3.73 vs 4.10 Advice Please!

[DSpivey]

well ive ran both when i had my. 5. 9s and i cant see any advantage with the 4. 10s my 3. 73 will do anyhing the 4. 10s will do and do it with less fuel.

 

[jcarey]

Wofy, your comments ranks up ther with some of the best, most intelligent postings on the TDR.



I've learned a lot.



Thanks!

 

[Wolfy]

Wofy, your comments ranks up ther with some of the best, most intelligent postings on the TDR.



I've learned a lot.



Thanks!

Thank you Jim.



If anything I post is helpful, then I'm pleased.



Hopefully I have been accurate, within the limits of my understanding.



Corrections are always welcome. I am new to diesels, and there is a great deal I don't know about these rigs.



I learn something here with every visit as well.



Great web-site, great members, huh?

 

[CUMMINZ]

Hmmm.



Launches?

Yes, if that's important to you. Best mpg potential is sacrificed.





I got away from the forum for a couple of days to tow my rig on a short trip over the weekend camping trip. I'll share a few photos with you guys to show why launches are so important. Now owning an 07. 5 with 6. 7L and 68rfe I now understand how much better the transmission being geared the way it is, is so important. When I had my 06 with 4. 10 with 48re (which I did not have a speck) of trouble with it. The main complaint was that reverse was way to high and the 1st gear and TC was not the best. Some of the hills I travel I actually could NOT launch without close to burning it up. I started using low 4x4 for both launches and backing into my camping spots. And by the way all 3. 73s would be even worse because you can't downshift. #@$%!

When I accended 226 just south of Spruce Pine I did it in 3rd gear and partly in 2nd. Never used 1st. gear. My 06 48re did it in first all the way. This 68rfe is a horse. I ran I-40 today at 70mph at 1850rpms. That is 350rpms better than my 48re. For me the 4. 10 is the best choice. :-laf I have said since 04. 5 when the 325/600 came out that it liked slightly higher revs (around 2100-2200) when towing and I still believe that. If you are a weekend towing kinda person or drive your truck mainly on the interstate at 75-80 by all means get a 3. 73. No body has proved to me that a 3. 73 can get better milage while towing heavy.



#ad




#ad




#ad




#ad

 

[Wolfy]

Hmmm.



Launches?

Yes, if that's important to you. Best mpg potential is sacrificed.

And by the way DO all 3. 73s would be even worse because you can't downshift. #@$%!

Agree. Said that more than once. Here:



"In almost every situation ***other than starting heavy from a dead stop***,... you can get a lower-overall gear than the 4. 10 by shifting down the 3. 73 one-gear. "



"Forgetting about the "launch" ***(you can't "downshift one gear" from first. )***... "



"... from a power standpoint ... you can match-or-better all 4. 10 gears ***EXCEPT the lowest one (1st)*** by shifting the 3. 73 down. "



Don't understand the "DO".

 

[CUMMINZ]

BY THE WAY... . The reverse in this new 68rfe is absolutely awesome. I did not have to get on the pedal and rev up to back up this weekend. I simple tapped the throttle a few times and it was there. Great job DC on the reverse. Oo.

 

[CUMMINZ]

BY THE WAY... . In my umble opinion this new 6. 7L bare bones with intake silencer gone and muffler gone is as strong as my 5. 9L with Edge EZ. I am sure the 6 speed transmission has a lot to do with it.



CUMMINZ

 

[Wolfy]

Couple more data bits

Wind resistance goes up with the square of the speed,... and so do internal losses in the engine. (Each air molecule is hitting your truck with twice the force, since each molecule is hitting at twice the speed,... and because you are covering twice the distance in the same time-frame, you are hitting TWICE AS MANY of the DOUBLE-FORCE molecules!) 4 times the air resistance at 2 times the speed.



The additional HP to overcome these (and other) increased resistances comes from your fuel tank/budget.

An simplified example based on this one (air) resistance factor,... and assuming steady-state speeds:



If you are achieving around 15 mpg at 70mph, you should be getting around 20mpg at 60mph.



If your accelleration habits, gear usage, etc, do not improve to the same extent, while getting up to steady-state, benefit will be less, depending on the % of time spent at steady speed.



Slowing down is definitely a mpg "plus".



Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the music, enjoy the conversation.



... and it won't affect your warrenty!



Data for tire-size effects:



If driving a 3. 73. rear axle, and changing from 235/80(standard dually) tires to 245/19. 5 tires, the new effective rear axle ratio will be 3. 59.



If driving a 4. 10, the same change will give an effective rear axle ratio of 3. 95.



Useless trivia: If you have caught so many fish that your 68RFE/3. 73 truck can't pull the boat up the ramp, ... hook the trailer to a front receiver, and back that sucker out in 4WD granny-low reverse, with an effective rear axle ratio of 12. 08:1!



Happens to me all the time



[Then, since we have enough bait,... we drive to our secret place to fish for the BIG ones!]

 

[Texas Ted]

I ORDERED THE NEW TRUCK TODAY. I'm going with the 4. 10. They're telling me it will take 6-8 wks. It will be a long wait. After driving the '93 for ten years I'm really ready for this new one. It will probably be like moving out of the dark ages!!



I know whats it's like trying to back a big rig uphill into a campsite. Thats a great looking rig CUMMINZ!

