Towing

[GWaldron]

Just another question trying to make up my mind. Is there much difference towing approx 14000# between a 3:73 vs 4:10 gears. I know there is between 3:55 vs 4:10 also is there a big difference in fuel mileage.

Thnaks Gary

 

[Steve M]

Just my ever so humble opinion... With the two ratios being so close and the new Cummins being so quiet right up to redline, I went with the 4. 10 ratio for the added towing power however small it is. 7% I think is the difference. The 5spd or 6spd with 3. 73 will be real close to the final ratio of my auto/4. 10. 70mph is about 2200rpm. With a 5spd/4. 10 70 is about 2400rpm. Not much difference in numbers but the closer you get to peak HP, you can forget about needing to downshift for hills. On the flip side, driveability around town is better with taller gears. 3. 55s with standard transmission are a pleasure to drive. 4. 10s wind up real quick and O/D is good from 30-70mph empty. Been there and done that!

 

[Troll]

Both ratios will tow the same amount of total weight , but the 4:10's will get you up to speed quicker.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by Troll

Both ratios will tow the same amount of total weight , but the 4:10's will get you up to speed quicker.

Not necessarily true: the 3500/HO/48RE/DRW has a GCWR of 21,000 with 3. 73s and 23,000 with 4. 10s.



For a 14k tow, the 3. 73 will be borderline.

 

[ttreibel]

3rd launches

I can't imagine the 4. 10 with a 5 speed I have 3. 73 when I run empty it is quite easy to launch in 3rd with the 4. 10 you could probably launch in 4th I do however have a "hole" from 30-40 when I run a medium to light load 3rd sounds fast and 4th is lugging especially on a grade.

 

[Prairie Dog]

If your going to be dragging 14K around, go with the 410s, you won't be sorry.

 

[jimnance]

I have the 3. 73's and am pulling 14K and I'm very happy. The 3. 54's on my '99 were too tall, and the 4. 10's were great for towing, but too low for freeway driving unladen.



To me, the 3. 73's are a great compromise. With the six speed you have plenty of speed, and dropping into fifth under a load is a good pulling gear with good speed still available.



I can't speak to the gearing with the 48RE.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by RMcCulloch

Not necessarily true: the 3500/HO/48RE/DRW has a GCWR of 21,000 with 3. 73s and 23,000 with 4. 10s.



For a 14k tow, the 3. 73 will be borderline.

I agree with your statement when talking about an Auto trans. , but with the 6 spd. the 3. 73 should be plenty low, since 1st and 2nd gear are lower geared than 1st gear in the auto!

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by Elite1

I agree with your statement when talking about an Auto trans. , but with the 6 spd. the 3. 73 should be plenty low, since 1st and 2nd gear are lower geared than 1st gear in the auto!

According to the Dodge Towing guide, a 4WD RC 3500 6-speed DRW is rated for 13,650 with a 3. 73 and 15,650 with a 4. 10



The QC 4WD 3500 6-speed DRW is rated for 13,300 with a 3. 73 and 15,300 with a 4. 10



The ratings for the automatics are 200 pounds higher due to the lighter weight of the transmissions.



The GCWRs are the same for both the transmissions:



21,000 with 3. 73

23,000 with 4. 10



Feel free to verify this information for yourself.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by RMcCulloch

According to the Dodge Towing guide, a 4WD RC 3500 6-speed DRW is rated for 13,650 with a 3. 73 and 15,650 with a 4. 10



The QC 4WD 3500 6-speed DRW is rated for 13,300 with a 3. 73 and 15,300 with a 4. 10



The ratings for the automatics are 200 pounds higher due to the lighter weight of the transmissions.



The GCWRs are the same for both the transmissions:



21,000 with 3. 73

23,000 with 4. 10



Feel free to verify this information for yourself.

