3.73 or 4.10 with an '05 48RE...Here we go again!

[tschwab]

My dad is looking to order an '05 with the 48RE auto. He tows 4-5 times per year a 9,000 lb (dry weight) 5th wheel, which would be close to 10k+ loaded. Other than when he tows, most of his driving is around town (non Hwy). He is in a quandry over which rear axle ratio to go with. I have an '05 with 3. 73 which I have not yet towed my 5th wheel yet over the pass or on an extended trip, and am hoping I made the right decision with the 3. 73 and the new 48RE for M. Y. '05 (no OD lockout).



So, for you '05 owners with a 48RE, which is the best way to go in this scenario? Thanks for your replies and insight.

 

[Brutis]

IMO if he stays with stock size tires 3. 73 if he is going to put bigger rubber on 4. 10!

 

[Dieselnerd]

I had 4:10 on my '96 automatic and was always satisfied. I've got the same on the '05 and it seems perfect with an engine that likes to rev more than my '96 did.

 

[Coolslice]

IMO if he stays with stock size tires 3. 73 if he is going to put bigger rubber on 4. 10!

What he said.

 

[MRosinski]

I have the 4. 10's and love em'. I do mostly unloaded highway driving. Does run 2500rpm@ 80 mph but 35's would take care of that when your not towing. When towing throw the stockers back and a pulls like a dream.

 

[bill8333]

Gotta go with the 4:10

 

[juicedcummins]

That little bit of weight when towing and mostly empty = 373's with the torque of the 610.

 

[Dosdon]

If your gonna tow heavy go with the 4:10's, you'll love'em. My 5th is 14,500 loaded

and I,m trully pleased with the way my baby shoves this load around. I,ve been driving

trucks, tractors etc for thirty years now and the 4:10 5. 9 combo feels truly big rig under

load.

 

[klenger]

I'm not an auto person, but I had an 01. 5 6 speed with 4. 10's and the only complaint I had with them is that the RPM's were high when running empty on the freeway, but since I almost never drove empty on the freeway, it wasn't that big of a deal. In town the 4. 10 get you into higher gears quicker, so fuel economy is not hurt. Towing with the 4. 10's is great, no downside there at all. Given that the final drive ratio is taller for the auto is even more reason to go with the 4. 10's.



You can compare RPM's and vehicle speeds using the gear speed calculator on my website at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/gear-speed-calculator.xls

 

[fyrescott]

Without a doubt go with the 4:10's... . I would have been very disappointed with 3:73's with the 48RE. I even wish that I had 4:10's in my 02 with the NV5600. I tow a 35' Mountaineer that weighs roughly 11,000#. To be honest I think I made a mistake even buying an 05 with the 48RE after towing with the NV5600..... My bad.

 

[DPKetchum]

Neighbor tows a 3 horse gooesneck mostly loaded and has the 3. 73s in his 05 dually with 48re. Says it was a mistake. Says too tall to get in the sweet spot rpm wise and on grades etc.

 

[macdaddy]

 

[Bertram65]

4. 10s are perfect for the auto with stock tires, better off the line and correct RPM on the highway to keep the trans presure up and the engine in the power band.

 

[DPKetchum]

100% correct. Neighbor had a 03 with 3. 73s and 6 speed. Liked it a lot towing. But the 48re being a O/D trans puts it just outa range for best towing. He says mine just plain pulls harder and better. I tow 10k and VERY seldom come out of sixth even on BIG grades at 65/68 mph. I wanted 3. 73s and all they had was 4. 10s. I'm glad I got STUCK with 4. 10s.

 

[BHolm]

Wow! I am really surprised at how many of you guys would go with the 4. 10s. All three of mine are 48re 3. 73 combos. Two of them are full time work trucks and pull 10-20k lbs all the time. I have never felt the need for 4. 10s even with the 305/555 trucks, they pull better than the chevy and ford that I have/had. If most of the driving is empty and 10k is the load you have to pull, why give up any fuel economy? I also spend too much time on western interstates where speed limits are 75 mph. I might want 4. 10s with a six speed but the loose convertor on the auto easily makes up for the slightly taller ratio. Heck I wish they still offered the 3. 54s

 

[CLAYTON]

I have 3. 73s and bigger tires... if you go this route then you'll need to add some extra power for towin. On the road and in the city without towing I would NOT want 4. 10s... There have only been a couple of times towing in the Rockies that I wondered what 4. 10s would be like.

 

[Bertram65]

I doubt there is any difference in fuel mileage between the different gears. Towing and bigger tires with either gear will shorten the life of the auto, especially with the 3. 73s.

Dodge probably does not offer a gear like the 3. 54 for several reasons, the two I can think of is the CR motor needs to rev to make power and higher RPMs are good for an automatic.

 

[Coolslice]

Would it be possible to use the 4. 56 gears from the new Power wagon 2500? Not that I would want them, just curious.

 

[DPKetchum]

NOOOOOOOO! You need to tow your same load with 4. 10s and you might change your mind. Noticeable differance. My neighbor really dislikes his with 3. 73s. He says ok on FLAT ground but even then to tow nicely he has to be 70 plus. He says from Georgia through Kentucky or up to Ohio etc. its a pain with the up and downshifts,straining etc. My thoughts is if you want tow most of the time and its more then 6/7 k get a TOW gear. Thats 4. 10s. Mine is 65/68 mph up the hill and down the hill most of the time with cruise on. I won't TOW over 70 mph,just won't. I see no point in running a dually much over 70 unloaded anyway. My neighor towing other folkes horses won't pull over 70 and prefers 68 mph. Said 3. 73s with auto dosen't do it well. He's run 60k plus in 4 months or so.

 

[DPKetchum]

You can go to low with a diesel. I guess it depends on tiire and wheel size etc. You would need to see whats made for the AAM axels etc.