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Old 04-07-2013, 08:08 AM   #1
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2007 Chev 3500 DRW: any rear diff issues?

We spotted a 2007 3500 4WD long bed DRW Duramax with 41k miles. The truck appears to have been a suburban soccer-mom vehicle. No 5th wheel hitch or gooseball yet. I have seen a negative reference in this forum regarding chev rear-ends and heavy towing. I do not know the axle ratio yet but I am hoping for something around 4:10 because we are scouting a vehicle to tow a full-size 5er.

Does anybody know if 1-Ton Chevy's have rear end problems when towing heavy? If so, is it preventable or correctable? Thanks in advance.




Thanks in advance
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Old 04-07-2013, 08:17 AM   #2
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Suggest you find a Duramax forum and read all about it. While the 4:10 ratio is good for towing, often it is not necessary and can a real mileage killer when using the truck for purposes other than towing.
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Old 04-07-2013, 10:40 AM   #3
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I am almost certain that chev/GMC trucks with duramax Allison have only came with 3.73 rear end from day one.
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Old 04-07-2013, 12:18 PM   #4
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from experience. I had a 2005 GMC 3500 with the 3:73 rear (back then the 3500 only came in a dually with 3:73). There was one hill in particular in eastern PA (these are hills, not mountains) and I could not maintain speed (65mph) pulling a 17K 5er. Like I said, must my experience.

Yes the 4:10 or 4:30 will hurt your mpg but you need to decide where you want to give up. MPH when towing or MPG.
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Old 04-07-2013, 08:15 PM   #5
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GM and Dodge both use the AAM 11.5" rear axle in their 2500/3500 SRW and DRW lines for over 10 years now . I've seen no reported issues with these big rear axles in GM or Dodge diesel forums.

The only negative things I've seen posted is GM derated the DRW RAWR from 8700 lbs to 8200-8500 ?? lbs I believe. GM raised them in '11 to 9375 RAWR. However even at those lower rating it will carry most hitch loads from a RV out here.
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Old 04-11-2013, 11:02 PM   #6
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I have an 02 Chevy (300hp) Duramax/Allison dually, long-bed, crew-cab, 4WD. Our 5ers GVW is 15,500#, it scales near 14,500# when we leave home. We average towing around 8-10,000 miles annually. I changed both diff. fluids at 80,000 miles and it was still the original color. I've never encountered anyone who admits to diff. problems when towing. FWIW, my 2002 only came with 4:10 gears. I get 10.5 mpg towing, 18.5 empty highway, 16 empty city driving. I would NOT want a lower ratio gear-set for towing. If you wish to ask your questions where you will receive the most feedback, go to dieselplace.com , register for free, and post your questions under the correct forum.
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Old 04-12-2013, 03:07 PM   #7
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The 2007 early models are the Classic versions and have a better engine than the LMM engines that succeeded it in late 2007 and were used in the 2008-2010 trucks. The LMM had a poor emissions control design whereby raw fuel is injected into the cylinders to insure full combustion but the net effect was raw fuel being added to the motor oil. GM corrected with in 2011 with the LML engines were an additional injector was added to inject the fuel outside of the engine's cylinders.
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Old 04-14-2013, 08:16 PM   #8
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I haven't heard of any issues with Chevy rear axles. I've had no issues in 165,000 with the one in my '05 Chevy dually.
The truck in question will have a 3.73 gear unless it's been changed by someone which isn't likely. That is the only gear available with a Duramax. I don't know if it's been that way all the way back to 2001 but it's been that way for a long time.
I use my 2005 Duramax (which has less power than an '07) to pull/haul 14,000. It does a fine job.
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