No 3.73's with 04 HO's?

[Matt S]

I went to the dealer today to order a 04 3500 SRW longbed HO 6-speed. Dealer told me I couldn't get a 3. 73 with the limited slip or even the 3. 73 gears. Anyone buy one with this combo yet? I think I will need to explain to my dealer how to do it because I don't want the 4. 10's.

 

[barbwire]

3:73s

I have been pricing the exact same configuration of vehicle, all over North Dakota & Minnesota, and the dealers all tell me that 3:73 gears are standard, and that 4:10s are optional. So I don't understand what you are finding.

I do, however, know that not all of the sales managers know the vehicles that they are selling. I guess that, if I were you, I would get a second opinion. It is the pits to have to go thruogh all the motions again, but

Please leave a response as to what you find, as I will be checking back to see what you find out. Good Luck!!

 

[KCJackson]

3. 73LS is apparently gone for 2004 - either 3. 73-open or 4. 10LS

 

[MojaveJoe]

July 25, 2003 ordered my '04 with 373s and LS. Just checked the computer printout of the dealers order with Dodge and it shows Anti-Spin for $200+. Doesn't mention 3:73s, because they are std as I recall.

See signature below for other details of order.

In 30 days I will know if I have 373s and LS. If I end up with 4:10s and LS, I just may have to put those big BFGs on to save the mileage Sorry dear, it only makes money sense, right? .

*LOL*



FYI... my last visit to the Dodge website, I tried to build this truck and the HO 373 combo wouldn't go. I think?

 

[PGoble]

Just went to dodge.com and built a 4x4 laramie with 3. 73 and LS.

 

[Matt S]

I tried the website with different transmission configurations but it made no difference for the 2004 3500 SRW. I'm anxious to see if your truck has the 3. 73 gears. I would hate to have to run that many RPM's going down the road. I was upset they still didn't have the 3. 54's and talked myself into the 3. 73's as being the same final drive as my current truck. I'll let you know as we continue to negotiate with the only Dodge dealer on the island.

 

[Ladders]

When I built the 03 & 04 I had to change to the 3. 73 after all other options were selected. It kept changing the rear to the 4. 10s. So try building it and recalc then when ready to go on, change the rear last. Also, on the SRW some colors are not "compatible" because it still reverts to a dual rear. Almond & Graphite wasnt avail in the dual but at the dealers it would let it be ordered in the SRW.



Go figure... ... ... .



SOTSU!!!

\\BF//

 

[WBarber2]

Bought an '04 HO 6spd last Sunday. It has 3. 73LS. Also, if you go look at dealer inventories of '04s using dodge.com you will see a lot of 2500s and 3500s with 3. 73LS.

 

[KCJackson]

could be a dually thing... I have not been able to "create" a 3500 DRW with 3. 73LS, but I see a lot of you are looking at 2500s and 3500 SRWs. Similarly, the standard output Cummins is not listed as being available (at least in NJ), just the HO. To me, that decision DOES make sense, since the SO enbgine is really not competitive with the Dmax and Stroke in the 47 states.

 

[DLeno]

I ordered an 04 3500 SRW 3. 73 last month. Dealer spec'd it out in about 90 seconds. 3. 73 is standard unless you pick the offroad group -- 4. 10 is a manditory part of the offroad group.



So if you want 3. 73s, just don't select the offroad group. you can get all the tow hooks and skid plates in the protection group. I hear the protection group is causing some mfg delays, in which case you might want to consider putting on the tow hooks and skid plates later. I know of one guy who is editing his 04 order now (to remove the protection group) so it will progress into D1 status.

 

[Kirwin]

3.73 VS 4.10 My impressions

I have been a Cummins owner since the 89 model year. And Like you, I had always specified the lower ratio with the manual transmission. But with the truck I have now, I think that I may have chosen wrong. These are the points to consider.

