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I have looked at the ratios of the 6 speed auto and wondered what rear end ratio one should buy.



Somewhere in the cob-webs of my mind, I think I remember that 6th gear ratio was really tall compared to other trannies.



With the 373s, are you not suppose to tow in 6th?



Just checking. At my age after decades of driving bolt action trannies, with the advent of the 6 speed Aisin trannie, I am looking... ... ... .....



Anyone else know anything about these trannies?
 
21mpg HWY / 19mpg City average



Wife gets worse. I drive like Miss Daisy is in the back... so it is a little better.



Towing - it drops about 2-3mpg with a 8,000 - 10,000lb load.



Anything over 66 mph and I am revving over 2,000 rpms in 6th.



Stock tire size.



Stock - no modifications on engine.



The Lie-O-Meter has read as high as 27mpg on the highway... last Summer on a round-trip consisting of 3,800 miles from Kentucky to Wyoming to Oklahoma and back to Kentucky... total miles in the average were around 6,000 miles.
 
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Don't remember the rear end ratio, just drove to Boise from Auburn on the 5th, via Snoqualmie - I-90 to 82 to 84, average speed 77 mph, 16. 7mpg hand calc. , returned on the 7th, retrace steps, 16. 8mpg. Overhead was reading 18 to 19. I did put an Airaid MPX intake on it, with the cold air snorkel, and the EGR somehow came unplugged just before I left. Truck does have a cab high canopy, and we were just hauling ourselves. Truck currently has 28,000 miles. 6. 7; 6 spd auto.
 
there is a guy local , selling an 01 3500 dually,2 door , 8 ft box with extended frame with contractor box built on ahead of bed, claiming to get 20 mpg , with a 360 gas motor
 
I get 15-16 all around running empty w/ 325-50-18's and 4:10 gears. Those gears have bothered me since the truck was new. horrible hwy rpm's
 
If I calculate it out right I am right in there with about 18-19mpgs, but being a newbie still why does the overhead as you call it "lie-o-meter read around 22. 4? Where is it getting those numbers. I have been running the edge on the #2 level and I can see a small difference in mileage just watching the trip odo. Thanks for all the great responses to this thread. :)
 
2004 Quadcab longbed 3. 73 rear end SRW and mine sucks!! I got 17-18 in my 97 and 2002. Now I am lucky to get 16 around town in this one. There are times on the road that I get 20-21 but not often. I get 12 when towing my 32 foot 5th wheel at 19,440# total.

Frank
 
To Riverboy: Besides the fact that the Lie O Meter is just a ball park device, when you add electronic enhancements, it will throw if off somewhere in the ball park of 24 to 26 % high. You will get real close just multiplying the number on the overhead by 0. 75%. Works the same way on mine.



To FDrake: You really are right in the ball park of what the truck in suppose to do. Do you have an early '04 with the 305 or a late '04 with the 325?
 
I get 13mpg around town, and around 19 - 21 highway... At least that's what the overhead tells me (I've calculated around 11 in town and 17 - 18 highway). These numbers are running empty. Pulling a light trailer (around 10,000 lbs) I get between 14 and 18 on the highway. I have noticed that setting the cruise control gets me considerably better mileage than I can get with my foot.
 
Barry,
My truck is the 305 engine with no changes from stock. It runs good so I see no reason to fix what is not broken. :) It has the auto transmission with the "Tow/Haul" switch. I use it sometimes when towing but not too often. I also use it to slow down when exiting the freeways rather than hit the brakes and it slows me down pretty fast. All in all I like the newer truck as compared to the others I had.

I also had a new 1989 Chev Crewcab long bed 454 with a SRW 3. 73 rear end. I got 4. 5 to 6 MPG towing and about 12 - 15 MPG empty and that was with a new Gear Vendor over/under drive installed. I decided than and there that I would only own a diesel for towing anything from now on. That may have been the best decision I have ever made.

Frank
 
Frank,



If I were able to turn back time to regain my '03 with the "clean" 305 engine, I would do it in a heartbeat. My '03 with just an Edge EZ, would run circles around my '04 325 and get better mileage doing it!!



You have, IMHO, one of the best combinations Cummins ever made. Hang on to it!



Be Safe!
 
Barry,
You had a '03, an '04 and now I see you have an '06!! You trade vehicles in like I used to. I have had 26 NEW Dodge/Chrysler cars/trucks. I am "laying off" for a while now. :)
Frank
 
Started in 00... ... ... ... ... ... had a new one every year except '05.

When I had my RV dealership in Texas, every time I would get a trucked rigged out the way I wanted it, one of my customers would come by and say... ... . "When you get ready to sell your truck, I'll buy it".

Hello, Dodge Dealer? Order me a new truck.

Now, semi-retired, my '06 and me will just ride off into the sunset together... ... ... ..... but that does not stop me from thinking about one with that new 6 speed Aisin auto trannie... ... ... Oooooooooooooo... ... ... Sweet.

I have had bolt action trannies all my life. Maybe it is time to try an Automatic.
 
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A dealership!!?? Well no wonder. I didn't own a dealership but I financed a few. :) At one, I went to look at a new Valiant to buy my mother and the sales guy ran out front. He came back in and told me he thought there might have been a full moon. He sold me 5 new cars in about 7 years. I tried the 2002 6 speed and my wife hated it. Something about me snapping her neck. So I traded it with 7800 miles on it for a 2004 auto transmission that I have now. I suppose if I had saved my money instead of buying Dodges I would be rich now. But maybe not either. :)

Frank
 
I'm getting 18. 5 all around running empty with a mix of city and highway in all seasons. This is a long term average, hand-calculated, with the setup in my sig.
 
3. 73 ratio

Current on flashes

AirAid MPX w/snorkel

EGR plug fell off

Front axle - 4680

Rear axle - 3160

Total -7840

With trailer:

Front - 4400

Rear - 4580

Trk - 8980

Trl - 7360

Comb. - 16340



Aired up to 85 lbs on all 4 corners.



Just putting around, or commuting, 12 to 13 mpg. (Mostly commute on M/C)

Freeway 16. 6 to 16. 7 mpg, solo 80 cruise

Did get 17. 8, Auburn WA to Ontario, OR, over Snoqualmie, in Hi-Loc for about 45 miles on snow and ice, (not going 80, fer shure... ).



Pulling Jayco 31BHS, 11. 1 to 11. 4 mpg, running at 1500 rpm. (Think that is around 60, but I forget exactly) If level ground, don't use tow/haul. Any incline, decline, click in. Exhaust brake is always on.



It will pull trailer at 70 mph, but mileage falls to 9. 6.
 
About 18. 2, long term average mixed city and rural roads. We have no freeways so top speed is 50-55. Summer trips get up to 20 and in the really cold temps (way below zero), it will drop to about 14.
 
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