What gear should I get in my new truck I'm going to order

[Wertles]

I have the 4.10's, wish I had the 3.73. With the added hp and torque, unless you are really towing at the max weight (for mine, 29,000 pounds) there is no need for them. Get the added fuel economy unloaded and you will still be fine loaded.

 

[tony1461571]

I would like to know I've seen a lot of people talk about the Automatic trans like it's a manual How is this accomplished. Would like to know.

 

[TJJEEPER]

The shifter has a rocker switch that allows you to shift it manually. The switch has a minus and plus sign. Minus for downshift, plus for upshift. It will set the top gear it will go into. If you are climbing a grade and the transmission has downshifted already when you hit the minus side of the shifter it will show what gear you are in (sets to that gear) and will not let it upshift. It has some safety built in. It won't let you downshift to an over-rev situation. It also won't force an upshift.

Example:
You are in the mountains and set it at 4. The transmission will still downshift if needed but will not go beyond 4th.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I've got the 4:10's and I'm very happy with that gear set. Having recently towed over 4000 miles with a 15K fifth wheel, both in steep grades and more level roads, I couldn't be happier. It stays in 6th gear most of the time and 5th gear worked great towing that giant truck test grade out of Laughlin, Nevada.

Overall, I get about 1.5 mpg better with my 2014 DRW than I did towing the same trailer with my 2005 SRW 3500 that also had 4:10's. I learned long ago when I first started towing large 5th wheels, you can never have too much truck and "just enough" often becomes a "pain in the you know what" in many situations like strong headwinds.

When you have more truck than you need, you always have the option of getting a heavier trailer when the buying mood strikes! It happens when you least expect it!

 

[gsbrockman]

Thank you all very informative. Just when you think you know what you want and need you get more info.
That's a lot of good info Snoking it will help mostly we will be pulling with the truck. I really want to thank you all for the input. This has always been a good place to find what you need wi post more when I get my new Baby.

Enjoy your 2015 model......you've done missed the boat for 2014 MY ordering.

Final order date 4/17/14
Final production date 8/15/14
2015 order bank opens 6/9/14
2015 production starts 8/25/14

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I would like to know I've seen a lot of people talk about the Automatic trans like it's a manual How is this accomplished. Would like to know.

I think you like the auto. I've been a manual guy my entire life but I'm going auto this time as long as it's the Aisin transmission.

 

[Larry Willard]

I agree with Rusty, prefer the 4:10s for the lower gearing for starting and backing. I do feel the 3:73s would be acceptable if I towed less or mostly flat roads.

 

[AH64ID]

Looking at the overall ratio's with 3.73 and 4.10's, there isn't much of a speed difference in 1st or 2nd but there is a big torque difference.

Assuming a load where the truck shifts at 2500 (also assuming a locked, I know, converter for mathematical reasons). A 3.73 truck would be at 19 and a 4.10 truck at 17, that's not going to eliminate 1st gear based on 4.10's. In 2nd the speeds at 2500 are 33 for 3.73 and 30 for 4.10, again not a big difference. Assuming that the engine is making a flat 500 ft/lbs to get the load moving, the 3.73's will be putting 6993 ft/lbs to the wheels and the 4.10's would be putting 7687 ft/lbs... look at it this way, if the 6993 is all that was required the 4.10 truck would only have to produce 454 ft/lbs. That's less fuel, heat, and driveline stress for the same power to the wheels.

IMHO 4.10 FTW.

 

[SnoKing]

Looking at the overall ratio's with 3.73 and 4.10's, there isn't much of a speed difference in 1st or 2nd but there is a big torque difference.

Assuming a load where the truck shifts at 2500 (also assuming a locked, I know, converter for mathematical reasons). A 3.73 truck would be at 19 and a 4.10 truck at 17, that's not going to eliminate 1st gear based on 4.10's. In 2nd the speeds at 2500 are 33 for 3.73 and 30 for 4.10, again not a big difference. Assuming that the engine is making a flat 500 ft/lbs to get the load moving, the 3.73's will be putting 6993 ft/lbs to the wheels and the 4.10's would be putting 7687 ft/lbs... look at it this way, if the 6993 is all that was required the 4.10 truck would only have to produce 454 ft/lbs. That's less fuel, heat, and driveline stress for the same power to the wheels.

IMHO 4.10 FTW.

So the 4:10 are rated to a 29K or so trailer and the 3.73 a 23-24K trailer! Average person is towing 14-18K and we are debating which axle ratio to get??? Cummins12V98 is towing 18K with 3:42's.

Get what you think you will be happy with! My old 2001 has 4:10's and tows well, but it is not a freeway cruiser. If I was going to get a new duallie it would be with 3:73's, as largest trailer I think I would ever have would be 18K or so. The difference between .63 and .69 final gear will not make the new trucks with 4:10's that much better of a freeway cruiser vs my old 2001.

These new trucks are so nice, it would be should we take the Buick Rainier or the new RAM? New Ram wins, so I would want a better freeway cruiser! A very slight difference in towing would not out weight the ability to cruise nicely bobtail.

I just wish they offered the 3.73 in SRW 3500's.

SNOKING

 

[AH64ID]

Cummins12V98 is towing 18K with 3:42's.

