Gears

[Crash_AF]

Ok, I've found a couple of different trucks online, but most have 4. 10 gears. What have you guys found works better? I plan to pull a 40ft gooseneck car trailer periodically but mostly pull only a single car trailer on the bumper.



Later,

Joe

 

[Un-Hemi]

FWIW, I have 3. 54s... . and an automatic. If I were to do it over again, and I'm considering doing the swap, I'd have 4. 10s and a Gearvendors overdrive to get an extra gear between 3rd and 4th, and for unloaded cruising in 4th/OD.

 

[DAZ]

From what I understand is for an Auto and a big trailer the 4:11 is better, Yet if it has a Manual the 3:55 is the way to go.



Has to do with keeping the engine in a good power band. I have a old heavy 33 5th that towed OK with stock power on a 97 with 3:55 and a 5 speed.



Dave Z

 

[Crash_AF]

Well, I'm looking only at ETH/DEEs so it sounds like I should go with 3. 55s, right?



Joe

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Well, I'm looking only at ETH/DEEs so it sounds like I should go with 3. 55s, right?

Deifinitely. the six speed has plenty of gear for anything. The only time you'd want to get 410s is . . You plan to stay stock and tow at or above 20,000# GVW.



Get over 20k and you'll want a little more power.



any time you add 12-13k# to your rig it'll be a little sluggish

 

[klenger]

Get the 4. 10's.

 

[JBlock]

3:54 has lower Trailer Capacity

Check the Owner Manual, the 3:54 auto 2001 2500 Quad cab 4x4 has 9300 pound towing capacity9, and the 4:10 auto 11,300 pouns, look to me like your 40 Goose Neck need all the capacity you can get, While a six speed bump up to around 13,050

check page 169-170 in the 2001 Owner manual.



The 3500 capacity are ther too, up to 14,300 with six speed. same Quad cap 4x4



Joe 3:54 auto 2001 2500

 

[Chipstien]

I like my 4.10's.....

But then I got them because I knew I was going to have 35" tires.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're looking at a 3500, the ETH/DEE with 3. 54's has GVWR/GCVWR of 10,500/20,000. The same package with 4. 10's is 10,500/21,500. Towing our 5ver (see signature), we're at 10,380/21,180 actuals, and the 4. 10's make a sweet towing package.



The only downside with the 4. 10's is if you run empty for sustained periods at 75 MPH +. I'd look into a U. S. Gear OD if that were the case.



Rusty

 

[Jeff Knight]

My 95 5sp had 4. 10's and I ordered the 4. 10's in my 02. with the 6 sp. I like them. Jeff Oo.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have an 01 with 6sp and the 3. 54. If I were to order a new one I would really think about the 4. 10 I have pulled some good loads and with the 6 you can always grab 5th if needed. I drove a truck nearly similar to mine(Barry's) and it seemed like it would just go go go. I don't think the fuel milage wouldn't be a great big factor. I feel like if your gonna tow you can't gripe about a little extra fuel. I will admit I like the fuel milage of mine.

 

[MoparDave]

Get the 4. 10

 

[csevers]

I have 99 6spd w/3. 55 s they work O K most of the time but I do get heavy loads over 20k and wish I had 4. 10s for me I don;t travel long distances to worry about the mileage factor I just like to pull all the hills with out shifting IF I ever order or buy off the lot again I will hold out for the 4. 10s one of the most important things to spec on your truck is the trans and gear ratio.

 

[GAmes]

Sounds like you are checking out used trucks. The 97 5-speeds have the same ratings with both the 3. 5 and 4. 1 rear ends. Now that it is slightly bombed I haven't found a hill west of the Mississippi that I have to shift down to climb with my 13,000 lb 5er. I have heard that the over valved trucks work better with the 4. 1s.

 

[KKeen]

My 3. 54 gears with auto trans were fine towing 7k# boat until I switched to taller tires 305. 70. 16. Lost quite a bit of towing power, and a little mpg's. I don't pull the loads some of you guys do, but wish I would of got 4. 10's

 

[tgbol]

I have the 3. 54s and I think they are great. I am looking for a slightly taller tire, but I am not going to 35s. If I had 35s them I think I would give up too much and need the 4. 10s In reality since 95% of my driving is at freeway speeds I would like too have another taller gear. So that 75 is 1800 instead of 2100. The taller tire will give that but will kill the lower gears.

 

[Neibe]

I don't know where you got the figures for the 97 5-speed but 3:54 GCVWR is 16,000,4:10 is 18,000. That said I'd go with 4:10 our fifyh wheel loaded with gear weighs 10,000 the truck weighs 6543 thats 16543 I only have 1457lbs. left for people tools plus I don't like being right at the limit on anything I always like a little extra in reserve. So I vote for 4:10's.

 

[Rob Thomas]

tgbol,I don't mean to be rude,but your crazy. I have 35's and 3. 54's,my lower gears are never dogged. I almost allways start in 2nd,except with a heavy load,I can also burn the tires off with my quad and ramps in the bed,that's another 1000# ,not that thats cool or anything,but it's the point,I CAN! I also can drive 80 mph @ 2000 rpm,4. 10's can't,With the 6-speed you really don't need the 4. 10's unless your drag racing or regularly pulling heavy. IMO Agian I don't mean to be rude

 

[RottnDogue]

3. 54's 1850rpm or so @ 70 not that I am doing 70



Darren

 

[Rob Thomas]

I'm not saying that 3. 54's are right for everybody,just for CRASH_AF,he's the one who asked. Like he said he mostly pulls single car on the bumper,3. 54's are perfect.