Which axle?

[mlewis73]

I'm planning to purchase a 2006 Ram 3500 with the manual transmission.



Was thinking about the 3. 73 axle... was wondering what the benefit of the 4. 10 is. Also, I hear that RPMs can get pretty high even with the 3. 73 at highway speeds.



I pull 12,000 pounds regularly... would like to be able to pull much more than that occasionally. Do I need the 4. 10 axle? Highway towing, primarily, so seems to me the 3. 73 would be the correct choice.



Looking forward to getting a new Ram 3500 Cummins... been wanting one for 5-6 years now.



Thank you,



Mike

 

[JCleary]

I'm planning to purchase a 2006 Ram 3500 with the manual transmission.



Was thinking about the 3. 73 axle... was wondering what the benefit of the 4. 10 is. Also, I hear that RPMs can get pretty high even with the 3. 73 at highway speeds.



I pull 12,000 pounds regularly... would like to be able to pull much more than that occasionally. Do I need the 4. 10 axle? Highway towing, primarily, so seems to me the 3. 73 would be the correct choice.



Looking forward to getting a new Ram 3500 Cummins... been wanting one for 5-6 years now.



Thank you,



Mike

With the G56, you have one choice, the 3. 73.



Top gear is the equivalent of the old six speed with the 4. 10's. Fuel mileage reports seem to indicate that mileage is not down much, if any. If you had 4. 10's with the G56, you'd go crazy turning over 2500 rpm at 70. The ratios in the new truck seem right, at least I like the way it drove when I test drove one.



Personally, I'd get an auto with 4. 10's. It will tow your weight no problem if you leave the motor stock.



If you bomb the motor, you must do the same to the auto. Then it will be ALL smiles

 

[TowPro]

I ordered an 06 6 speed with 3:73's, and I tow a 36' Titanium (around 11K loaded).



I had a 98 5speed with 3:55's and it was great for towing 11K. Now I have an 02 auto with 4:10's. Its OK for towing but I hate the auto. At 55 the convertor can't decide to lock or unlock and it shudders every time It locks. I hate the automatic, it sucks way to much power out of the motor. I know, I can drop several grand into the auto and I might like it, but I would rather be rowing when I tow. Instead I can drop that several grand on a deposit and get the manual I want (plus the 06 has way more power then the 02 )



I really wanted the 06 6 speed with 3:08's but all I can get is the 3:73. I figure the tires are bigger then the 98 so the gearing might work out pretty close to the 3:55's.

 

[DocDetonancour]

I like the 373 stock, but wonder if the tires are enhanced if the power and mpg would suffer? I would like larger tires but am worried that the gears are too high? Doc

 

[Bob4x4]

Manual trans 3. 73's... ... ... ... Auto's 4. 10's



Bob

 

[jwduke]

I've got a auto, with 3. 73's and I'm quite impressed towing my 5er (8,600#). Pluse mpg isn't bad 12. 5 towing, 19. 6 highway.