Upgrading to 4 speed trans or new truck?
 

I have an '04 GMC Sierra 1500 and I'm getting about 16MPG avg. Now with these gas prices jumping up so much, I need a truck with much better MPG's. I have a 3 speed auto transmission, so would it be worth getting a trans with more gears or just a new truck? I would like to keep the one I have now.

I also have a K&N high flow intake with no box around it, there's a board behind it, but other than that no surroundings. I heard people talking about it being called a redneck high flow intake or something like it.

But I am serious about changing the trans if it'll increase the MPG to 20 or up. If I was to get a new truck it'll be like $10k out of my pocket anyways. Actually even more if I want to put any customizations on it like I've done already.

Any help would be very appreciated. I drive between 20 miles and 100 miles a day for work and would like some relieve from the gas.

What is the ratio in your rear end? You might be able to change that for a whole lot less money.

well it's 4wd, so i'd have to change both wouldn't I? And from what I can find, it looks like it's 3.73.

3spd? are you sure? I swear they all had 4spd w/OD, but I could easily be wrong

mine has 3 w/OD, the newer models have 4 w/OD.

Also, how much would changing the ratio affect towing and having a full load in the bed?. Seeing that I don't know too much about the specifics of this, would a GM repair shop be the right place to go or should I find a shop that does more aftermarket type of stuff? I just finished paying off my loan on it, so I can really start modifying the truck (one of the load agreements was that I could only do cosmetic alterations).

My '07 Silverado, 2WD, 4.8/3.42 posi, 3 with O.D. averages 15.5 mpg and gets 18.5 if it is strictly freeway. With your '04 4WD, 16 mpg is actually respectable. You may be able to get 18 mpg, with some modifications but, it's a truck and a 4WD truck to boot.

I have a '95 1500 2WD with the 5.0 liter, K and N, Flowmasters and can get 20 mpg, on the freeway, but it averages about 16 mpg all around.

I need a truck and the truck needs to pull the boat with camping gear, etc. so, I have accepted the fact that I have to pay to drive them.

16 mpg in a V8, 4WD, Pickup truck..... you're not doing too bad!

Maybe the thing to do, is to buy a commuter car and drive that until gas comes down a bit?

16 for a 4wd is descent. The tranny doesn't have anything to do with mpg's. The weight is what's keeping your gas mileage down, and not by much either.

I'm an electrician so I need a truck (equipment, conduit, and ladders). Though I could imagine a car driving down the street with 10 ft poles and ladders strapped to the top of it.

Understood. I'm in the trades, also. I still feel that 16mpg for your 4WD is actually respectable. Gas, here in the SF Bay Area is approaching $4.50 per gallon :-(.