As previously posted, I think it does as I expected it to with rain. Now as far as dust and grime is concerned, if that's what you mean by keeping the rear end cleaner, I can't say I'd feel completely honest in telling you it works like a charm. I'm not saying it doesn't help, and I sure wish I had some scientific method for testing it. To be honest, I haven't had the Bravada in a dirty environment to test it. The Bravada stays in my garage for the majority of the time, and I don't like going out in the rain unless I have to. I work at home so there's no four hour commute five days a week that I submit the Bravada to. All in all, my Bravada is pretty pampered in comparison to average use. Then add to the fact I never got an opportunity to see how dirty it would get without a deflector, and I have less than a full picture to report on as of yet. The worst I can report on about rear end unseemliness is water spotting on the black plastic on the bumper, not really note worthy if you ask me. I will be going on a 5600 mile road trip in a few months, so I'll probably be in a better position to comment on it after that. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Sorry it took so long to get back about the reprogram PCM, but I've been out of town. The sevice tech said that he did not know what the change was because he goes online, downloads the change, and then download the new program into the car computer. It didn't specifically say what it was for. It was just an update for the computer.
This past week, my husband and I drove at about 70 mph on the highway, and the mileage we calculated was 21.9 mpg on one tank of gas and 22.5 mpg on another tank. The lower included some travel on 2 lane highways, having to accelerate to pass other cars. I do like the way it accelerates when passing. May have been better if I wasn't having so much fun passing.
Fraudfighter, I had this happen to my Envoy on March 7 with 14,000 miles on the vehicle. I had just gotten up to a highway speed of 70mph and the vehicle died with the brake warnings coming on that you described. On my report, it says they went through the diagnostics chart for a code but could not find anything. They called TAC and found out it had a bad PCM and that there is a "new updated" module. The invoice says the following was replaced: J6360 Module, PCM/VCM 234 W94T, Part# 12576463 Module. Replaced and reprogrammed. I've since put 1000 miles on the vehicle with no other problems.
This is the first major problem I've had with the vehicle so I feel lucky after reading about the many problems others have had.
My deflector arrived via FEDEX on Friday and I installed it Friday afternoon, just in time for the snowstorm that hit on Sunday! No thanks to GM quality control, there were only 3 of each type of screw in my package, but I went ahead and proceeded with the installation, as the stanchions are held onto the plastic applique cover with 3M tape and a couple of screws (yes, some drilling is required), so for now I'm only using a single screw on one side. (hopefully GMPARTSDIRECT can get me replacement parts quickly!)
As John states, the deflector "helps" keep the rear window cleaner, but it won't keep it pristine. The snow that had gathered was easily "blown off" when I reached a good clip. I was a little leery of removing the third brake light for the install (and drilling the holes for the stanchions), but the small cover provided does an adequate job of hiding the gaping hole thats left behind and it's really not visible once the brake light is remounted onto the stanchions and is covered by the deflector itself. (there's a hole cut out in the deflector that fits around the brake light lens) I think GM could have done a little nicer job with the design, but overall it DOES look quite nice on my Pewter Envoy (very much like it appears on John's Bravada!) I'll take a picture of the Envoy version and post once it warms up and I can wash the car again...
John or Bryan, Is there a baffle or a surround that protects the brake light once it is installed in the deflector? Is it sealed, so that it is watertight?
I believe it's sealed in it's stock location, so it has no impact mounting it on the deflector. I could be wrong though, since I didn't install it myself. Looking at the install sheet, I don't see a baffle or a surround for the brake light in the parts list.
John, it probably is sealed. I'm guessing GM wouldn't make a deflector with it left open if it weren't sealed... but you never know! Stranger things have happened. I just wanted to make sure that it isn't going to short or fill up with water over time.
The lite assy is a self contained sealed unit, so its relocation in the deflector is not a concern, although after installing the GM part on my TB , I must say the overall quality of this unit is poor. The 3rd lite opening in the deflector does not conform to the shape of the lite so it is not an exact fit in the deflector. A lot of care and measuring is necessary during the installation.
