2015 Ram 5500 with 4.88s - thinking of going to 4.44 or 4.10

[daren6688]

I'm new here, I have a 2015 Ram 5500 Crew Cab SLT C&C 6.7L & Aisin w/ 4.88 - yes I regret getting the 4.88. Has anyone changed the gears in the rear end to 4.44 or 4.10. I'm entertaining the idea of changing the gears. Yes, I know i'd have to change the front axle gears too, but I'd probably start w/ just the rear and then load up, test it on a hill or two to make sure I'm happy w/ the results.

I scale at 25,000 with the truck, 5th wheel & boat. I get 7.8 at 65-70 but the tack is at 2200 - 2500. The other day I drove 55, the tach was at 1700 and I got 14.8. I think its time to change the gears

 

[garyp285]

I think 4.10 is where I would go to get the rpm's around 1800 at 65mph.

 

[6V92TA]

believe it or not, 2500 rpm at 70mph is probably optimum gearing when pulling that sort of weight. if you drove the 5500 around empty most of the time it would be another story.

 

[jgillott]

Before you go through the expense of changing gears and after reading the other thread that you started here about wanting more power, I would seriously consider selling the 5500 and picking up a comparable 3500 pickup. It will give you the power increase you desire, the gear ratios that your are interested in and you will not have to make any major changes to it. There are lots of people here pulling much larger loads than the one you have pictured with a regular old 3500 DRW pickup and enjoying every minute of it.

 

[NIsaacs]

The other day I drove 55, the tach was at 1700 and I got 14.8. I think its time to change the gears

That must have been a short down hill trip. That is not a realistic average, (14.8) mpg. Even with perfect gears, I wouldn't expect more than about 10 mpg, at 65/70.

I would go with 4.10's, the 4.44's will still be somewhat gear bound at freeway speeds, empty.

Nick

 

[jhenderson]

I think you'll find aerodynamics play a bigger role in your mileage than rpms. Drag increases exponentially with speed.

 

[kthaxton]

Just put 38" tires on it. :-laf

 

[Cummins12V98]

I am thinking you will be wasting your $$$.

 

[NIsaacs]

I am thinking you will be wasting your $$$.

Yes, and the 5500 axles are big dollars with parts hard to come by. Randy's Ring and Pinion does have the rear axle gear sets (Dana S111) but not the front (Magna Steyr) most likely OEM only.

Nick

 

[daren6688]

Before you go through the expense of changing gears and after reading the other thread that you started here about wanting more power, I would seriously consider selling the 5500 and picking up a comparable 3500 pickup. It will give you the power increase you desire, the gear ratios that your are interested in and you will not have to make any major changes to it. There are lots of people here pulling much larger loads than the one you have pictured with a regular old 3500 DRW pickup and enjoying every minute of it.

Thanks, but
A) the bed won't swap to a 3500
B) I just got out of an F350 - the 450/550 slash 4500/5500 have way better braking and stronger frames etc...
C) if I build this again, it's going to be a Freightliner

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks, but
A) the bed won't swap to a 3500
B) I just got out of an F350 - the 450/550 slash 4500/5500 have way better braking and stronger frames etc...
C) if I build this again, it's going to be a Freightliner

For a GCW of 25K you're not even close to 5500 territory, and really not even in 4500 territory.

Brakes are better, as the truck is designed to have a higher GVW. The trailer brakes should stop the trailer, not the truck brakes.

I'll bet the bed would swap onto a 3500 C&C, which has all the rating you need for what you said you tow.

A 3500 C&C with 4.10's actually has a higher GCWR than a 5500 C&C with 4.10's, by 5K lbs.

The benefit to the 4500/5500 isn't it's towing ability but rather it's up-fit ability with up to a 13.5K RAWR.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I am at 35K in this pic with 4.10's and at or within axle and combined specs. Tows great, no issues.

 

[NIsaacs]

C) if I build this again, it's going to be a Freightliner

That won't help your complaints that you have now....

Nick

 

[R_Walter]

You're not really asking a question, just kinda showing us what you got. It is a tough problem having bought too much truck. My sympathies...

 

[kthaxton]

25k is only 3k more than I do with my 2500.

 

[DPalmquist]

towing

Before you go through the expense of changing gears and after reading the other thread that you started here about wanting more power, I would seriously consider selling the 5500 and picking up a comparable 3500 pickup. It will give you the power increase you desire, the gear ratios that your are interested in and you will not have to make any major changes to it. There are lots of people here pulling much larger loads than the one you have pictured with a regular old 3500 DRW pickup and enjoying every minute of it.

hello I have a 06 2500 5.9 4x4 SRW 3.73 48re auto and have driven back and fourth from Washington State and Florida lots of times. With combo weight bouncing 24K. 28ft enclosed car hauler/utility trailer loaded to 16K+ goes just fine. 70-75mph ****ty mpg. but throttle back I set my cruise control to 57 mph, (and at 57 mph I can enjoy some of the scenery lol) rpm @ 1580 ruffly if I remember right. 12mpg w/warn free spin hubs and large air dam hanging off front bumper retired sheet metal worker made the air dam. on the flat no tailwind or headwind to speak of. all pencil mpg. I have records somewhere to look up. That's a lot of time to play with speeds and mpg. I can even tell you which of three airfilters gives the best mpg. lol
Edge not anymore

 

[CUMMINZ]

Daren, I just went through this last year.I tow 27-28k gross. My 07.5 came with 4.10s. I added 19.5s eight years ago. Last year I stepped down to 3.73s thinking about us traveling out west when my wife retired. BIG mistake. I experienced EGT problems with my Smarty on our trip. We drove 14k miles in 3 months. NC to FL to Oregon to NY to NC. When I got home we swapped out the 3.73s for 4.30s. With my 19.5s I turn 2k rpms @ 70 mph. I also am using #3 & #4 on timing on the Smarty. I have EGTs under control. Find a website that shows you what rpms you will turn when changing to 4.10s or 4.44s and get the set that will give you 1850-2000 rpms @ 70 mpg. Do a search here on my posts and there is lots of photos and info on the gear change.

 

[Wiredawg]

I have 4.44s on 4500 empty (12K lbs) I avg around 11mpg, see 2000 rpms at 70. Loaded and towing (32.4K lbs) I see avg 8mpg, 2500 rpms at 70mph in tow haul. I didn't get a 5500 at the time because 4.88s would effectively eliminate empty running benefits. If our trucks we're closer in years, I might consider offering a trade, as I really only use mine for towing heavy. I like my 4500, as I have first hand experience the truck will stop the truck and trailer without trailer brakes. I like the weight and range of my truck for stability and the 112gal fuel I carry. I really like my 11'4" bed too. I've used a Smarty set on level 5 for almost 9 years and really like it. I planned getting the Smarty as I was buying the truck. 395hp and 790 tq works really well with this platform. before doing a gear change I would really weigh the performance differences between 4.10s, 4.44s and your 4.88s. and would get the Smarty. Hope this helps, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

here is my setup.

 

[Cummins12V98]

wiredawg what is your combined weight in above pic???