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10-12-2020, 07:42 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: NAPERVILLE
Posts: 11
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Best Rear Axle Ratio?
Hi!
Need your help. We are getting a new Pinnacle fifth wheel along with a Ram 3500 diesel. I'm trying to get some real world advice on the rear axle ratio.
It looks like it's between the 3.73 and the 4.1.
Can any of you who own a heavy fifth wheel and pull it with a Ram chime in ang give me some honest input on which axle ration you'd recommend?
We live in Illinois and will primarily be driving it around the midwest, maybe 20 camping days a year for now. But we absolutely will find ourselves in the smokies and rockies with this truck and trailer. So, I'm hoping you can help with some of your experience and steer us in the right direction.
Thank you!
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10-12-2020, 07:52 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 3,493
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I’ve got the 4.10’s in my Ram rear end. If driving in any mountains, that’s the way I’d go. Had no issues driving in the Rockies this past summer.
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Dan
'24 GMC 2500 AT4X AEV Edition
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10-12-2020, 08:25 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 512
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My Ram 3500 Cummins has a 3.42 ratio. Had no problems going across Canadian Rockies pulling a Northpoint 377.
__________________
2021 Coachmen Freelander 29KB
2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
NSA Ready Brute Elite II tow bar
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10-12-2020, 09:37 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,207
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Not a 1T and not towing a 5er...
But on my 3/4T (Ram with 6.4L gas) towing a heavy travel trailer, the rear-end was my only regret with that truck. I had the 3.73, and ALWAYS wished I had gotten the 4.10.
I would always go with the higher number if I'm towing/hauling. It costs a little in terms of unloaded mileage, but it's worth it IMO for better tow/haul performance.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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10-12-2020, 12:20 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Las Cruces (soon...)
Posts: 802
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
Not a 1T and not towing a 5er...
But on my 3/4T (Ram with 6.4L gas) towing a heavy travel trailer, the rear-end was my only regret with that truck. I had the 3.73, and ALWAYS wished I had gotten the 4.10.
I would always go with the higher number if I'm towing/hauling. It costs a little in terms of unloaded mileage, but it's worth it IMO for better tow/haul performance.
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I ended up with 4.1 and when I asked the dealer about the effect on mileage, he said it was like 1/2 MPG, WFIW.
Angus
__________________
Joan & Angus Campbell
Winters in Las Cruces, NM, traveling the rest
2019 Pinnacle 36SSWS "Diana"
2019 F350 DRW Lariat CC Long Bed Diesel "Sheila"
3 Chihuahuas and 4 cats
We don't camp, we don't glamp, we LIVE.
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10-12-2020, 01:00 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: NAPERVILLE
Posts: 11
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thanks for this info--super helpful. Looks like most are saying to go with the 4.1.
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10-12-2020, 02:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Saint Thomas, PA
Posts: 2,234
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You can only go with what ram offer's. In 2018 4.10 was only on dually with max tow. Not sure what 2020/2021 options are. My 18 has 3.42. it does ok, rather have 3.55 or lower. 07 had 3.73 and did well. Is what it is. The 3.42's definitely lug the truck at times with the Aisin transmission, but was the only gear ratio you could get on a 2018 3500 SRW with Aisin transmission.
Earl
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2017 Eagle 293RKDS, factory ordered, lots of mods and upgrades. More than I can list.
2018 Ram 3500 crew cab long bed SRW diesel 6spd Aisin 4wd Tradesman.
B&W Ram puck 5th wheel
Line-X premium
Mopar wheel to wheel steps
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10-12-2020, 02:30 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 3,828
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Most tow packages with the three major brand trucks have a set gear ratio that they all come out with. That is because the builders have worked out the best towing ability with the best fuel mileage using a certain set of gears. If you tow, and do nothing but tow then order the higher numbers, if you tow, but a good part of your driving is without something behind go with what the maker recommends, and that is what is in the tow package.
With the Duramax the new owner could special order 4.10 gears, but what for? If you tow a horse trailer all of the time, yes. Otherwise why special order?
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10-12-2020, 03:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 15,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CAG
Most tow packages with the three major brand trucks have a set gear ratio that they all come out with. That is because the builders have worked out the best towing ability with the best fuel mileage using a certain set of gears.
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They also take into consideration the trany ratio's as well as what the trany does in TOW/HAUL. My Duramax with a 3:73 did absolutely fine towing the PINNACLE when we were in the Rockies.
On one trip going up JELICO MNT in TN i wasn't paying attention to the speedometer and when I looked at it I was at 75 mph and still had throttle left. That is a 5 mile 6% climb, I realize it's not quite as bad as out West, but I was impressed. If you're familiar with FANCY GAP on I-77 that is only 4.5% and that was an easy climb too.
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DISNEY LOVERS
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10-12-2020, 03:47 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 33
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For what it’s worth I have a 2016 RAM CC, CTD, Dually and my 355MBQS across the CAT Scale last year on my way to Yellowstone I was 23,860lbs fully loaded topped off with fuel. My truck is the low horse Cummins with 3.73 gears and I don’t have an issue towing hardly ever took it off cruise maintained 65 mph in the mountain, tranny down shifted but maintained speed and I averaged 10.5 mpg for a 4863 mile round trip over two weeks.
I don’t feel 4.10’s we’re needed.
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2017 Eagle 355 MBQS
2016 Ram 3500, CC, CTD, DRW
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