1. The 03 engine is significantly quieter throughout the RPM range. Engine noise due to higher RPM is no longer a reason to consider wanting the lower ratio. 2. The common rail engines seem to like the higher RPM for pulling. Boost drops off rather quickly below 1800 RPM. 3. The difference is about 150 RPM at 60 MPH. The 4. 10 will be at 2000 RPM at about 64 MPH, the 3. 73 will be at 1850. Unless you want to pull your trailer at 75 MPH, you can't get to 2000 RPM in 6th or 5th for that matter. The truck loves to pull at 2000 RPM. For these reasons, and the fact that I use my truck 90% for pulling my travel trailer I think if I had it to do over I would have gotten the 4. 10 LS vice the 3. 73 LS rear end ratio. I have only used one tank since I bought the truck that the trailer wasn't hooked to it and on that tank I got 20. 3 MPG. But that's not the purpose for the truck, I bought it to tow a load. So that's where I want it to be at its optimum. Ken Irwin

 

[DLeno]

you nailed it when you said 90% for pulling. For a do-everything truck, the 3. 73s are good. having said that, remember too that the inertial losses in the engine rise as the square of rpm, so you can still, HPCR notwithstanding, benefit from low rpm cruising. Its just that for pulling, the higher rpms are a fuel economy AND pulling power advantage.



Also, a very cool thing to do is get an after market OD that splits the distance between gears. then you have all kinds of choices for rpms and speeds, plus you have an enormous top speed!

 

[LightmanE300]

Originally posted by DLeno

I ordered an 04 3500 SRW 3. 73 last month. Dealer spec'd it out in about 90 seconds. 3. 73 is standard unless you pick the offroad group -- 4. 10 is a manditory part of the offroad group.



So if you want 3. 73s, just don't select the offroad group. you can get all the tow hooks and skid plates in the protection group. I hear the protection group is causing some mfg delays, in which case you might want to consider putting on the tow hooks and skid plates later. I know of one guy who is editing his 04 order now (to remove the protection group) so it will progress into D1 status.

Ya, I'm 'that guy' The protection group, off road group, and GPS radio are all options that are on 'restriction/hold' right now, due to DC not having the parts. If you order any of these, your truck's order will just sit in BG status until the parts are in. Who knows how long that will take. I did in fact remove the protection group, and my truck instantly(well the next morning ) moved out of BG status back to BX, ready for scheduling!



My truck is an 04 with 3. 73 and LS. Your dealer is smoking too much of that Maui Wowie!!!!!!!

 

[Matt S]

Thanks for all the inputs. I'm off to another dealer on the next island. This one won't go below $2500 OVER the window sticker. Then started giving me I can't buy then that cheap but if you find one let me know so I can fill my lot with them story. I asked him if he really assumed I was an idiot. Then I left. How do you know what parts are on back order?



Matt

 

[LightmanE300]

wow, your dealer really is hitting the maui wowie. That's crazy. They are simply taking advantage of the supply/demand. I'm guessing destination/delivery to the islands is pretty bad? If not, go to oregon or arizona and order it... . Someone recently posted that oregon has no tax on buying a truck, but you probably need to be a resident to actually register it there and avoid paying tax in hawaii. Either way, don't pay any more than invoice. MSRP is a joke. Glad you stuck it to your dealer when he tried the song and dance.



I got the information from DC's customer service line. After much begging and prodding, I got the CSR to put me on hold and ask her supervisors to check exactly what the 'restrictions' and holds were... I removed the protection group so my truck would be built and will bolt it on later.

 

[Posm]

You asked how to know what is on restriction. Here is a large fleet buyers web site that tells what can not be ordered and expected date, if it is known. Some of the info is 1500 specific and some is ???. Hope this helps. Mine is supposed to be in on Monday !!!!!



http://www.donlen.com/Whats_New/new_production_trucks_chrysler.html

 

[LightmanE300]

POSM, good info! And also, droool, you're getting yours MONDAY?? lucky guy!!!



As far as the block heater goes, I dont know if that's accurate, sin I have it on mine and am not off restriction, ready to be scheduled... . maybe the block heater is restricted for 1500's?