3:55's or 4:10's

[Don M]

Im sure this has been gone over a million times but a guy that is buying a Dodge for the first time is wanting some input on the 3:55's VS. the 4:10's.



What do you guys like the best? He is wanting to bomb the crap outta the truck and prolly race a little.



Don~

 

[Snow man]

Id go 4. 10's if its an auto 24v,especially with 4x4's that have bigger tires put on. If its a standard,and you drive a lot of highway at 80mph,and dont tow much,3. 55. if you pull alot or tow a lot of hills,or most of your driving isnt going above 70,4. 10.

 

[JHansen]

You're gonna get lots of opinions on this one! My truck has 4. 10's-I ordered it that way over mild protests from the salesman/dealership owner ("we don't sell a lot of 6 spd's with 4. 10's" I think was how he put it). I love them-once I got used to it... . the last diesel I drove before this one was a T800 with a 475 Cat and tall tall gearing (3. 70s with 15 over) that cruised around 1450 rpm at 60 mph. So it did take a little getting used to. I think at 60 mph with the factory 265's it was around 2100-around 1975 with the 285's and now around 1850 with the 315's... the 1st 2 #'s are guesses as time tends to wipe important #'s from the slate-and I only ran the 265's for a little over 3600 kilometers.



If I was ordering again I wouldn't think twice about the 4. 10's... . others may disagree though!



Jason

 

[LSMITH]

I would get the 4. 10 regardless of transmission. If you put 285 or taller tires on a 3. 5 geared truck it is too high geared IMO. I have 285's and 3. 5 gears. I turn 2000 RPM at 80 in OD, at 60 it is only turning 1500. I don't have a lot of power right away when I hit it at 60. I think the ideal situation would be 34-35" tires and the 4. 10 gears for somewhere around a 3. 7-3. 8 effective gearing.

 

[HVAC]

Rear Gear Ratio

Which gear ratio would you suggest is best for drag racing a truck with stock height tires? Knowing we are drag racing would preclude high horsepower

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

I would go with 3. 54 to help traction from being an issue. With lots of power and 4. 10 gears it's just asking for new tires.

 

[klenger]

Depends on how fast he want's to drive on the freeway. I really like the 4. 10's for towing, and I rarely drive over 65 MPH even when empty. No, I don't drive like an old lady, I just don't drive on the open freeway empty very much.

 

[RHamner]

Which ratio

I have 3:55 for towing a 10500# trailer. I wanted to use 2:45 tires to reduce height for trailer bed clearance and with 245s 4:10 would just be too low a ratio on the freway. It all depends on your use and tire sizes you want to use. IMHO

 

[Fireman Dave]

I went with 3. 54 because I lock out OD when towing. That works very well for me. It's also a good gear for me when empty on the 75mph interstates. The 4. 10 is a good gear too, however. If I towed a high percentage of the time - especially in the mountains a lot, I'd have gone with the 4. 10. This is another one of those questions that has no right or wrong answer - it all depends on your specific situation. I definitely would go with the 4. 10 if I were planning to put taller tires on.

 

[Posm]

I personally would preffer the 3. 73 rear end that Chebbie and Furd offer. I do not see a great difference in the posts as far as mileage go, however, power really suffers as the tire size goes up. I would think that the noise at 26 or 2700 RPMs would be a negative on the 4. 10s with the small tire sizes at free way speeds.

 

[Boost]

I traded my 01 5sp 4. 10 for a 01 6sp 3. 55. I traded because I wanted the 6sp. I tow two trailers, one that weighs +/- 7000 lbs and one that weighs +/- 12500 lbs. There is very little difference when towing the little trailer but the 4. 10s pulled the big one way nicer, with a lot less down shifts. If towing heavy is in your future I would go with the 4. 10s otherwise I'd get the 3. 55s. Don't have any idea which would be better for rat racing. JMO

 

[THancock]

My last diesel had 4. 1s and I'm extremely pleased with the 3. 55s my new one has. 4. 1s just rev the engine to much for daily driveing. I have no desire for larger, more expensive tires, but if that is the way I was heading I'd give the 4. 1s a closer look.

An earlier post made reference to high HP frying the skins with 4. 1s, but in actuality the oposite is true. To reduce wheel spin you go to a lower gear. You start them spinning with 3. 55s and you can keep them going for a good long time.

 

[Bad340fish]

BOMB

If he plans on going down the track the 4. 10s will be to low IMHO. Even on my SLUG for a truck I have to shift into 5th at the end of the track with 3. 54s. Will a stock tired 4. 10 truck even go 100?? My truck with 245s and 3. 54s only goes 112 at the rev limiter in 5th

 

[Don M]

The post was put up for another guy that is not a member, Not for me. I have 410's right now. I really like them for towing, but before I did the gov springs my top speed was only about 86.



Don~

 

[Snow man]

Don,since you posted this in the 24V section i assumed his truck was a 24V,which will do 105 mph,stock with 245 tires,and an auto at 3250 rpm. Dont ask me how i know!With my 285 tires,it corrects to over 111 mph,plenty fast for me.

 

[NVR FNSH]

I drive a '00 2500 4wd 6spd w/4. 10s & 315/75R16s - I turn 2000rpm @ 66mph. I need another gear when empty - AND I have oversize tires. Towing the 5th wheel the 4. 10s & 315s are great. Not towing the kinda suck. My buddy has a '00 2500 4wd 5spd w/3. 54s & 295/75R16s - he tows a ~24ft TT just fine.



If you're not going to tow get the 3. 54s - the additional power will make up for the gearing.



Brian

 

[Mallory]

Get 4. 10 if you do not like I will swap my 3. 55 dana 70 with disc brakes and limited slip and dana 60. Like new only 15000 miles with new synthetic oil. Brian Mallory

 

[Snow man]

NVR,how fast do you drive,whats wrong with 2000RPM'?,at cruise speed, that is where the ISB is most efficient,and happiest. My 12 valve liked to run a little slower,but the 24 seems to like to spin a little faster.

 

[Wiredawg]

My two cents

Gents:



I have 3. 54s and tow a 15K LB 5th wheel. Tows great, runs empty great. My BD 2-low kit helps save the clutch when I'm doing tight manuvering w/ 5th wheel.



Get 4. 10s if you plan on going to bigger tires. I don't plan on going bigger for now on my 4X4. I might put on bigger tires on my 4x4 when I buy my 2003 3500.



Wiredawg

 

[SpeedBump]

I say go with the 3:55. If you come to hill or something and you start to lug, just drop a gear and keep on trucking!



Just my . 02



Eric