The third light on all 3 triplets is the same isn't it? I'm pretty sure that's been verified. You think GM would be able to cut a hole in one of it's factory direct parts and have it match one of it's other factory direct parts...
gam2 - Yes, I removed my crossbars. The change in noise is noticeable. There's a small pry slot on the inboard side of each rail front plastic cap that will get you started prying off the cover. Then it just kinda peels off and the cross bars slide forward and off. The covers snap right back on. I think it even improves the appearance of the Envoy (very subjective of course).
The connector is a 7 wire round heavy duty, the trailer brake part is in the center,if your trailer has a different set up there are plenty of adapters available, most common is 4 to 7 about $8.00. Also the wires for the electronic brake controller are to the lt of the steering column under the dash. Just remove lower cover you will see them.
I have the standard rear deflector on my '89 s-10 blazer which I always liked. For my 2002 TB I'm opting for the Lund rear deflector. I saw it on a SUV and liked the way it looked. I should get it in about a week or so (back ordered), tell you how it comes out....
Have any of you bought the GM custom vinyl floor mats for your triplet? I was curious about their quality, thickness, fit, etc, and specifically are the rear mats the same odd shape as the little OEM carpet mats that came with the vehicle? The standard mats do not appear to be very substantial. I tried to look at some of the vinyl ones at the dealer, but they didn't have any--told me I would have to order them sight unseen. I've also considered the MacNeil rubber WeatherTech mats at least for the front; they do have a new 2002 product for the triplets (I think the rear WeatherTechs would have to be trimmed). So I may even end up with MacNeil WeatherTech in front and GM vinyl in rear, unless the GM fronts are good. Thanks.
I bought the GM floor mats for my TB and I'm happy with them. They're the exact same size as the OEM ones, front and rear. They have a honeycomb pattern to them that can hold a sizable amount of water, mud, slush, etc, but they're not so rugged that they look like they belong in a tank.
I considered some of the aftermarket ones, but didn't like the looks of them too much. I also heard of fit problems.
Stick to the GM. I bought the WeatherTechs at first but they don't fit. They are not a custom product. They sent me the same ones for my Envoy that they sent for my wife's Subaru.
John: Thanks for listing the part numbers on your website. I have a 2002 black Envoy (LOVE IT) and am interested in accessories. Is there a site that I can view pictures of these accessories before ordering?
Yes, to a degree, most of the accessories have pictures. On my parts page on my site, there's links under Envoy for either the gmgoodwrench site or the .pdf of the Envoy accessories catalog. Try both.
I have Catch-All floor mats in my Envoy. They are pewter grey (matching OEM carpet) and have a plastic, waterproof bottom with a lip around the edge to keep moisture and dirt on the mat. The 2 piece front mats are custom fitted to the Envoy and fit perfectly. The 1 piece back seat mat is also custom fitted going over the center hump -- though I would like the rear sections to go under the front seats more, but they work fine. I placed the Catch-All mats on top of the original mats and they stay in place well.
Does that lip on your Catch-all floor mats lie flush with the carpet on the sides, or is it like stepping into a shallow basin when you get in the car; i.e., does the lip stick up and you have to watch out for it when you step in? Thanks.
I have noticed an intermittent problem with my transmission on cool days when I put the truck into drive and attempt to accelerate from a stop. The engine revs much higher than normal (like the transmission is slipping) with a lack of acceleration. After about a half-mile of driving, the transmission acts normal, giving what feels to be the normal RPM to acceleration ratio. So it seems as though the cold transmission must warm up before performing normally. Has anyone else encountered anything like this?
Regarding your transmission issue: What you have sometimes experienced is the fan which comes on and takes power away from acceleration of the vehicle. There is a TSB out under: Fan Noise, Transmission delay, and check engine light. I had mine in for a reprogramming and it has been fine since.
Since this is my first posting, I would like to start off by saying thanks to everyone on this board! I have owned my 2002 Bravada for 5 months and have found this board to be very useful. I have experienced all the same problems as other owners; wandering mirrors, paint chipping around plastic insert in the tail gate, sagging head liner, cold engine high RPM 1st gear shift, loose front fascia, etc., but I still love the vehicle.
The Bose system is awesome, the power is 1st class and the ride is smooth.
As for the paint problem and wandering mirrors, I wrote Oldsmobile the following email: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please treat this notification as an official request for action on the following two items. Both items are applicable to all Envoy, TrailBlazer and Bravada vehicles.
