Low speed loaded test of 3.42....

[TFucili]

I'll try to get an answer for you. On my prior trucks it was pretty obvious when TC lockup was taking place. With this truck, it has an odd stutter that feels like lock-unlock-lock that I find pretty annoying. It's very noticeable even empty, and another of those Aisin quirks that causes even non-truck-savvy passengers to raise an eyebrow.

 

[SnoKing]

I'll try to get an answer for you. On my prior trucks it was pretty obvious when TC lockup was taking place. With this truck, it has an odd stutter that feels like lock-unlock-lock that I find pretty annoying. It's very noticeable even empty, and another of those Aisin quirks that causes even non-truck savvy passengers to raise an eyebrow.

Seems like RAM is still trying to get the Aisin programming working right in the new model trucks?

 

[Cummins12V98]

What about me???????????????????????

I figured you (my other friend) would chime in on your POSITIVE 3.42 experience!

This is what the KING and I do when we are working on our RAM's for lunch.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"For any of the 4.10 crowd, @Cummins12V98 @TFucili, what is the lowest speed you have noticed the torque converter lock in 2nd?"

Mine stays locked down to 12-13 mph. I know it's low on the lockup in 2nd but will have to see next time I am out.

 

[SnoKing]

I figured you (my other friend) would chime in on your POSITIVE 3.42 experience!

This is what the KING and I do when we are working on our RAM's for lunch.

View attachment 119661

Good beers also. Ron, and I first met Rn 5 or 7 years ago for a beer bro. I use to say to people, "I worked on your boat for a couple hours and you offered me a light beer!"

 

[Newsa]

Is the 11.8 R & P only in the 4.10?

 

[NIsaacs]

Don't think I was responding to 3.73"s. I think "I" explained why "I" loved the 3.42's along with my friend.

Yes, I was just getting the jump on you because it was coming "The just don't know" is your favorite words, an infers, if we don't have an Aisin or 3.42's we have the wrong tool.

My guess is there are more 3.73's out there than 3.42's with no complaints from either. The point is, they both work fine. Most people don't know or care what is back there, the rig works to their satisfaction so they just drive it.

It is okay to "Love them" but jeeze….

I wonder if you know what the ratio is on your motor bike or your out drive on your boat?

 

[SnoKing]

Yes, I was just getting the jump on you because it was coming "The just don't know" is your favorite words, an infers, if we don't have an Aisin or 3.42's we have the wrong tool.

My guess is there are more 3.73's out there than 3.42's with no complaints from either. The point is, they both work fine. Most people don't know or care what is back there, the rig works to their satisfaction so they just drive it.

It is okay to "Love them" but jeeze….

I wonder if you know what the ratio is on your motor bike or your out drive on your boat?

I will bet he knows the boat's propeller dia and pitch!!! That is what one monkeys with based on load and use.

 

[SnoKing]

On dirt bikes we routinely charged the sprocket size(both drive and driven) to get the performance we wanted. I did an lot of hill climbing in the day and gearing was very important. On here attacking others seems more important than having civil discourse.

 

[AH64ID]

My guess is there are more 3.73's out there than 3.42's with no complaints from either. ?

In general I would agree, but for a pickup with the Aisin there has got to be many more 3.42's to 3.73's as 3.42's were the only option on SRW from 13-18.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes, I was just getting the jump on you because it was coming "The just don't know" is your favorite words, an infers, if we don't have an Aisin or 3.42's we have the wrong tool.

My guess is there are more 3.73's out there than 3.42's with no complaints from either. The point is, they both work fine. Most people don't know or care what is back there, the rig works to their satisfaction so they just drive it.

It is okay to "Love them" but jeeze….

I wonder if you know what the ratio is on your motor bike or your out drive on your boat?

Not sure what skin it is off your AZZ but like I said I was giving my experience on 3.42’s and really don’t care about 3.73’s because I have the exact same great performance with my 4.10’s in 6th as my 3.42’s in 5th and know they are both great. 1,750 at 60 is where I tow most of the time. I would not want the rpm’s to be less as they would be with 3.73’s.

 

[cerberusiam]

I have the exact same great performance with my 4.10’s in 6th as my 3.42’s in 5th and know they are both great. 1,750 at 60 is where I tow most of the time.

That would be the crux of the matter, using SOP as the determining factor while ignoring the critical ones. The overall performance of the 4.10's in 6th when applied to non-recreational scenario is much better than 5th with 3.42's. The former will have better acceleration that can be measured, the effects of the lack of leverage the latter possesses are much harder to quantify. Doesn't mean they don't exist, just they are not adequately exposed in a recreational scenario.

As for distance towing any substantial weight on the backside of the power curves dead in the middle of the torsional harmonics range, that is just abusive. Hard on the lower end, transmission and rear differential along with beating the crap out of the flaky thrust bearings installed from the factory. Any and all of those translate to a engine expectancy substantially lower than expected.

Just because it CAN do it doesn't mean it SHOULD do it. Pretty sure that is a large part what drive dropping the 3.42 gear sets.

 

[AH64ID]

The engine has no way of knowing how the gearing is happening behind it. All that effects it is the drive ratio created by the combo of the trans and rear end.

3.42’s and 5th is 2.63:1

4.10’s and 6th is 2.58:1

5th and 3.42’s is less stress on the motor, and better acceleration.. it can be measured as it’s lower geared.

