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Posted: 8/5/2011 11:59:43 AM EDT
[#1]
The 3.43's are the way I would go.
I had a truck with 3.08's in it and it wouldn't run 70 very well. It kept down shifting because the RPM's were to low. Now at 85 or so it would run great. 
With the 3.08's it wouldn't pull very well if you were pulling a trailer. It was very weak in the knees. The truck I have now has 3.35's? or somewhere close to that in it and it holds 70'ish MPH much better. 
BigDozer66 |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 11:59:55 AM EDT
[#2]
do you ever tow?
eta: too slow....read above |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:00:06 PM EDT
[#3]
The 3.42 one should out accelerate the other. But with the newer 6-speed autos, axle ratios are getting higher and higher (numerically lower).
Do you plan on towing much? If so, definitely get the 3.43 one. If not, go with the 3.08 for the highway mpgees |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:02:40 PM EDT
[#4]
I opted for the 3.42 in my new truck. It also has the 6 speed.
The 3.08 will limit your towing capacity by a shit load! Look at the specs, on my truck (Silverado 1500) the 3.42's were part of the towing package and it increased the towing capacity by 3,000 lbs. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:06:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Don't fear the gear
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:06:48 PM EDT
[#6]
I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time.
I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:07:51 PM EDT
[#7]
3.43
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:09:14 PM EDT
[#8]
Bigger is better. Our 2009 Silverado has 3.42 and it does decently for towing. It'd be ideal to have 3.73s in it. We had to tow a bobcat after the snowpocalypse earlier this year and it did the job, but it would have been easier with 3.73s.
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:11:03 PM EDT
[#9]
2-5k lb trailer 10% of the time? 3.43s
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:11:42 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted: I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. You can not "lock out" the 3.08 because it is the "Final gear" It will just prevent you from shifting into 6th so you will not overheat the transmission. It will only make a difference in high gear. 3.08 is a very tall gear, you might even have to shift to 4th if you are towing a heavy load to be able to tow at speed without overheating the tranny. But it will not help you take off from a dead stop. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:12:30 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted: I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:14:55 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. From what I read on another discussion board, the trailer tow button prevents shifting into 6th gear, and 5th gear is 3.43. Maybe I'm confusing the terminology. However, consensus seems to be the 3.43 and the reasons make sense to me. Glad to have opinions from people with experience. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:15:35 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
3.43 I've had 3.08 gears and it's weak for pulling ........I'd get the 3.43 |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:15:45 PM EDT
[#14]
Low gear ratio is not always better. My '03 tundra only came one way, 4.10 rear. It gets a solid 20mpg on the highway. Gotta have the engine in the power band to get decent economy so you dont lug the engine. If your towing 10% of the time you'd be nuts not to get the 3.42 vs the 3.08. For real.
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:17:22 PM EDT
[#15]
You got a six speed automatic with a lock up converter.
Hell, trucks like that oughta come with 4.10s, IMO. Get all the gear you can. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:17:30 PM EDT
[#16]
I have a ranger 4.0 V6 that has 3.08 and for the ranger it does good and i get decent gas mileage, however I don't tow any thing different class of truck I know but mine is still pretty gutsy in 5th.
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:18:57 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. From what I read on another discussion board, the trailer tow button prevents shifting into 6th gear, and 5th gear is 3.43. Maybe I'm confusing the terminology. However, consensus seems to be the 3.43 and the reasons make sense to me. Glad to have opinions from people with experience. rear axle/final drive ratio is the how many times the drive shaft rotates to spin the wheels 1 turn. It is a product of the gears in the differential, it has nothing to do with the transmission or what gear it is in. Overdrive (which would be 6th gear on that vehicle) actually spins the drive shaft faster than the engine speed, hence the reason you disable it when towing, as it is very low torque. If you have a higher rear axle ratio (3.73, 4.10 etc...) you can stay in overdrive more often. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:20:07 PM EDT
[#18]
Definitely sounds like youre confusing things.