1. Wandering outside rear view mirrors. Periodically, upon remote unlock, the outside mirrors lose their last saved memory position and wander to a new position. This has been reported to the NHTSA, as this is a safety concern. Please reference ODI number: 759768.
2. Paint chipping around license plastic insert in tail gate. It appears the plastic insert expands and contracts at a different rate than the metal tail gate, causing the sharp plastic edges to remove the paint around the perimeter of the plastic insert. This can be seen on any Envoy/TrailBlazer/Bravada that has sat in a garage, then park outside in the sun. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I received the following response from Oldsmobile: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ snippet -- General Motors is aware of the mirror concern you are experiencing with your vehicle. Our engineers are currently working on a fix to your concern. General Motors and its dealers attempt to help customers in every way reasonably possible to maintain their satisfaction with their products. The terms of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty provide for the repair or replacement of any part proven to be defective in material or workmanship.
Although this may be an inconvenient situation for you, we encourage you to continue to work with your dealer. They are in the best position to advise you when a fix will be out for your concern. If you have any further questions, please contact us again and refer to your request number, C-06585187.
For your paint concern, we suggest you contact your local Chevrolet dealer to verify if there is a defect. -- snippet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry for the book, but since this board has been so helpful, I wanted to repay the service.
My initial one year is up and wanted to get some opinions. Is there anyone who is going to continue with it. I don't find it worth it and it's pretty expensive for something you never use. I've never used it once except for the personal calling. The bad thing is that you can't keep personal calling without a subscription to the service. Any thoughts???
At 3,000 miles I did the usual maintenance, including check the tires. 42psi!
Anyone else encounter that? I know the manufacturer jacks up the air pressure for transportation, so the dealer obviously dropped the ball. This would be the same dealer that installed the roof rack cross bars backwards.
Also, my TB LS came with a PF59 oil filter (build date 11/01). The manual says use a PF58, but Autozone says go with the PF59. The dealer said use what the manual specifies, "but why don't you let us change it for you when the light comes on" (I'll bet they'll check the air in the tires too). Anyone know the difference between these two filters?
6,000 miles and I need to change the oil again. The light still hasn't come on.
Yup, when I got my Envoy last month, I checked the tire pressure and they were all at 40 PSI. I checked mine as soon as I got it home, because I know that it is rare for a dealer to check or adjust the tire pressure after delivery.
The Catch-All mats do have an approx. 1/2" lip around the edge -- I have not had any problem with catching my foot (or passengers that I have noticed) on the lip when entering/exiting the vehicle. The lips is not that high. What the lips does is keep sand/dirt/water from getting anywhere on the floor of the vehicle. They are kind of expensive ($143 for 2-piece front, 1-piece rear seat mats, including delivery), but I wanted mats that were "carpeted", washable and had the lip to keep stuff off the floor of the vehicle.
Is there anything out there to prevent the carpet around the left foot rest from wearing out? My Envoy's carpet is already showing signs of wear there, on the carpet around the rubber foot rest. (27K miles).
Do you have the black or clear anodized side steps? Would they fit on my Envoy? I was quoted $430 for the pair, $350 for the original running boards that come on some Envoys. Did the dealer have to order them. I was told installation would be about $150. I appreciate it.
I have mixed emotion about the OnStar. Since it can only work with an intact electrical system, if you're stranded with a dead battery or other electrical problem, it's not going to help any. Seems like a cellphone would still be needed. I guess the OnStar advantage would be mainly to those who wanted to use its email capability, concierge services, etc.
Do you have the black or clear anodized side steps? Would they fit on my Envoy? I was quoted $430 for the pair, $350 for the original running boards that come on some Envoys. Did the dealer have to order them. I was told installation would be about $150. I appreciate it.
I know it seems expensive, but after seeing on TV that several vehicles were recovered fast because of Onstar, make me feel better. Several years ago my 4X4 was stolen. I found it 28 a days later with the guy driving it. The guy went to jail for seven years for stealing mine and seven for taking another, but my 4X4 was a total mess and working with the insurance company was a nightmare. If it can be found quick, they would not have time to change VIN numbers and basically strip it. Trying to get the insurance company to put back the way it was, never happened.
