Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

There is no right or wrong answer to your question. Know the capability of your vehicle and understand what the tranny is doing (automatics). If you drive a stick you need to know when you are lugging the engine or not. Towing in OD or Direct is a matter of load and gear ratio. If the torque converter stays locked up it's ok to tow in OD. The torque converter clutch on my truck stays locked and very seledom releases except on long steep grades. Then I'll drop it into direct until I crest the hill. If the converter clutch repeatedly unlocks and locks, that's what creates heat and that's what destroys trannys. Do not mistake the converter clutch unlocking as the shift from OD to Direct. To test what that feels like, cruise at about 60 MPH. While maintaining speed with the gas pedal, gently touch the brake pedal and watch the tach as well as feel what happens. What you feel is the torque converter releasing. In my case I only tow in Direct if I'm running into a very strong head wind and need to have the A/C on. If I'm on a secondary road with lots of hills and curves I'll keep it in direct as well. If you are not an intentive driver you are advised to tow in direct.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I had a black 1988 Monte Carlo SS 305HO Auto, since almost new, for about 10yrs, it had a 3:73 posi rear, and the 4spd overdrive tranny (700R4) so, I'm well familiar with the torque converter clutch, & how it works. I just never towed with it, never had an occasion to, my boats were always in a marina. That was a great car, but it became an extra car, and I just couldn't keep it anymore, sold it after awhile a few yrs ago. Anyway, that had perfect gearing with the o.d. tranny, but I rarely drove it in the lower gears, because I didn't need to, and engine braking was pretty strong then, although I could regularly get 15-20mpg on it.

I'm mostly concerned about engine braking, engine wear, and gas milage when not in O.D. that's why I've been trying to decide which ratio to go with. I figure with the stock height tires, & a 3:42 it might be better? I've usually been towing in O.D. with my truck, unless I feel it's lugging, then I downsift as required. By the way, this chincy truck came with no tach, nor a posi

I figure my total boat load is maybe 2500lbs-3000lbs

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

3.42 is definitely better than 3.08. 3.73 is better than 3.42, and 4.10 is better than 3.73 for towing. The opposite is "generally" true for gas mileage however there is a situation where deeper gears may actually improve fuel economy rather than worsen it. It all depends on how you drive, what you tow, and how much towing you do and where you need to tow. If 90% of your towing is flat and level and your trips are short (say less than 50 miles) that says 3.42 is probably ok. If you are in the hills, on secondary roads a lot, or do a lot of longer distance towing, then 3.42 is a bad choice because you are in lower gears too often. If you are at freeway speeds, and fighting winds (as in Kansas and Nebraska) my vote is again for 3.73. The easier you can make that engine run -- not necessarily slower, the better the economy will be. Everything is a compromise. You can't have an economy champ and a great tow vehicle at the same time.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

After doing some reading on this tranny, it is advised not to tow in overdrive like I've been doing, so with that in mind, average towing of 35-55mph, with occasional short sections of road at 60-65, in 3rd gear, I think my best bet is a 3:42 rear, because under these conditions I think my RPM's would be too high with a 3:73.

Towing Re: "http://www.transmissioncenter.net/700r4.htm"

 

[guy74]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I've had an S10 blazer with 4.10 gears and a 2.8L gut-less V6, but the 4.10 gearing (factory in a 4cylinder or 2.8L V6 blazer) made up for the lack of power when towing something. Gearing is the key to towing.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

A couple of thoughts ...

Any chance that you have surge brakes on your trailer? That might account for the difficulties pushing the trailer in reverse up a hill.

As others have said, your motor is more than up to the task. I have a 4.3 in my Astro, with a towing package (low rear end), and I can tow up to 6,300 pounds with it. Your rear end could be part of the problem and your comments about smelling the "clutch" (auto transmissions actually have a torque converter) would concern me. If the smell and the momentary stress on the tranny are definately linked, I would stop trying to push the boat up the driveway until I figured out what the problem is.

The others are right about the swaying too. You should have the load on the trailer positioned/arranged to that you end up with about 10% of the total trailer weight as tongue weight. Anything less will probably cause sway and if the center of gravity is too far aft in relation to the axle, that swaying can become very dangerous.