any little grade it will drop back from 6th to 5th or to 4th and keep on screaming. Truck is much easier to drive towing in the hills with the cruise control off...
Rolling through South Carolina on I-95 and the 3.73 is just fine. Get on the inclines in up north and for my liking, the 4.10 works better!!
To the OP... You buy what you like, I do not have a clue as to what I'm talking about. You buy what suits your needs.....
Posted 2011-09-05 5:38 PM (#137257 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Veteran
Posts: 134
At the risk of getting into the middle of the great truck debate. I will say this my 2008 Chevy Dmax with the 3.73 axle runs circles around my husbands Ford F350 with the 4.10 gears. We don't have inclines we have mountains. We live at 5200 feet and when I pull out of my driveway I have a steep climb of about 3-4 miles. It tops out around 6400 and then drops back down to 5000. The highest montain in Montana sits right out my back door, and when I want to pull a steep pass I will take my Chevy anyday. But as they say Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are as many opinions on trucks and what they can do as there are fish in the sea. As I said before enjoy your new truck.
Posted 2011-09-05 5:49 PM (#137260 - in reply to #137257) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by liv to ride on 2011-09-05 5:38 PM
At the risk of getting into the middle of the great truck debate. I will say this my 2008 Chevy Dmax with the 3.73 axle runs circles around my husbands Ford F350 with the 4.10 gears. We don't have inclines we have mountains. We live at 5200 feet and when I pull out of my driveway I have a steep climb of about 3-4 miles. It tops out around 6400 and then drops back down to 5000. The highest montain in Montana sits right out my back door, and when I want to pull a steep pass I will take my Chevy anyday. But as they say Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are as many opinions on trucks and what they can do as there are fish in the sea. As I said before enjoy your new truck.
We're not talking about D-Max diesel trucks, we're talking about small block V8 6.0 liter GM gasoline powered trucks... A whole nuther animal from a D-Max powered truck that has twice the torque that the gas engine has.....
Posted 2011-09-05 11:01 PM (#137277 - in reply to #137227) Subject: RE: IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by gryffin on 2011-09-04 1:16 PM
I have found a 2008 GMC 2500HD extended cab with 28K miles in my price range (at the top end of it). It has all the equipment I need to tow and all the features I'd want in my "ideal truck" if I was to order it- the color even matches my trailer. However, it has a 3.73 axle ratio and not 4.1. One of my friends with a lot of towing experience says to find a 4.1 instead- I'm not sure what to do- most of the newer used 2500HDs around here have the 3.73- the 4.1 is now an added option for GMC. Tow rating for the 3.73 is about 9700 lb., tow rating for the 4.1 is about 12000 lb. The lower rating is ok for my rig, but my friend says it isn't as good for my horses- I'm not sure what she means.I'm buying this primarily as a tow vehicle for a 2H Hawk with dressing room (weighs 3465lb empty). I expect to use tow about 2-4 times per month from late March until late October. Most trips are 1-2 hours each way. A couple will be 3-4 hours and 1 will be 15 hours each way). I'll probably drive it a couple times a week in the winter as we get a lot of snow and a 4x4 would be useful on some of those days. I'll also use it for home improvement projects.Again I'd appreciate any advice- thanks!
IS 3.73 ok or should I keep looking