I believe the bulletin number is 01-06-04-052 with a description of excess fan noise. I did however speak too soon. It has been on again for 2 successive mornings. The tech did not think their fix would solve it and unfortunately he was correct.
I am considering ordering a Trailblazer in the next few days and am looking for some guidance on the following specific issues as well as any other general words of caution or praise anyone may have regarding this vehicle. Thanks. How much will gas mileage fall off in going from a 3.42 to a 3.73 axle? How about from a 3.73 to a 4.10? What's likely to fail or prematurely wear out if I slightly exceed the 5700 lb towing limit of the 3.73.
What kind of mileage are people getting?
Are you aware of any problem with the new Trailblazer that are likely to cause any longevity/durability issues?
This is true. The brains behind Onstar is located under the passenger side rear seat. A professional thief would know to yank this out (which would take seconds if you see the way its mounted), The only thing it would stop is joyriders which are rare these days as vehicles are getting more difficult to hot wire.
I see the Onstar subscription as a secondary insurance and probably won't renew. I already pay a good penny for insurance here in NJ. If someone wants it, they'll get it!
jmw4, where did you find the TSB number? I can't locate it on alldata or nhtsa. I'm having the same problem and have already taken it in once, only to be told this was "normal" operating condition.
I'd like to print a copy of the tSB and take it with me. Thanks
If you like to do such things, you can save quite a bit of money if you order and install the sidesteps yourself. The price at gmpartsdirect.com is $300.30 plus $54.05 shipping for total $354.35; that's about $80 less than the dealer. The regular running boards are about $270 from gmpartsdirect.com (I don't have the part number handy to check exact price.) Of course you wouldn't have the dealer installation warranty that way. Looks like the dealer wants to charge you about 2 hours time to put on the boards. Most people have said they've done theirs in less than an hour. In fact, GM's own accesory website says the time should be 20-60 minutes; the longer figure would be for the inexperienced. So print that out for the dealer and ask him why it takes his guy 2 hours Don't forget that dealers are not locked into their parts prices. You can negotiate them just like you did when you bought your car. I have read in some postings that if you mention the price from gmpartsdirect.com or some other company, a dealer may match it, or meet you halfway. Good luck.
I initiated communication with Oldsmobile by visiting their web site, then following these steps; "Contact Us", "Email Us", "I am a current owner and have a question, concern or comment", then filled in all required fields and included my comments/concern. I then received an automatic response, followed by an email from Tai Evans, Customer Relationship Manager. She requested additional information: 1. Current Dealer with which you are working, City and State 2. Purchased new or used (if used, mileage at purchase).
Within a day, I received the message above (msg# 2549). Tai Evans email address is: customerassistance@talkolds.com - which seems like some sort of general or functional mailbox.
I read in an earlier post (not sure of the msg #) to open a case number with NHTSA regarding the wandering mirrors, so I did before I sent Oldsmobile the email. I want them to know I mean business.
I agree, the more people that send Oldsmobile an email voicing their concern, the better chance we stand in getting them to listen and fix the problem(s). The way I see it, not every person is going to run to the dealer to report a "problem". Because of this, Oldsmobile will only see a small percentage of the problem vehicles. Since email is so effective (and easy), if all owners email Oldsmobile/GM/Chevrolet, then we (the owners), will paint a complete picture of the situation and it will hopefully lead to TSB's issued by each of the manufacturers.
Has anyone tested the jack and spare tire system on their triplet? I plan to do that this weekend, just so I'll know how to do it. I'd rather learn the ins/outs in a controlled situation than wait until there's an emergency in case I couldn't get it lowered. Any tips, advice, problems? Guess I could always call the OnStar road assist tho Thanks.
Couple weeks ago I had to change out a flat tire on my TB... the manual is straight forward and the process is very simple. The only part that may give you some scraped knuckles is getting the tire hanger out of the center of the spare tire - give yourself plenty of slack on that spare tire cable so you can move the tire out from under the truck to make removing the cable/hanger easier.
Also, don't forget to put the spare back with the valve stem facing down... makes checking the pressure/adding air to the spare a whole lot easier.