 

[DSpivey]

I Cut My Muff Off Too Cumminz I Cant Tell A Lick Of Diff. i Was Hoping To Get Some Sound But No Dice. still Quiet As Heck... ... ...

 

[MAshley]

ramp. Definitely not a race situation. If the ramp is too steep, a front hitch-receiver will get me an even lower gear to pull-out with (reverse!).

Hate to bust your bubble but first is lower 5. 94 compared to R of 5. 42

referance.

http://www.dodge.com/pdf/ram_4500_5500/dc_chassis_45_55.pdf



So is that why guys have hitch balls on the front... . never really understood that.



To be honest R sucks, for backing up hill, I have to use 4Lo to backup at my house with a trailer... . but on assphault it really sucks...

 

[TKeeler]

Hate to bust your bubble but first is lower 5. 94 compared to R of 5. 42

referance.

http://www.dodge.com/pdf/ram_4500_5500/dc_chassis_45_55.pdf



So is that why guys have hitch balls on the front... . never really understood that.



To be honest R sucks, for backing up hill, I have to use 4Lo to backup at my house with a trailer... . but on assphault it really sucks...

"Hate to burst your bubble" but I believe this thread was referring to the 2500/3500 and not the 4500/5500 that you are referencing. The 2007. 5 2500/3500's have a first gear ratio of 3. 231 and reverse has 4. 444 in the 68RFE. Reverse does work quite well... much better than my 98. 5 4 speed auto with 4. 10's did.

 

[Wolfy]

Hate to bust your bubble but first is lower 5. 94 compared to R of 5. 42

referance.

http://www.dodge.com/pdf/ram_4500_5500/dc_chassis_45_55.pdf

It's a swing!, ... ..... and a miss. :-0



Yeah, ... what TKeeler said.



"hate to"? Hmmmm.

 

[MAshley]

"Hate to burst your bubble" but I believe this thread was referring to the 2500/3500 and not the 4500/5500 that you are referencing. The 2007. 5 2500/3500's have a first gear ratio of 3. 231 and reverse has 4. 444 in the 68RFE. Reverse does work quite well... much better than my 98. 5 4 speed auto with 4. 10's did.

Well I was trying to use the internet in referance to the G56 Manual ..... Couldn't find one for 06 2500 and 3500. not the auto's. . sorry... :-laf besides an automatic you can go how ever slow you want, not like you truly have to be in or out of gear with the TQ just put it in drive and off you go. foot off brake and push skinny pedal. I assumed with trying to tow a boat out of water that somtimes, you need a lower gear "IE manual trans" to tug it out because you slip the clutch to much trying to pull it out up the steep ramp slipping the clutch all up in smoke and then then thinking R was lower and easier to pull. . but in a G56 equiped truck R is faster then L. but I could see where haveing a 2x4 and not getting the tires wet that it might be easier going backwards.

 

[tgrfan2]

An simplified example based on this one (air) resistance factor,... and assuming steady-state speeds:



If you are achieving around 15 mpg at 70mph, you should be getting around 20mpg at 60mph.



If your accelleration habits, gear usage, etc, do not improve to the same extent, while getting up to steady-state, benefit will be less, depending on the % of time spent at steady speed.



Slowing down is definitely a mpg "plus".



Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the music, enjoy the conversation.



... and it won't affect your warrenty!



Data for tire-size effects:



If driving a 3. 73. rear axle, and changing from 235/80(standard dually) tires to 245/19. 5 tires, the new effective rear axle ratio will be 3. 59.



If driving a 4. 10, the same change will give an effective rear axle ratio of 3. 95.



Useless trivia: If you have caught so many fish that your 68RFE/3. 73 truck can't pull the boat up the ramp, ... hook the trailer to a front receiver, and back that sucker out in 4WD granny-low reverse, with an effective rear axle ratio of 12. 08:1!



Happens to me all the time



[Then, since we have enough bait,... we drive to our secret place to fish for the BIG ones!]

Wolfy, Cumminz marches to the beat of a different drummer! I don't think a little extra fuel expense bothers him. You can go back to a post of his about springs vs air bags for $250 to understand his thinking. I'll stick with 3. 73s and just make sure I always have a tailwind towing and a headwind backing up!

 

[CUMMINZ]

tg

You are correct. I prefer performance in the Great Smokies over economy. I'm not being critical of anyones truck but stating what is best for me.



CUMMINZ

 

[tgrfan2]

You are correct. I prefer performance in the Great Smokies over economy. I'm not being critical of anyones truck but stating what is best for me.



CUMMINZ

Have you been up Saluda mountain with your new rig yet?

My friend puts his truck in the shop Monday for the regen problem and hopes to test it heading for Moonshine Creek later next week.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I've been up Saluda 3 times, Old Fort 6 or 8 times, 226 out of Marion 4 times, 421 to Boone 2 times. Came down 321 out of Boone Thursday. The built in ebrake works great. I run all of them in 4th. gear locked in except 226 and I ran it in 2nd and 3rd.

The manual shifting capability is great.





CUMMINZ.

 

[tgrfan2]

I've been up Saluda 3 times, Old Fort 6 or 8 times, 226 out of Marion 4 times, 421 to Boone 2 times. Came down 321 out of Boone Thursday. The built in ebrake works great. I run all of them in 4th. gear locked in except 226 and I ran it in 2nd and 3rd.

The manual shifting capability is great.





CUMMINZ.

Have you fueled up yet?

 

[CUMMINZ]

I don't understand the question?