Hey guys,I got a 2010 silverado with 6-speed, 5.3 and 3.08 gears I pull a 5,000 boat, and cattle trailer pushing 6000lbs. I was told this would not be a ...

Hey guys,I got a 2010 silverado with 6-speed, 5.3 and 3.08 gears

I pull a 5,000 boat, and cattle trailer pushing 6000lbs. I was told this would not be a problem when buying the truck, but I can tell I need alittle more power when traveling with it. Is it posslbe to replace the 3.08 gears with 3.42 or 3.73? Can the physical gears just be replaced, or does the entire rear axle have to go. Never done this to any of my previous rides, but for what I doing now, I need more pull.

Also, since the rear end would turn at a different speed, does anything have to be changed in the front diff to keep the wheels turning equal?


Any advice or help would be great. THanks guys

The gears can be replaced, but setting gears is not really something a shade tree mechanic can do. There are several precision gauges needed, lots of experience. The easiest thing to do would be to find a the rear end out of a wrecked one that has the ratio you want. Since your truck is 4x4 your parts and labor will be x2.

Okay, good to know it can be done. I wasn't necessarily thinking of doing it myself.

But you said since it is a 4x4, it will be 2x as much, so I assume then you have to up the gears in the front end too? Is that correct?
When you change the rear end ratio, the front must be changed to match?

Yes if you want to use four wheel drive.