I do believe he said his '15 will be 4.10's thou.

The difference between .63 and .69 final gear will not make the new trucks with 4:10's that much better of a freeway cruiser vs my old 2001.

These new trucks are so nice, it would be should we take the Buick Rainier or the new RAM? New Ram wins, so I would want a better freeway cruiser! A very slight difference in towing would not out weight the ability to cruise nicely bobtail.

I just wish they offered the 3.73 in SRW 3500's.

SNOKING

At 75 your 01 is at ~2350 right? A AS69RC is at ~2125. With 3.73's it drops to ~1950

To me 2125 at 75 is a decent cruise rpm, nothing wrong with that.. but the time I spend at 75 is minimal, even with 75mph speed limits out here.

Like I mentioned earlier, lets see an actual mpg test. With a VGT turbo and all the electronic controls there isn't going to be much of a difference between 1950 and 2125 in terms of efficiency.

But as you mentioned it's all about what you do most with the truck, and where you do it.

I do agree that SRW trucks should have the 3.73 option, or even 4.10's. I personally do lots of slow speed back road driving, where gearing helps keep things cooler.


There are times I wish my 05 had 4.10's, and times the 3.73's are perfect... anyone make a 3.90?

 

[SnoKing]

I do believe he said his '15 will be 4.10's thou.



At 75 your 01 is at ~2350 right? A AS69RC is at ~2125. With 3.73's it drops to ~1950

To me 2125 at 75 is a decent cruise rpm, nothing wrong with that.. but the time I spend at 75 is minimal, even with 75mph speed limits out here.

Like I mentioned earlier, lets see an actual mpg test. With a VGT turbo and all the electronic controls there isn't going to be much of a difference between 1950 and 2125 in terms of efficiency.

But as you mentioned it's all about what you do most with the truck, and where you do it.

I do agree that SRW trucks should have the 3.73 option, or even 4.10's. I personally do lots of slow speed back road driving, where gearing helps keep things cooler.


There are times I wish my 05 had 4.10's, and times the 3.73's are perfect... anyone make a 3.90?

Difference in tire diameter is also in play. Guess I would like to drive trucks with both gears! However duallies come with tires that are 31.8 inch in diameter and my LT265/75R16 are 31.7. The SRW trucks with tires over 33" would effect gearing.

SNOKING

 

[tony1461571]

Enjoy your 2015 model......you've done missed the boat for 2014 MY ordering.

Final order date 4/17/14
Final production date 8/15/14
2015 order, bank opens 6/9/14
2015 production starts 8/25/14

Well, not sure where you got your info. But my Dealer has submitted my order for the 2014 RAM, 3500 Larime Longhorn 4x2 DRW 4.10 rear gear with 6.7 L CTD w385/850. AISIN 6 speed auto in Praire Pearl coat Two Tone, Premium leather bucket seats . So Unless they let us know real soon looks like it's a go. Iknow when I ordered my 1998 RAM 3500 they said right away I could'nt order untill the first of the year because of the change to te new 24V. So only time will tell.

 

[gsbrockman]

What date was your order submitted??? Do you have a VON or VIN yet???

 

[tony1461571]

We submitted the order on 5/5/14 no VON OR VIN Yet. I had called and asked the salesman he said they have not gotten any word back it wasn't accepted so it's a just wait and see. I would think that if they stoped orders on 4/18/14 that buy may 5th they would have already have had some word to not submit any new orders. As I said in 98 I tried to order a new 98 a few months ahead and was told immediately that I could not order anything till Jan of the next year. If I have to go with a 2015 no big deal there are lots of 2013s and 2014s in my area, but the boss doesn't want a 4x4 so we order a 4x2 thanks I just know I will get the 4.10 gear.

 

[gsbrockman]

Generally......you'll get a VON within 24 hours or so of ordering.

 

[tony1461571]

gsbrockman I just got an email from my dealer to let me know that my 2014 RAM Laramie Longhorn Mega Cab 3500 has been issued a VIN# and is scheduled to be built. So I'm looking forward to the new tag I can put my bio. Maybe the stop build date was for the Tradesman that you have I have to say I'm glad you were wrong, not just to prove you wrong. But it means that I will get my truck sooner than later. We want to take a trip in the fall to be there when a grandchild is born. Thank you everyone for your input, it was helpful.

 

[Fitter48093]

I also ordered a 2014 on 05/05/2014 and got my von with in 12 hrs. It has progressed to BX status and looks like a good order?

 

[gsbrockman]

gsbrockman I just got an email from my dealer to let me know that my 2014 RAM Laramie Longhorn Mega Cab 3500 has been issued a VIN# and is scheduled to be built. So I'm looking forward to the new tag I can put my bio. Maybe the stop build date was for the Tradesman that you have I have to say I'm glad you were wrong, not just to prove you wrong.

I recently found out that 04/17/2014 was the last order date with a guarantee of build. Congrats to you & Fitter48093 on your new truck orders.....try not to be too impatient!!!

 

[Too Tall]

Is the torque converter locked up in 4th gear? My chevy used to run high transmission temps when I'd drop to forth because it was only locked up in 5th and 6th. You could really see the heat build when I'd run in forth.

 

[AH64ID]

The torque converter can lock in 2-6.