4.88's for Towing 6500lbs?

[felixdosmil]

Gonna re-gear my 96 4x4 Tahoe, it will soon have 35's so I was gonna go 4.56.

However I do quite a bit of off roading (mostly sand, some dirt) so I was thinking just going 4.88's to get a little more umf, but I'm not sure how safe that is for towing (car hauler + SBSC Silverado + 2 quads + gear) between 5000 - 6500lbs. I dont tow all the time, but I dont wanna have to worry about busting something when i do.

Any thoughts?

I got a vortec 350 w/ 4L60.

[xZoomerZx]

35's and 4.56's are a good match. 4.88's will push your highway rpm's up a little too far, and your economy will suffer. OTOH, you will have more oomph offroad, so its really a matter of which one you will do more, on road or off.

[RoLL1n D4rK]

when i had my old junt i had 4,88's and 35's with a posi. and tht bitch was pretty damn quick mud hole, street, and towing my high way cruzin rpms wer at like 1500

[felixdosmil]

35's and 4.56's are a good match. 4.88's will push your highway rpm's up a little too far, and your economy will suffer. OTOH, you will have more oomph offroad, so its really a matter of which one you will do more, on road or off.

Ya I dont mind high highway rpms, if i use it on road its for towing, hardly ever cruise over 70 regardless. For them most part this baby's used off road!

My only real concern is snappin the pinion or something due to the weight im pulling (my understanding is that the pinion gets smaller as you go lower in gear ratio)

[RnuovZ71]

35's and 4.56's are a good match. 4.88's will push your highway rpm's up a little too far, and your economy will suffer. OTOH, you will have more oomph offroad, so its really a matter of which one you will do more, on road or off.

With the 4.56s VS the 4.88 he will only see a 2-300 RPM increase. Myself I wish i ran 4.88 in my 99 instead of the 4.56s. Also when you gear make sure you program the comp. that way ABS will work right and your sift points will be correct. those are BIG factors that many people over look... Also might i recomend a aux tranny cooler to!

[V30_guthrie]

Hi,
\ I have an '87 Crew Cab Dually 454 4x4 W/lockers and a TH400 and it sreams down the road on the highway but......There ain't nothing hardly I can't tow. I get about 8 MPG's :banghead:.

4.56's are good just don't stand on it too hard from take offs when towing whichever gear ratio you choose until you beef up the drivetrain more.

Good Luck,
Anthony

[Hatfieco]

Ya I dont mind high highway rpms, if i use it on road its for towing, hardly ever cruise over 70 regardless. For them most part this baby's used off road!

My only real concern is snappin the pinion or something due to the weight im pulling (my understanding is that the pinion gets smaller as you go lower in gear ratio)

Pinion you will be fine. Your effective gearing with 35's isn't far from stock. The pinion gear is only made smaller in extreme cases in my experience, like a 6.12 or something like that, in which cases the actual shaft is the same size. For 4.88 all they do is cut different teeth into the pinion and ring to achieve gearing. Maybe you got pinion size and tooth size mixed up cause the tooth size can and will change based on gearing.

[felixdosmil]

Pinion you will be fine. Your effective gearing with 35's isn't far from stock. The pinion gear is only made smaller in extreme cases in my experience, like a 6.12 or something like that, in which cases the actual shaft is the same size. For 4.88 all they do is cut different teeth into the pinion and ring to achieve gearing. Maybe you got pinion size and tooth size mixed up cause the tooth size can and will change based on gearing.

Yeah thats what it is the tooth size. I do ride my truck pretty hard, even when I'm towing, so yeah Im concerned about breakin the teeth off. I have a history of breakin' sh** so just wanted to head that off, but I figure if I go with a good brand, itll hold up. ANy suggestions on brand or place to buy from? Will most likely install it myself (with help).

[Hatfieco]

Yukon makes great gears, I have had decent luck with auburn as well. The difference in tooth size between what you have and 4.88s is minimal I think you will be just fine, plus 6500 isn't all that heavy. I would probably do all the dis assembly and slip the gears in but when it comes to shimming and setting lash I prefer to let someone else do it. As there is a trick to it and if they mess it up, fixed for free. My .02. As for riding your truck hard while towing, not quite sure what you mean but when towing I tend to drive with an egg on the pedal, better safe than sorry i think.