What truck are you looking at? The transmissions will be the same between both, 1-6th will be the same ratios. The diff will be the difference. Basically, You multiply the diff ratio by the 6th gear and that gives you your final drive. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:20:09 PM EDT
[#19]
4.88 for the 40" tires and lift.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:21:17 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. From what I read on another discussion board, the trailer tow button prevents shifting into 6th gear, and 5th gear is 3.43. Maybe I'm confusing the terminology. However, consensus seems to be the 3.43 and the reasons make sense to me. Glad to have opinions from people with experience. 3.43 or .3.08 are the ring and pinion gear ratios in the rear axle. The lockout on the transmission will lock out the final overdrive gear (which is greater than less that 1 which is why its called over drive) to keep the engine in the right RPM range. A gear with a 3.43 ratio in a transmission would likely be the first gear, but definitely not 4th/5th/6th. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:22:50 PM EDT
[#21]
The difference between fuel economy is going to be minuscule.
I would go 3.73 or 4.11 |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:23:55 PM EDT
[#22]
5.13 in my Jeep, with a 4:1 low range, and it's still not low enough
Go with the lower gears for sure. Not a huge difference there anyway. If you ever plan on putting larger than stock tires on it, you'll definitely want the lower gears. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:24:39 PM EDT
[#23]
Get the 3.42. That is a nice balance between stump pulling grunt and highway efficiency.
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:24:57 PM EDT
[#24]
Do you plan on adding larger tires to the truck? Increasing tire size has the same effect of lowering (numerically) the gear ratio. So if you go with the 3.08 ratio and then add the tires you are going to have a stupid low ratio ... if you go with the 3.43 ratio then add tires you will probably be around 3.08 depending on how big you go.
Just something to consider. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:27:02 PM EDT
[#25]
with six gears, I'd be going alot steeper than that.
My Ram is a 5spd auto with 3.91's...In high gear at 70mph I'm still only turning like 1800-1900rpm |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:35:47 PM EDT
[#26]
Hell with a 6 speed? Get the higher gear. Its a truck, not a sedan with a bed. FWIW I have a three speed turbo 400 and 3.08 gears because I HAVE to. :)
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:40:36 PM EDT
[#27]
Just because its a 6 speed doesn't mean that a numerically higher axle ratio will be better. Some are just closer ratio transmissions, with nearly the same overdrive ratio as the older 4 and 5 speeds.
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:45:00 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. From what I read on another discussion board, the trailer tow button prevents shifting into 6th gear, and 5th gear is 3.43. Maybe I'm confusing the terminology. However, consensus seems to be the 3.43 and the reasons make sense to me. Glad to have opinions from people with experience. No, your tranny gears will look something like this... (off the top of my head because we don't know what truck your looking at getting) 1 = 3.85 2 = 2.85 3 = 1.65 4 = 1.00 5 = .75 6 = .50 Rear end = 3.42 If you are in first gear with a ratio of 3.85 for every one turn of your drive shaft your engine will turn 3.85 revolutions. So if you the engine was turning 2000 rpm your drive shaft would be turning 519 rpm. This is why you take off quickly in first gear but don't go very fast. Ok lets say you are driving in 4th gear that has a ratio of 1.00. This is considered "Direct Drive" So if the engine is turning 2000 rpm, the driveshaft will also be turning 2000 rpm. 5th and 6th gear are the "Over Drive" gears. 6th gear is a .50 over drive. this means that your drive shaft will be spinning faster than your engine. If the engine is turning 2000 rpm, your drive shaft will be spinning 4000 rpm. So this is why you can haul ass, and have good gas mileage. Now..... The above will will be the SAME for both trucks your looking at.... however the drive shaft connects to the rear end... The rear end has its own gear ratio that when changed from a 3.08 to a 3.42 will change the entire characteristics of the truck... The rear end compounds the ratio of the transmission.... well it also compounds the power of the engine. 3.08 is considered a "Tall" or "High" rear end ratio, it is for hauling ass, and saving fuel. You will not take off fast, but you can go fast! 3.42 is considered a "Low" rear end ratio, this is for taking off fast, but will limit your top speed. It is also used for towing. Hope this helps.... this stuff can be very confusing, and it is not easy to explain buy typing.  |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:47:18 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted: The difference between fuel economy is going to be minuscule. I would go 3.73 or 4.11 These are not needed for the newer 6 speeds because the first and second gear are usually a bit lower than the old 4 speed autos. New 6 speeds with 3.42's = old 4 speed auto with 3.73's |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 12:52:42 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted: Quoted: The difference between fuel economy is going to be minuscule. I would go 3.73 or 4.11 These are not needed for the newer 6 speeds because the first and second gear are usually a bit lower than the old 4 speed autos. New 6 speeds with 3.42's = old 4 speed auto with 3.73's How about my 3 speed with a 4:10. And an underdrive unit. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:02:04 PM EDT
[#31]
There is one little detail that everyone is missing. What engine?
