3.42 or 3.73, What is your opinion???

[archer2500]

Wasn't under powered. It was under geared! Bet that load worked every bit of that trucks drivetrain HARD.

Thank-you for the correction, you are absolutely right. It was not a lack of POWER for the load, but simply very high GEARING. If I had a lower gear ratio the performance would have been considerably different.

 

[guldam]

ok, I'm very close to biting the bullet and buying either a 2008/2009 Quad Cab 4x4. And the two trucks I'm trying to decide on are pretty much the same except one has 3. 73 gears and the other has 3. 42.



I will be towing a 22' boat with single axle trailer that has a total weight of around 4,000 - 5,000 lbs. All depends on how much ice and gear and fuel I have in the boat. This is fairly light. My Dakota tows it fine but the trailer has a habit of pushing the Dakota around in the wind, and God forbid I ever had to stop in a hurry.



There is also a horse trailer coming up in the future. It will have one or two horses in it. I have no idea the weight of such a rig.



Most of the time however the truck would see highway duty 30 miles at a time hauling kids and dog.



Would it be a mistake to get the 3. 42 gears?



GulDam

 

[DPKetchum]

YEP. You be limited To what you can tow and with 3. 73 you got it both ways. Where you wanting a manual trans truck? Isn't the 3. 42 ONLY available with manual trans?

 

[guldam]

I'm looking at window sticker right now, and it shows auto transmission with 3. 42 gears.



2009 MODEL YEAR

DODGE RAM 2500

LARAMIE QUAD CAB

4X4

PRICE INFORMATION

MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE OF

THIS MODEL INCLUDING DEALER PREPARATION

Base Price: $ 41,950

DODGE RAM 2500 LARAMIE QUAD CAB 4X4

Exterior Color:Mineral Gray Metallic Clear Coat Exterior

Paint

Interior Color:Medium Slate Gray Interior Color

Interior:Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats

Engine:6. 7-Liter Cummins(R) Turbo Diesel Engine

Transmission:6-Speed Automatic Transmission

STANDARD EQUIPMENT (UNLESS REPLACED BY

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT)

FUNCTIONAL/SAFETY FEATURES

34-Gallon Fuel Tank

Next Generation Multistage Front Air Bags

Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes

Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling

Electric Shift-on-the-Fly Part-Time Transfer Case

Rear Power Sliding Window

Security Alarm

Speed Control

Power Locks

Remote Keyless Entry

Sentry Key(R) Theft Deterrent System

Tire Pressure Monitor and Warning Signal

Power Windows with Driver's One-Touch-Down Feature

Power Adjustable Pedals

600-Ampere Maintenance-Free Battery

136-Ampere Alternator

Front Stabilizer Bar

INTERIOR FEATURES

Air Conditioning with Dual Zone Temp Control

AM/FM Stereo with CD Player

uconnect studios - SIRIUS Satellite Radio

1-Year SIRIUS Radio Service

For More Information, Call 1-888-539-7474

uconnect phone

506-Watt Alpine Premium Sound with 7 speakers

Heated Front Seats

Power 6-Way Driver and Front Passenger Seats

40/20/40 Split Bench Seat

Rear 60/40 Split Folding Seat

Rear Underseat Compartment Storage

Power Accessory Delay

Passenger-Side Sun Visor with Mirror

Automatically-Dimming Rear View Mirror

Tilt Steering Column

Steering Wheel-Mounted Audio Controls

Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

Front and Rear Floor Mats

12-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet

EXTERIOR FEATURES

17" x 8. 0" Chrome Clad Aluminum Wheels

LT265/70R17E BSW All Season Tires

17-Inch Steel Spare Wheel

Full-Size Spare Tire

Trailer Tow Wiring with 4-Pin Connector

Power Heated Exterior Mirrors w/ Manual Fold-Away

Cargo Lamp

Fog Lamps

PRICE INFORMATION (contd. )

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats $ 490

Customer Preferred Package 2FH $ 185

Remote Start System

Protection Group $ 45

Transfer Case Skid Plate Shield

Trailer Tow Group $ 275

Class IV Receiver Hitch

7-Pin Wiring Harness

6-Speed Automatic Transmission $ 405

3. 42 Axle Ratio

Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle $ 325

6. 7-Liter Cummins(R) Turbo Diesel

Engine

$ 6,100

Overhead Console w/Bin,E-Info Center/

Garage Opener

Diesel Exhaust Brake

Tow Hooks

750-Ampere Maintenance-Free Battery

Fold-Away Power Trailer Tow Mirrors $ 100

Chrome Tubular Side Steps $ 545

Engine Block Heater $ 10

AM/FM Stereo Radio w/In-Dash 6-Disc

CD/MP3 Player

$ 300

LT265/70R17E OWL On/Off Road Tires $ 200

BLUETEC Ultra-Clean Diesel System $ 995

Includes High Capacity EGR, Diesel

Oxidation Catalyst, Particulate

Filter and NOx Storing Catalyst.