Obviously the higher the gear ratio the less drive train strain is exerted when towing, I would suggest an additional trans cooler, a 2wd would tow better than 4wd. If equipped properly and driven properly towing should not affect the truck, if you exceed the limits you are prematurely wearing the drivetrain in general. My 4wd TB is getting 17mpg with 1500 miles on it, in northern NYS. 3.42 ratio.
I have a TB LS with the 3.73 rear end. I pulled a lightly loaded utility trailer last weekend; about a 1,100 pounds total. The truck handled it estremely well; power was excellent and braking was flawless. My only problem is that the rear gate is so high it is hard to see over it when the trailer is empty. Backing with mirrors can be an adventure when you don't have much practice at it.
I would not consider pulling above the maximum capacity of the truck. Longevity of the power train is one consideration. However, the real issue is that neither the frame, towing system, nor the weight of the truck will accomodate towing above what the truck is rated for. It's a safety issue more than anything. I personally wouldn't want to be on the road near you in heavy traffic or with a strong crosswind if you pull more than 6,300 pounds with a triplet.
As for gas mileage, 21.9 is my best tank (nearly all highway), 16.9 is my worst tank (all city). Don't worry too much about the 4.11 rear end and gas mileage. It will get a little bit lower mileage than the 3.42, but the difference is probably not more than 2 mpg highway. When towing, the 4.11 rear end will probably get better mileage than the other gearing options. Around town I doubt you will see any difference. The higher rear end will pull more weight, so if towing capacity is you issue, go with that gearing.
Comments
This past week, my husband and I drove at about 70 mph on the highway, and the mileage we calculated was 21.9 mpg on one tank of gas and 22.5 mpg on another tank. The lower included some travel on 2 lane highways, having to accelerate to pass other cars. I do like the way it accelerates when passing. May have been better if I wasn't having so much fun passing.
This is the first major problem I've had with the vehicle so I feel lucky after reading about the many problems others have had.
Good luck with your suit fraudfighter.
As John states, the deflector "helps" keep the rear window cleaner, but it won't keep it pristine. The snow that had gathered was easily "blown off" when I reached a good clip. I was a little leery of removing the third brake light for the install (and drilling the holes for the stanchions), but the small cover provided does an adequate job of hiding the gaping hole thats left behind and it's really not visible once the brake light is remounted onto the stanchions and is covered by the deflector itself. (there's a hole cut out in the deflector that fits around the brake light lens) I think GM could have done a little nicer job with the design, but overall it DOES look quite nice on my Pewter Envoy (very much like it appears on John's Bravada!)
Thanks,
Craig
A lot of care and measuring is necessary during the installation.
I need to buy a plug so I can pull a trailer, and I don't know which one to get.
Greg
Wichita
2002 Red Bravada
I've also considered the MacNeil rubber WeatherTech mats at least for the front; they do have a new 2002 product for the triplets (I think the rear WeatherTechs would have to be trimmed). So I may even end up with MacNeil WeatherTech in front and GM vinyl in rear, unless the GM fronts are good.
Thanks.
They have a honeycomb pattern to them that can hold a sizable amount of water, mud, slush, etc,
but they're not so rugged that they look like they belong in a tank.
I considered some of the aftermarket ones, but didn't like the looks of them too much. I also heard of fit problems.
Thanks.
Do you have the TSB number handy? I've only had this happen once in 1 1/2 months, but just in case it gets worse.
Thanks!
The Bose system is awesome, the power is 1st class and the ride is smooth.
As for the paint problem and wandering mirrors, I wrote Oldsmobile the following email:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please treat this notification as an official request for action on the following two items. Both items are applicable to all Envoy, TrailBlazer and Bravada vehicles.
1. Wandering outside rear view mirrors. Periodically, upon remote unlock, the outside mirrors lose their last saved memory position and wander to a new position. This has been reported to the NHTSA, as this is a safety concern. Please reference ODI number: 759768.
