wtmtnhiker
New Hampshire
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Hi all,
I have a 2013 GMC Sierra with a 5.3 litre engine and 3.73 ratio rear axle. It has about 76k miles. It has a max tow rating of 9500 lbs. I'm looking at buying a 2018 Siverado under 30k miles with a 5.3 litre engine but 4.34 ratio rear axle and a rated towing capacity of 300 lbs less at 9200 lbs. The 2018 has a few nice bells and whistles that I'd like to treat myself to.
Question is will there be a noticeable difference in the newer trucks ability to tow? Will it seem like it is under powered in comparison? My trailer has a dry weight of 5625 lbs and GVWR of 6995 lbs . My current truck does bog down somewhat on the steeps and I really wouldn't be happy if there was a noticeable difference with the new truck pulling the big hills. Advice appreciated. Thanks for reading.
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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You want to look at the HP difference. I believe the 2018 has a handful of more HP. A few more gears will keep it in the torque band a little better also.
The newer truck will pull marginally better than your old one IMHO. Not night and day; just marginally if I'm correct about the HP.
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GordonThree
Northern Michigan
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wtmtnhiker wrote:Hi all,
I have a 2013 GMC Sierra with a 5.3 litre engine and 3.73 ratio rear axle. It has about 76k miles. It has a max tow rating of 9500 lbs. I'm looking at buying a 2018 Siverado under 30k miles with a 5.3 litre engine but 4.34 ratio rear axle and a rated towing capacity of 300 lbs less at 9200 lbs. The 2018 has a few nice bells and whistles that I'd like to treat myself to.
Did the previous owner re-gear with a custom ratio? Do you know if they also performed other modifications? That would worry me buying something used that's been heavily modified.
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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4.34 gear ratio has to be a typo. What ratio does it really have?
If it's numerically lower than a 3.73 then I would say yes, you will notice a difference towing. It will feel less powerful, not accelerate as well, and be harder to keep the speed under control going downhill. If it is numerically higher than 3.73 it will also be noticeable better in all the aforementioned areas.
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Lwiddis
South of Lone Pine, California
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“The newer truck will pull marginally better than your old one IMHO”
I agree with Turtle. My 2020 Silverado is better than my 2015 Tahoe but not by leaps and bounds.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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wtmtnhiker
New Hampshire
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KD4UPL wrote:4.34 gear ratio has to be a typo. What ratio does it really have?
If it's numerically lower than a 3.73 then I would say yes, you will notice a difference towing. It will feel less powerful, not accelerate as well, and be harder to keep the speed under control going downhill. If it is numerically higher than 3.73 it will also be noticeable better in all the aforementioned areas.
Tight, sorry. 3:42
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rjstractor
Maple Valley, WA
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The newer truck has another 40 hp but with the taller axle ratio it will probably pull about the same. IIRC the 2013 and 2018 use the same 6 speed transmission.
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bikendan
Camano Island, Wash.
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compare payload capacities between the two trucks. get the one with the higher payload capacity.
Dan- Firefighter, Retired">, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur">, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever(RIP">), 2014 Ford F150 3.5 EcoboostMax Tow pkg, 2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255 w/4pt Equalizer and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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APT
SE Michigan
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Are you sure your 2013 has 3.73? I thought you could only get 3.42 with the 5.3L and 6-spd?
2014+ GM half tons have slightly more HP. I expect it will feel about the same when towing.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
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wtmtnhiker
New Hampshire
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APT wrote:Are you sure your 2013 has 3.73? I thought you could only get 3.42 with the 5.3L and 6-spd?
2014+ GM half tons have slightly more HP. I expect it will feel about the same when towing.
I was told by the dealer that it was 3.73. I'm tending to doubt that now.
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