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:16:57 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted: There is one little detail that everyone is missing. What engine? That's what I was curious about too. A nice torquey engine would be fine with a taller gear ratio. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:19:18 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
There is one little detail that everyone is missing. What engine? Yep, small engine, higher numerically rear end, big engine option, you can probably go with the lower numerically rear end. The smaller the pinion [higher numerically] the weaker it will be. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:20:02 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
Quoted:
The difference between fuel economy is going to be minuscule. I would go 3.73 or 4.11 These are not needed for the newer 6 speeds because the first and second gear are usually a bit lower than the old 4 speed autos. New 6 speeds with 3.42's = old 4 speed auto with 3.73's Try again. Notice the .50 6th gear ratio? That means LOTS of down shifting. Running higher gears to improve fuel economy doesnt really work in the real world. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:23:13 PM EDT
[#35]
Quoted:
The 3.42 one should out accelerate the other. But with the newer 6-speed autos, axle ratios are getting higher and higher (numerically lower). Do you plan on towing much? If so, definitely get the 3.43 one. If not, go with the 3.08 for the highway mpgees correct |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 1:24:32 PM EDT
[#36]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I will tow a trailer, from 2500- 5000 pounds, probably 10% of the time. I can lock out that 3.08 gear and use the 3.43 5th gear with the trailer tow button on the steering column. Will that make a difference? I plan to have the truck loaded out with several hundred pounds of gear at all times as well. I think you are confusing over drive with rear axle ratio. The differential isn't controlled by the transmission. From what I read on another discussion board, the trailer tow button prevents shifting into 6th gear, and 5th gear is 3.43. Maybe I'm confusing the terminology. However, consensus seems to be the 3.43 and the reasons make sense to me. Glad to have opinions from people with experience. rear axle/final drive ratio is the how many times the drive shaft rotates to spin the wheels 1 turn. It is a product of the gears in the differential, it has nothing to do with the transmission or what gear it is in. Overdrive (which would be 6th gear on that vehicle) actually spins the drive shaft faster than the engine speed, hence the reason you disable it when towing, as it is very low torque. If you have a higher rear axle ratio (3.73, 4.10 etc...) you can stay in overdrive more often.
I would expect 5th to be 1:1. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 2:42:30 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: The difference between fuel economy is going to be minuscule. I would go 3.73 or 4.11 These are not needed for the newer 6 speeds because the first and second gear are usually a bit lower than the old 4 speed autos. New 6 speeds with 3.42's = old 4 speed auto with 3.73's Try again. Running higher gears to improve fuel economy doesnt really work in the real world.  If you run just a bit higher gear, and have a transmission with a lower first and second gear, and a good over drive, you achieve the best of both worlds! |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 3:00:52 PM EDT
[#38]
Another one wondering what engine is being considered. What about tire size differences between the two trucks?
Brian |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 3:32:10 PM EDT
[#39]
3.43
you fuel economy or lack of is at take off, that is where the 3.43 is better than the 3.08. The difference in RPM..(fuel savings) at highway speed between the 2 with a 6 speed won't even out the benefits at take off....especially if you ever attach a trailer. |
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