Meets 2010, 50 State Emissions

Destination Instructions

DESTINATION CHARGE $ 950

TOTAL PRICE:* $ 52,875

Assembly Point/Port of Entry:SALTILLO, MEXICO

YEP. You be limited To what you can tow and with 3. 73 you got it both ways. Where you wanting a manual trans truck? Isn't the 3. 42 ONLY available with manual trans?

 

[DPKetchum]

Thought the 3. 42 was only manual trannys. In fact I thought they were a number of posts/threads on that subject(either here or on DTR) back when the factory was going to make 3. 42 available. I see it on the window sticker.

 

[Coalsmoke]

ok, I'm very close to biting the bullet and buying either a 2008/2009 Quad Cab 4x4. And the two trucks I'm trying to decide on are pretty much the same except one has 3. 73 gears and the other has 3. 42.

I will be towing a 22' boat with single axle trailer that has a total weight of around 4,000 - 5,000 lbs. All depends on how much ice and gear and fuel I have in the boat. This is fairly light. My Dakota tows it fine but the trailer has a habit of pushing the Dakota around in the wind, and God forbid I ever had to stop in a hurry.

There is also a horse trailer coming up in the future. It will have one or two horses in it. I have no idea the weight of such a rig.

Most of the time however the truck would see highway duty 30 miles at a time hauling kids and dog.

Would it be a mistake to get the 3. 42 gears?

GulDam

The 3. 42s will be just fine and then some, and will be saving on fuel. This is the setup I'm running and I am happy I didn't go with the 3. 73. If I were towing 15,000lbs regularly, I'd have ordered the 3. 73.

Don't worry about DPKetchum, he has some strong beliefs on this subject with little room for middle ground for those of us that use the truck for work and play.

As for that window sticker, someone messed up, no 3. 42 with autos for '09 that i'm aware of.

 

[DPKetchum]

Worse thing you could do is not buy ENOUGH truck to haul more horses/trailer or bigger boat and find your limited to what it will do. I have bought trucks in the past THEN needed MORE truck and was in a real bind. In fact what your describing you don't even need a 2500 diesel. The new 1500s would be more then adequate to pull a 6k boat or two horses AND get 20mpg unloaded plus a awesome ride at THOUSANDS less with much longer and better warranty. I see a 2500 with a Cummins and 3. 42 gear as a waste of money. I could also see being limited in resell. I can't imagine THAT type truck with THAT gear to be very popular. I am a bit close minded about the subject. As the old saying goes kinda useless as boobs on a boar hog. 3. 73 gear is a good compromise. The OTHER two gear choices are sometimes a little extreme in either direction. I just bought the other day a 09 Quad cab(more bells and whistles then I like) with 3. 92 rear gear and 20 inch tires which makes the effective ratio 3. 71. With 17 inch tires it IS 3. 92. Its also 390 horse and I think 404 foot pounds of torque. I plan on pulling a smaller 5th wheel AND my Exiss 3 horse aluminum gooseneck trailer which at most has two horses in it at times etc. I paid just about HALF of what MSRP is on the truck you listed and got a little OVER 19 mpg on the way home with it. You asked for opinions and theres my 02 worth.

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm on DP's side, the 3:73 is already a compromise from the 4:10 and 3:42 was brought back because of the MPG issues of the 6. 7CTD. You can change the rear gears in the future if needed but my preference is the 3:73. If you go with a CTD, get it for the heavy duty application or why bother. But the HEMI is a gas hog, at least my brothers "2500 5spd HEMI" is anyway.

 

[DPKetchum]

Got a little over 19 mpg on the drive home(interstate) with less then 50 miles on the new 09. A tech at the dealer near me has a 08 standard cab 5. 7 and said it took his about 5000 miles and at 70mph with 3. 92 gear his hits 20mpg if you drive carefully. The 09s are improved over the 08s in H. P. and mpg. OH I did a BUILD YOUR OWN on the Dodge site. It won't allow 3. 42 and a AUTO with 6. 7. Only the six speed manual. Wonder why? LOL. Also to TOW 15,000 lbs it shows to get near that weight to use 4. 10s! Oh well what do THEY know. But I guess I'm just being close minded.

 

[guldam]

I bought a Dakota 4x4 CC with 4. 7 liter V-8 before I built my boat and before we had a horse in the family. I thought it would pull a boat and a horse trailer just fine. It does. But I'd be mighty nervous if I had to climb big hills or worse go down big hills in a big wind. My boat is light for it's size but it catches a lot of air with it's full cuddy cabin and wheelhouse. And the horse power is there, but the torque is not.



And so now I'm ready to upgrade to a big truck so that it doesn't sweat when I tow. And I can put my family of four in the truck. The Dakota is small, the back seat uncomfortable for any human. And I like Diesels.



