[12bishop633]

I recently added 20x10 wheels with 295/55 trails on my 2012 crew cab 4x4 1500 Silverado. It came stock with the 3.42 gears and it struggles a bit on the highway and also on the take off so I'm thinking of putting in 3.73 gears. Has anyone made that small of a jump in gears and did you think it was worth it? I feel like it would be worth it but think 4.10s might be a bit much. Any thoughts/input from anyone actually doing this I would appreciate it! thanks

 

[WildChevys]

I wouldn't waste all the work and money on 3.73s. try a tune first and see if that helps enough to satisfy you and if not then go for 4.10s

I have the same size tires and wheels as you with the same drive train setup. I got a blackbear tune and since I don't tow it's good enough for me

 

[12bishop633]

any recommendation on what tune to do? a buddy of mine has a shop and they do EFI Live.


EDIT - I didn't see the second part of your post about the blackbear tune. Ill definitely look into doing the tune first then. Did the tune help with fuel mileage at all? Im between 13-14 mpg average now.

 

[Truckaddict]

I have stock 3.73s with 295/55/20 trails, I get about the same milage, I wouldn't waste the money unless you went 4.56 or higher. As far as tunes look into Blackbear! Very reputable around here

 

[JEaston]

Id do 430s at the least. Anything numerically lower than that would be a waste imo.

 

[casz71]

Id do 430s at the least. Anything numerically lower than that would be a waste imo.

^IMO don't waste your money for 3.73. Like Easton says 4.30 if your going to change them

 

[12bishop633]

even with that small of a tire?

 

[11MPG]

I run 33s and even then I launched from 3.73 to 4.88s. Best thing I ever did and made the Burb a lot of fun. Go 4.10 or in my book 4.30. It will be worth it and makes the driveability a lot more snappy.

 

[aaaslayer]

I was on 33s and 4:56 gears for awhile before going to 35s. I loved it with 33s and those gears. It hauled ass. Now on 35s it feels good, but could be better. I wish I had 4:88 as I'm upgrading to 37s soon. They're just sitting in my garage waiting to be installed.

 

[aaaslayer]

It's better to over gear than under gear. Go with 4:56, you will not regret it. Gears was the best and most noticeable mod I did. If you do gears, you will have to get a tune anyway, so just do gears and efi live

 

[WildChevys]

any recommendation on what tune to do? a buddy of mine has a shop and they do EFI Live.


EDIT - I didn't see the second part of your post about the blackbear tune. Ill definitely look into doing the tune first then. Did the tune help with fuel mileage at all? Im between 13-14 mpg average now.

the tune gave me back about 1-2mpg. I do mostly around town driving and average about 13mpg with a heavy foot. and yes the tune made a big difference

 

[99k1500]

I would do both. Gears are one of the best mods I have done my BB tune I have enjoyed for over 60k miles. If it were me, I would decide on a tire size. Swap gears. Get my truck tuned and setup for the new final drive ratio.

Enjoy better throttle response both from the gears and from the tune. You will be happy you truck is responsive again.
I am happy with my 4.10's over the 3.42's. I would consider 4.56's next time. I think it all depends on what you do with the truck. If you are more than 60% highway, stay with 4.10. If you aren't, go with the 4.56.
FWIW Justin, at BB is great to deal with. I purchased an EFI live unit and tune with less than 10k miles on my 6.2. I now have almost 80k. The tune has been great.

 

[jbaum02]

I'll also say if you're going to go through the trouble and cost go ahead and go lower. I've got 4.56s and 33s. I had a rear end bearing go bad and decided if everything was going to come apart to replace the bearing I mind as well change the ratio. I'm glad I went all the way to 4.56s. My truck feels really good with them.

 

[axisT6]

I feel like it would be worth it but think 4.10s might be a bit much.

Think 4.10s might be too much? What are you basing that on?? The LS based engine in your truck runs better at higher rpms. 4.10s on that tire size is what I would recommend as a MINIMUM.

 

[86454k30]

A friend of mine has a 13 1500 crew shortbed, 4" rancho, same size tires and had 3.42 gears. He put 4.10's and a programmer and it is night and day difference, even the mpg went up a little. He also programmed out the economy mode that drops cylinders.

 

[JEaston]

We tuned out 4 cylinder shutoff mode on my cousins truck and almost instantly got 2mpg better. Heard a lot of the same from other guys. As for gears I'd do at least 4.30s on 33s. Imo

 

[2011laserblue]

It depends what trans you have and what your driving style is like.
Do you do more city, or highway driving?
If you do a lot of highway driving you are not going to like 4.30s.

I've got 20x12s and 33's with Yukon 4.11's and a blackbear tune, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[500whptahoe]

I have 4.30s in my tahoe and 305/45r22 wheels and it drives really great. Makes a lot of power and rpms at 60-65 are manageable. I got 19mpg with a little smaller tire and 4.30s and my black bear tune on the freeway at 60. I'd do 4.30s

 

[rawalters117]

i want gears so bad. But no known shops anywhere near me. somebody chime in and come help me out lol

 

[axisT6]

i want gears so bad. But no known shops anywhere near me. somebody chime in and come help me out lol

Your driveway.