How to replace the Rear end gear - I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 with a 3.73 rear gear and 285 75/16 tires. I'm pulling a 27' travel ...

I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 with a 3.73 rear gear and 285 75/16 tires. I'm pulling a 27' travel trailer and need to upgrade to a different gear probably a 4.56 and installing a deep cover for more fluid and replacing all the bearings. This means also changing the front gear. Has any one performed this swap that can give me some advice as to where to purchase and how it's done. Also anyone have advice on tuners for these trucks?
Thanks

I would use Randys ring and pinion. They have great service and good parts. They also have alot of advise on what you will need. If you need to know more you can ask. Ive done allot of ring and pinion installs.

Just how heavy is your 27' trailer? Changing the ring and pinion in your truck is not a job for a novice. If you decide to do it yourself find someone that has done them to give you a little training. I could pull a 6500 lb. trailer just fine with my 99 with 265s and a 3:73 gear set. I could not pull a 27' 7500 lb. up the bigger hills here in the Rockies without screaming the engine in second gear. Later! Frank

The trailer is around 8000 lb I've replaced gear sets before in the rear just not in a front dif before. All of the places like Randy's Ring & Pinion all suggest going to a 4.56 gear.

4:56 gears are a bear to live with as a daily driver. Reducing tire size would be a lot easier. LT245s would probably get you an effective ratio around 4:10. If you are a flat lander that might just do it. Later! Frank

personaly i would go with the 4 56 . It will feel like you got 100 hp upgrade.

Well I just purchased a set of 4.56 gears from Randy's and I also drove the truck with the trailer to the local truck stop with CAT Scales and weighed them both together then the truck by itself. Together the GVW is 12440lbs the truck is 5440lbs this means the trailer weighs 7000lbs which confuses me because the sticker on the side of the camper says GVWR 7900lbs. Also the sticker on the inside of the door on the truck says GVWR 6400lbs. How can the truck and camper weights be so much less than what is posted? What am I missing?