Towing and gearing with a 5500

[David Maus]

I have a 2017 5500 with a 4.44 rear axle ratio rear end. According to the specs on the Dodge website, the "Max Trailer" weight limit is about 18,000 lbs for this axle ratio. I need to haul a trailer/payload combination of about 30K lbs. For this reason, I'm thinking of regearing the rear end to a 4.88, which the specs say will give me a Max trailer weight limit of about 30K lbs. I do mainly short hauls of less than 50 miles so reducing my speed from 70 to 60 mph will not be a big issue. My questions are: Are all the people I read posts from in this forum who are towing 25K lbs trailers and up that are using trucks with the 4.10 and 4.44 gear ratio axles putting too much stress on their transmissions? Isn't this extra stress going to cause the transmissions to wear out prematurely? The Max trailer weights for my 5500 for the 4.10 and 4.44 are 18K to 20K depending on transmission type. That is a huge difference compared to the 30K limit on the 4.88.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Run it! Simply drop a gear if needed. I towed 29k combined with a 11 HO DRW with 3.42's. I simply towed in 5th at 1,750 rpm at 60 mph.

 

[Wiredawg]

I have a 2017 5500 with a 4.44 rear axle ratio rear end. According to the specs on the Dodge website, the "Max Trailer" weight limit is about 18,000 lbs for this axle ratio. I need to haul a trailer/payload combination of about 30K lbs. For this reason, I'm thinking of regearing the rear end to a 4.88, which the specs say will give me a Max trailer weight limit of about 30K lbs. I do mainly short hauls of less than 50 miles so reducing my speed from 70 to 60 mph will not be a big issue. My questions are: Are all the people I read posts from in this forum who are towing 25K lbs trailers and up that are using trucks with the 4.10 and 4.44 gear ratio axles putting too much stress on their transmissions? Isn't this extra stress going to cause the transmissions to wear out prematurely? The Max trailer weights for my 5500 for the 4.10 and 4.44 are 18K to 20K depending on transmission type. That is a huge difference compared to the 30K limit on the 4.88.

Run it! Simply drop a gear if needed. I towed 29k combined with a 11 HO DRW with 3.42's. I simply towed in 5th at 1,750 rpm at 60 mph.

A ram C&C with 4:44s will pull anything you put behind it. I ran a 2009 Ram 4500 4x4 with 11'9" towbody 12.4K Lb and 21.2K lb fifth wheel for 9 years and had absolutely no problems. I replaced it with my 2017 Ram 5500 4x4 Larmie for all the cool upgrades AND primarily because I PERSONALLY did not want to operate ~7K lbs over RATED GCWR.

There are those who will argue you can tow just fine without a PROBLEM, and I did for ALL my previous Ram Cummins trucks, but now I'm completely where I want to be.

Notice I didn't use the terms risk, liability, or legal. I did this on purpose so I don't have to have the discussion (arguement) that I used to be a proponent of. It's a personal choice. period.

Cheers, Ron

 

[CUMMINZ]

Simply dropping a gear is not the same as changing to a different gear. 4.44 to 4.88... Engines up differently. I went from 3.73 to 4.30 several years ago and what a difference. The 3.73s we put in it with 19.5" tires were very sluggish out west. 4.30s give me 2000rpms at 70mph which is perfect for me.

 

[Wiredawg]

Simply dropping a gear is not the same as changing to a different gear. 4.44 to 4.88... Engines up differently. I went from 3.73 to 4.30 several years ago and what a difference. The 3.73s we put in it with 19.5" tires were very sluggish out west. 4.30s give me 2000rpms at 70mph which is perfect for me.

In your example not dropping a gear is correct, but not so much so comparing a Ram 5500 with 4.44s (the OP) and a Ram 5500 with 4.88s (mine).

Run it! Simply drop a gear if needed. I towed 29k combined with a 11 HO DRW with 3.42's. I simply towed in 5th at 1,750 rpm at 60 mph.

Ron, You are correct for this comparison. I essentially gave up top OD when I went from a 4.44 Ram to a 4.88 Ram.

Its the craziness that Ram, the govt, and anyone else setting GVWR and GCWR.

Nice discussion.

Cheers, Ron