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2500 W/3.73 Pull 5000lbs. In Mountains?

S

spakins

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2002
Messages
9
Location
Reno, NV
Cruch time.
Trying to decide on the 4.10 or 3.73 for towing my 5000lb boat to Tahoe from Reno.

I don't anticipate getting a larger boat in the next few years, but want to tow this one with 5 people in the cab, gear, and gas...

I have found a 2500/3.73 with every option I want.

Will I regret not getting the 4.10? Is 5000lbs a joke for any AVA 2500 on a hill?

Thank You!
 
Also forgot to mention I have searched all the threads, but wanted to hear from anyone pulling a similar weight through mountains.

thanks
 
spakins said:
Cruch time.
Trying to decide on the 4.10 or 3.73 for towing my 5000lb boat to Tahoe from Reno.

I don't anticipate getting a larger boat in the next few years, but want to tow this one with 5 people in the cab, gear, and gas...

I have found a 2500/3.73 with every option I want.

Will I regret not getting the 4.10? Is 5000lbs a joke for any AVA 2500 on a hill?

Thank You!
Click to expand...

The 4.10 would be overkill. The 3.73 will be fine. I tow a 5500 travel trailer with my new 2500 and it's like it's not even there. The manual doesn't even recommend using the Tow/Haul for trailers under 5500 lbs; runs fine in OD most of the time.
 
I pull a 22' Travel traller (Big Sq Box) from Indy to Bristol, TN a couple of times a year with my '03 Av 1500 (3.73 Gears). Aprox 5000 lbs loaded down. No problem. Though I do drive in Tow/haul mode.

Sweet and easy!
 
The 3.73 Gears would be fine for that towing, but if you find one with 4.10's I would get that, the difference in gas will be minimal and you dont want to always regret not getting the 4.10's
 
I tow 5,ooo lb boat with 3.73 in a 2500 and bed loaded with luggage and firewood. No problem through the mountains of NE Pa and Adirondacks in New York. I tow in overdrive. Tow haul not recommended until you're closer to the max tow rating (10,000lbs). It won't hurt, just is not needed at these tow weights.
 
2M3Bill said:
I pull 8500# with 3.73 and no problems.
Click to expand...

Same here, I regularly tow 8000-8500 with the 3:73. The 2500 with 3:73 is rated for 10K. At 8,500, on the steepest mountain climbs I've hit, I only dropped to 50mph. (Semis on this climb regularly drop down to *10mph*.)

Now, If I ever regularly start towing 9,000lbs or more, I'll seriously consider a swap to 4:10.
 
I have the 4.10s and tow a hybrid trailer that has a max capacity of 5000lbs. I travel through PA and NY and can leave the Av in cruise control all the time. The truck will downshift on some grades, but for the most part it just cruises right along in overdrive.

I average about 10 mpg towing at a stedy 65 mpg, and get between 10 and 11 city/highway driving without the trailer.

Personally, I like the 4.10s because it tends to keep the truck within a fairly narrow RPM range, whether towing or not, climbing a hill or not.

Dave
 
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