Can’t argue with the math, so I’m not sure what would be “much better”, considering the “lack” of leverage is with the 4.10’s and 6th not 3.42’s and 5th. On top of that the 3.42’s have a great cruising ratio in 6th.

On the flip side 1st and 4’s will offer a nearly 20% better advantage. 4.10’s shine at lower speeds and staring, not higher ones. 4.10’s absolutely have their place so I’m simply pointing out where the actual mechanical advantage lies.

To me 3.42’s are the obvious choice at SRW loads and 4.10’s are more geared towards DRW loads. This goes inline with the typical 95% rule, as nothing is absolute. At the end of the day the choice to drop 3.42’s still isn’t clear.

If you want to talk real HD, not pickups, look at what axle ratios those run and they all have taller tires. There is far more to the math than just axle ratio.

 

[SnoKing]

At the end of the day the choice to drop 3.42’s still isn’t clear.

I still believe it was because of the 68RFE's first and second gear ratio. BTW the 68RFE has a better reverse ratio than the Aisin, so RAM may have looked also at Aisin's reverse in their action.

 

[NIsaacs]

At the end of the day the choice to drop 3.42’s still isn’t clear.

It might be due to the drop of the 6spd manual. 3.42 was a good gear for the one overdrive transmission.

My guess is, if you had 3.73's, you would adjust your speed, RPM or gear selection and in two days not know the difference. I see the comment "with 3.42's" I can cruise 80 mph. I am not convinced 3.73's wont do the same thing with no drop in fuel mileage.

If I had a later model 4th gen with 3.42's I would be happy, 3.73's I would be even more happy, 4.10's in my application, perfect.

If I had a 4x2, I would not want 3.42's at all.

 

[SnoKing]

[QUOTE="NIsaacs, post: 2630454, member: 988697"[/QUOTE]


If I had a 4x2, I would not want 3.42's at all.[/QUOTE]


????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

It is amazing that people that have never owned a Aisin 3:42 truck know all about how they perform.

 

[AH64ID]

It might be due to the drop of the 6spd manual. 3.42 was a good gear for the one overdrive transmission.

Possible, but there were so few of them.

It might also have to do with wanting to push the base tow rating higher. Lower gearing really helps with the J2807 tasing as it’s a lot of start/stop and low speed tests.

My guess is, if you had 3.73's, you would adjust your speed, RPM or gear selection and in two days not know the difference. I see the comment "with 3.42's" I can cruise 80 mph. I am not convinced 3.73's wont do the same thing with no drop in fuel mileage.

The 19’s seem to be getting lower mileage and using more DEF. Is it the gears or something else?

I have no doubt that empty cruising at 80 will get lower mileage with the 3.73’s or 4.10’s. I can be doing 80 and shift from 6th to 5th and see a decent drop in the instant mpg meter. That’s like having 4.10’s.

With my 05 I would adjust speed give direct drive a better rpm pulling grades. I was rpm restricted and didn’t like to have to slow for steeper hills just based on rpms. Personal preference for sure. Probably saved some fuel thou

If I had a later model 4th gen with 3.42's I would be happy, 3.73's I would be even more happy, 4.10's in my application, perfect.

If I had a 4x2, I would not want 3.42's at all.

I can see that for how much low speed heavy towing you do. It still makes me curious how low the torque converter lockup with 4.10’s. I can keep it locked down to 17-18, but it won’t lock that low and some roads don’t allow for me to get up to 20-22 lock and then slow.

Yeah without a transfer case I can understand that comment on the 2wd, but I just wouldn’t own a 2wd. I have had to use 4Lo on some short steep rocky roads where the truck was just working too hard in 1st. Those are roads where I wouldn’t take a 2wd thou.

 

[kthaxton]

It's really not that complicated.

When towing......
3.42 Good
3.73 Better
4.10 Best

The heavier you tow, the lower ratio (higher numerically) you want. You just have to weigh that against your empty driving needs/wants.
....and it's not ONLY about engine rpm. It's also about torque multiplication and making life easier for your drivetrain. It's almost as if Ram understands this based on their ratings.

Think of it this way..... in each of the 6 transmission gears, with a lower R&P ratio (vs. higher) there will be more torque to the rear wheels as a product of torque multiplication from the gear ratio, all by itself, totally aside from engine output/rpm.

I've been plenty happy with my 3.42's, still amazed at the capability and they do everything I need.... but all things being equal, and if I had a choice, I would have chosen 3.73's just to make each gear a bit more usable while towing and make things just slightly easier on the drivetrain. Empty mileage loss would likely be indecipherable. It's a warm fuzzy feeling type of thing.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The "TRICK" to 3.42's towing HEAVY is the AISIN.

My Son has 3.42's on his 15 LIMITED 3500 SRW LongBed. He hauls some BIG loads, I have been with when he has 20k behind him starting off on a good grade and it simply takes off with ZERO shudder! My 11 DRW towing a 19k 5er would shudder on grade but it towed the load with zero issue other than that. I tow west Coast, NOT flat lands.



SuperMod, no idea what the HELLZ you were saying so I have no response.

 

[JR]

The "TRICK" to 3.42's towing HEAVY is the AISIN.

Except the 68RFE likely outsells the Aisin 3 or 4 to one minimum.