And should I need to haul something serious, which we're talking building in the country then this fits the bill. I'd rather have over kill in my truck and avoid killing myself or over taxing a less capable truck.



I have read all the postings here the gear ratios and I think I'd be better off with a 3. 73.



The deals folks are talking about don't seem quite the deals I thought though. That truck I have been looking at will be going for :



2500 SLT QUAD CAB 4X4 140"WB SWB

MINERAL GRAY WITH GRAY CLOTH



MSRP = $49,115.

INVOICE = $44559





YOUR COST $44000

LESS REBATE- 4,000

LESS REBATE -1,000 =(LOYALTY REBATE IF YOU STILL OWN THE DODGE DAKOTA)



NET COST $39,000



= $10,115 OFF FOR YOU



An other dealer has a similar truck for about #34k, but I've been warned that I'll get there and there will be a switcheroo on the pricing.



We'll see. Maybe I should just go drive a 1500 with 5. 7 liter V-8.



GulDam

Worse thing you could do is not buy ENOUGH truck to haul more horses/trailer or bigger boat and find your limited to what it will do. I have bought trucks in the past THEN needed MORE truck and was in a real bind. In fact what your describing you don't even need a 2500 diesel. The new 1500s would be more then adequate to pull a 6k boat or two horses AND get 20mpg unloaded plus a awesome ride at THOUSANDS less with much longer and better warranty. I see a 2500 with a Cummins and 3. 42 gear as a waste of money. I could also see being limited in resell. I can't imagine THAT type truck with THAT gear to be very popular. I am a bit close minded about the subject. As the old saying goes kinda useless as boobs on a boar hog. 3. 73 gear is a good compromise. The OTHER two gear choices are sometimes a little extreme in either direction. I just bought the other day a 09 Quad cab(more bells and whistles then I like) with 3. 92 rear gear and 20 inch tires which makes the effective ratio 3. 71. With 17 inch tires it IS 3. 92. Its also 390 horse and I think 404 foot pounds of torque. I plan on pulling a smaller 5th wheel AND my Exiss 3 horse aluminum gooseneck trailer which at most has two horses in it at times etc. I paid just about HALF of what MSRP is on the truck you listed and got a little OVER 19 mpg on the way home with it. You asked for opinions and theres my 02 worth.

 

[HBarlow]

... ..... [snip]Its also 390 horse and I think 404 foot pounds of torque [snip]... ...

404 ft. lbs. sound okay, not great, until you read the rest of the spec. 404 ft. lbs. at what rpm? The answer to that question is the reason why a gasoline-powered short stroke V8 engine makes a poor and inefficient tow vehicle. You'll be buzzing it a 3500 rpm on every grade to pull a trailer and watching the gas gauge spin in a counter clockwise direction.

Each to his own.

 

[DPKetchum]

Most any gas engine is like that. I know that. BUT the TOW part is not the 09s main function. I DO have my 03 dually. I mainly want to pull a what I call smaller 5th wheel RV with it. I DON"T want to be driving a rough riding truck when I get to where I'm going and unhook etc. The EDMONDS report on Dodge,Toyota,Ford,G. Ms with max tow package put the DODGE SLIGHLY up on the others. It was RATED at almost 2ooolbs less then the Ford 150 but in their OPINION out pulled and out handled the same load better etc. It did the same against the TUNDRA with a 4. 30 gear and so on. PLUS as long as CHRYSLER lives on the LIFETIME power-train warranty is a big plus. The LIFETIME MAX CARE extended service contract(which by the way is SOLVENT) they are wanting to make a DEAL on for a shade over $1500! Can't buy it for that price on line at the dealers that really discount it. It retails for $2700. Truck I bought had a MSRP of $34505 and I paid $26k even including $7% sales tax. (over $2k)I bet there are better deals then that to be had coming shortly. The thought of trading my 03 or selling it outright and buying a 6. 7 only entered my mind VERY briefly. I did a LOT of investigating,like 6 months or so the half tons(NEVER would have bought a TUNDRA in this era) and kept coming back to Dodge. For WHAT GULDAM is describing HE wants to do with a truck a maxed out 1500 would suite him fine at $THOUSANDS less money. BUT if buys a diesel get one that can work 12k or resell to a RVer,Landscaper,Farmer and so on with out that 3. 42 gear being a mood point. Most of the cattleman,contractors,hay growers,RVers I talk to around here GEARING is discussed and I have heard comments about duallys with 3. 73s being marginal for what they do with a truck and so on. On DodgeTalk.com final drive ratios are discussed a LOT in the gasser section with tire height and so on for the SAME reasons as we are doing right now. Same on the FORD gasser sites. 1500 with tow group,3. 92 gear and 17 inch tire/wheel package and pull that boat,two horse trailer/building supplys with not any issues AND have a nice,quiet ride when not. Worse thing that might need to be done is airbags in the rear coils(less then $200) which a few have done just because they didn't like to see squat. The NEW trucks sit level,not butt high like the previous models did.