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3500 Gear Ratio change and Tow rating

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Gents, new to this forum and diesel world but have a couple of questions

1) New Ram 3500 SRW w/6.7L Diesel and Aisin Trans
2) Only available gear ratio from factory is 3.42
3) Towing capacity maxes at 16,600 lbs with payload of 3,900 lbs per Dodge charts ( Don't have the truck yet, it's on the way so still working off charts)
4) I want to tow a 20K at full load trailer with a hitch weight of 3,400lbs
5) It looks like if I swap out to a 3.72 I should be good for approx 22K lbs according to Dodge charts

Questions
1) Can I do this
2) What would my new tow rating be
3) Does this void warranty, it appears I am not overloading the payload rating and the drivetrain would be identical to vehicles with a 20K plus tow rating
4) Is this legal, can i officially change the tow rating of my vehicle

Appreciate any input, new to this world and would like to get it right the first time

Brad
 
Standard gear ratio is 3.42 the Dual rear wheel 3500 can be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Srw trucks cannot be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Changing anything after it is delivered will void the warranty. Even if it is done at the dealership your factory warranty is restricted. You might get your dealership to warranty but the factory warranty will not.
 
You can change the axel ratio all you want, but remember dodge still has a published RAWR of 7k, and the tires are rated at just about that. I'm not sure if the DRW option changes anything else besides the axel though.

2015 3500 SRW 4x4 MegaCab Laramie Aisin
 
don't they say "Cut once measure twice" for a reason?. why don't you buy the right truck instead of trying to make changes to a new one?
 
I have to chime in: I just traded a great truck '09 4500 SLT Crew Cab that I operated up to GCW of 33,400 lbs, but was only rated at 26,000 Lbs GCWR. My new 5500 is rated at 38,500 Lbs. Although my 4500 pulled it fine, but I 7,400lbs overweight by the law. I was actually afraid of being sued and losing in a civil lawsuit. BL: Make sure the GCWR and GVWR are over what you will be towing. There is gobs of discussion and arguments on the TDR about this subject. Good luck figuring it out. Ron
 
Guys, appreciate all the feedback, pretty much confirms what I thought. I have looked at all the parameters, GCRW, axle load, tire rating, etc. was trying to stay away from a DRW as the truck will be a daily driver.

I will just have to live with the factory rating of 16,600 lbs.

Thanks again,

Brad
 
I am also wanting to change the gears in my truck. I have a 2017 3500 Ram megacab aisin transmission with 3.43 gears. I want to go with larger tires due to larger weight rating up to 4040 per tire. Thinking of going with 4.10’s and with the 35 inch tires it would essentially lower that, not sure how much. I pull a 18000 pound toy hauler with a heavy pin weight and would feel better with stronger tires. Can’t see how gears could void warranty. Any suggestions would be great.
 
I am also wanting to change the gears in my truck. I have a 2017 3500 Ram megacab aisin transmission with 3.43 gears. I want to go with larger tires due to larger weight rating up to 4040 per tire. Thinking of going with 4.10’s and with the 35 inch tires it would essentially lower that, not sure how much. I pull a 18000 pound toy hauler with a heavy pin weight and would feel better with stronger tires. Can’t see how gears could void warranty. Any suggestions would be great.

I swapped out my gears to 4.10 using AAM gears through my dealership. My dealership told me my warranty would be voided. Now I don't know if they said that to cover their butts or what but I figure IF the time ever arises I will fight the battle then.

Below are three links to help you.


https://tiresize.com/gear-ratio-calculator/

https://tiresize.com/height-calculator/

https://tiresize.com/speedometer-calibration/
 
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I am also wanting to change the gears in my truck. I have a 2017 3500 Ram megacab aisin transmission with 3.43 gears. I want to go with larger tires due to larger weight rating up to 4040 per tire. Thinking of going with 4.10’s and with the 35 inch tires it would essentially lower that, not sure how much. I pull a 18000 pound toy hauler with a heavy pin weight and would feel better with stronger tires. Can’t see how gears could void warranty. Any suggestions would be great.



Your gears will only have a 12 mo warranty if they are changed. This is per Dave Smith, rest of truck is still covered.
 
Guys, appreciate all the feedback, pretty much confirms what I thought. I have looked at all the parameters, GCRW, axle load, tire rating, etc. was trying to stay away from a DRW as the truck will be a daily driver.

I will just have to live with the factory rating of 16,600 lbs.

Thanks again,

Brad

Brad I tow a 16K 5th wheel in 5th gear at a combined weight of 24,500 lbs at around 60-62 MPH, loaded from snowbird/semi full time. I have no issue with the 3.42 gears. I tow in the West between NW Washington and Arizona. Up and down mountains in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Colorado. If 3.73 would have been available I would have ordered them. I now know after 40K and almost 3 years that 3.73's would have been a mistake. Running bobtail the 3.42's are boss, loaded with the Aisin's low first and second gear make the 3.42's work out fine. Love it!

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Standard gear ratio is 3.42 the Dual rear wheel 3500 can be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Srw trucks cannot be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Changing anything after it is delivered will void the warranty. Even if it is done at the dealership your factory warranty is restricted. You might get your dealership to warranty but the factory warranty will not.



That is not correct,changing gear ratios will not void warranty.The parts changed will not be covered
 
Standard gear ratio is 3.42 the Dual rear wheel 3500 can be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Srw trucks cannot be ordered with 3.73 or 4.10. Changing anything after it is delivered will void the warranty. Even if it is done at the dealership your factory warranty is restricted. You might get your dealership to warranty but the factory warranty will not.

I swapped out my gears to 4.10 using AAM gears through my dealership. My dealership told me my warranty would be voided. Now I don't know if they said that to cover their butts or what but I figure IF the time ever arises I will fight the battle then.

Below are three links to help you.


https://tiresize.com/gear-ratio-calculator/

https://tiresize.com/height-calculator/

https://tiresize.com/speedometer-calibration/

That is not correct,changing gear ratios will not void warranty.The parts changed will not be covered

Good to know they were just covering their butt. But some dealerships will void your warranty and then you will have a hell-of-a-fight to get most thing covered. I know, went through the whole process back in 2000 on my 1999 Dodge Ram Cummins. They even told me they were voiding my 1999 due to not wanting to loose their dealership. Their exact quote, "we're not going to loose our multi-dollar dealership over one customer." There are some good dealerships and then some not so good dealerships.
 
Just a heads up-no dealer has the authority to void or restrict warranty.Only FCA holds that power.The dealer can only bring the info to corporate for a decision.
 
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