2. Paint chipping around license plastic insert in tail gate. It appears the plastic insert expands and contracts at a different rate than the metal tail gate, causing the sharp plastic edges to remove the paint around the perimeter of the plastic insert. This can be seen on any Envoy/TrailBlazer/Bravada that has sat in a garage, then park outside in the sun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I received the following response from Oldsmobile:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
snippet --
General Motors is aware of the mirror concern you are experiencing with your vehicle. Our engineers
are currently working on a fix to your concern. General Motors and its dealers attempt to help
customers in every way reasonably possible to maintain their satisfaction with their products. The terms of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty provide for the repair or replacement of any part proven to be defective in material or workmanship.
Although this may be an inconvenient situation for you, we encourage you to continue to work with your dealer. They are in the best position to advise you when a fix will be out for your concern. If you have any further questions, please contact us again and refer to your request number, C-06585187.
For your paint concern, we suggest you contact your local Chevrolet dealer to verify if there is a defect.
-- snippet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry for the book, but since this board has been so helpful, I wanted to repay the service.
tidester
Host
SUVs
Anyone else encounter that? I know the manufacturer jacks up the air pressure for transportation, so the dealer obviously dropped the ball. This would be the same dealer that installed the roof rack cross bars backwards.
Also, my TB LS came with a PF59 oil filter (build date 11/01). The manual says use a PF58, but Autozone says go with the PF59. The dealer said use what the manual specifies, "but why don't you let us change it for you when the light comes on" (I'll bet they'll check the air in the tires too). Anyone know the difference between these two filters?
6,000 miles and I need to change the oil again. The light still hasn't come on.
I appreciate it.
I appreciate it.
Thanks.
If enough of us write, they may do something!
GAM2
http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/accessories/accessdetailEnv_132.html
you'll see GM does make the black anodized aluminum and clear anodized aluminum assist steps for the Envoy.
How much will gas mileage fall off in going from a 3.42 to a 3.73 axle? How about from a 3.73 to a 4.10? What's likely to fail or prematurely wear out if I slightly exceed the 5700 lb towing limit of the 3.73.
What kind of mileage are people getting?
Are you aware of any problem with the new Trailblazer that are likely to cause any longevity/durability issues?
I see the Onstar subscription as a secondary insurance and probably won't renew. I already pay a good penny for insurance here in NJ. If someone wants it, they'll get it!
I'd like to print a copy of the tSB and take it with me. Thanks
Don't forget that dealers are not locked into their parts prices. You can negotiate them just like you did when you bought your car. I have read in some postings that if you mention the price from gmpartsdirect.com or some other company, a dealer may match it, or meet you halfway. Good luck.
1. Current Dealer with which you are working, City and State
2. Purchased new or used (if used, mileage at purchase).
Within a day, I received the message above (msg# 2549). Tai Evans email address is: customerassistance@talkolds.com - which seems like some sort of general or functional mailbox.
I read in an earlier post (not sure of the msg #) to open a case number with NHTSA regarding the wandering mirrors, so I did before I sent Oldsmobile the email. I want them to know I mean business.
I agree, the more people that send Oldsmobile an email voicing their concern, the better chance we stand in getting them to listen and fix the problem(s). The way I see it, not every person is going to run to the dealer to report a "problem". Because of this, Oldsmobile will only see a small percentage of the problem vehicles. Since email is so effective (and easy), if all owners email Oldsmobile/GM/Chevrolet, then we (the owners), will paint a complete picture of the situation and it will hopefully lead to TSB's issued by each of the manufacturers.
Thanks.
Also, don't forget to put the spare back with the valve stem facing down... makes checking the pressure/adding air to the spare a whole lot easier.
I would not consider pulling above the maximum capacity of the truck. Longevity of the power train is one consideration. However, the real issue is that neither the frame, towing system, nor the weight of the truck will accomodate towing above what the truck is rated for. It's a safety issue more than anything. I personally wouldn't want to be on the road near you in heavy traffic or with a strong crosswind if you pull more than 6,300 pounds with a triplet.
As for gas mileage, 21.9 is my best tank (nearly all highway), 16.9 is my worst tank (all city). Don't worry too much about the 4.11 rear end and gas mileage. It will get a little bit lower mileage than the 3.42, but the difference is probably not more than 2 mpg highway. When towing, the 4.11 rear end will probably get better mileage than the other gearing options. Around town I doubt you will see any difference. The higher rear end will pull more weight, so if towing capacity is you issue, go with that gearing.