It is my belief that Dodge is making a blanket statement re: the GCWRs. I'll bet if you cornered one of their engineers responsible for that print he may admit a difference between the Auto and manual 6 spd. , based on the final drive gearing... check this... here's the full breakdown of the trannies:



48RE

2. 45

1. 45

1. 00

0. 69



NV4500

5. 61

3. 04

1. 67

1. 00

0. 75



NV5600 (6 spd. )

5. 63 *

3. 38 *

2. 04

1. 39

1. 00

0. 73



Even if you never use the granny-1st with the 5600, the remaining 5 gears are perfectly spaced for a low-rev-band diesel. The 48RE is essentially gears 3-4-5-6 of the 5600. just slightly wider spacing.

*... note 1st and 2nd gear are lower on the 6spd. than 1st gear on the auto.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by Elite1

It is my belief that Dodge is making a blanket statement re: the GCWRs. I'll bet if you cornered one of their engineers responsible for that print he may admit a difference between the Auto and manual 6 spd. , based on the final drive gearing... check this...

Since there's not much difference in the top gear ratios between the two [. 69 Auto, . 73 6-speed], my guess is that it's performance-related: how much can you tow up a given grade while maintaining a given speed.



If the 4. 10 puts the engine in a better part of the power band than the 3. 73 _at the target speed_, the 4. 10 could be rated to carry a heavier load.



After all, the axles are the same from the pumpkin to the wheels. Somehow, I don't think that there would be _that_ much difference in strength of the gears.



All that I, personally, can attest to is what's shown in the Towing Guide.



If it's any consolation, I, too, was surprised to see the difference in GCWRs between the two.



FWIW, one of the key reasons that I ordered mine with 4WD was to have the Low Range gearing with the Auto since its bottom gear _is_ only 2. 45 versus the 5. 63 of the 6-speed.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have a 2003 SO 5 speed and have pulled in excess of 32,000CGVW. I have no problems with the 3. 73's going down the road. I will order 4. 10's in my 2003 HO RC pickup. But that is for hauling around all of the heaviest of equipment.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Greg,



How well did the SO pull _before_ you bombed it?

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

It pulled fine. The EZ helps keep it in the higher rpm's uphill.

 

[jimnance]

Greg, I've been sitting on the fence debating what box to install on my '03.



Seems like the fuel/fuel timing boxes are the ticket, but is it worth waiting for them?



Do you think Edge will have one out shortly?

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Jim,

The EZ is still my favorite. The bullydog box will probably be great. When its done. I don't think you will need much more than

an EZ and a set of injectors. Fred Swanson from www.desertdieselparts.com Dynoed 396 with EZ and DDII's. EGT's stay real low with that setup. He pulls with his truck and tells me his EGT's are in check. If your not in a big hurry you might wait for a month or so. Edge is also working on a box that adds timing. I'm sure it will be good too.

 

[CATCRACKER]

hurry up ez comp. i got smoked by an old nissan pickup. i have missed many opportunities to smoke out mustangs. my wife is laughing at me saying her car will smoke my truck. aslo there are alot of the new 6. 0 powerstrokes that want to play. i am waiting for the comp then dd2's then it on... ... . wow \!

 

[Scooby]

[QUOTE*... note 1st and 2nd gear are lower on the 6spd. than 1st gear on the auto. [/B][/QUOTE]





I don't think you can directly compare the "1st" gear of an automatic to that of a standard transmission. When starting from a stand-still, an automatic takes advantage of torque multiplication which compensates for the higher gear initially.

 

[GWaldron]

Scooby,

Do you like your banks power pak and if you could would you do it over?

 

[Scooby]

Overall I like it. There are certainly less expensive options out there and many on the board will tell you that you can get the same hp gains with fewer dollars spent. I went with the system because:

1) It was designed to work together - I used to work about a mile from Banks and took a tour of the facilities since a buddy of mine worked there. I saw the engineering/testing that goes into making the systems work as a system.

2) The materials are top quality

3) I got a small discount on price

4) I think the resale of a Banks kit will add more value (at least make up for the difference in initial cost) than a "bombed" truck with a "cobbled together" list of parts. Just my opinion of course!