Which Rear End Ratio?

[Jerky]

Trying to decide which ratio to get. Does the 4. 1 get substantiality less mpg than the 3. 54?

How much weight can the 3. 54 handle? Has any one who have had both like one better than the other?

All input will be appreciated.



Thanks - Dean

 

[paccool]

How much weight do you plan on towing?



Stan

 

[baby.driver]

You've already got a 3. 54.

What do YOU think of it?

I've pulled the maximum load for my truck with the 3. 54s.

Works just fine.



Jay

 

[C Schomer]

Now that I got the 3k kit and 3rd&4th gears have such a broad range, I really like the 3. 54s! The ISBs already have the rpm, if that's what you're going to. Craig

 

[Fast 1]

If you want a little speed sometimes go with the 3. 54s. you can always downshift. Either ratio will handle about whatever you plan on pulling. I've grossed over 34,000 a couple of times and was always grossing 26,000 when I used to transport cars. I've had a 97 3500 with 4. 10s with over 300,000 towing miles and a 2001 3500 with 3. 54s with over 80,000 towing miles on it. Both of them worked great. I have a 2002 2500 now and it has 3. 54.





Fast Coolers 1-800-262-0122



Verlyn Fast

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I am very glad that I have the 3. 54s. My truck is a big car most of the time though.

 

[Bob Wagner]

For towing and empty I love the 354's



70 = 2000RPM works for me



Gotta love the DTT transmission too = Haul A&#167&#167

 

[klenger]

I don't think there is that much difference in milage between 3. 54 and 4. 10s. If you are pulling heavier loads in the mountains on a regular basis, I think 4. 10's are the way to go. It also depends on how much high speed (75 MPH) freeway driving you do empty. I do very little high speed driving, so for me the 4. 10s work great.

 

[Turboman]

3.54s

3. 54s and 34000lbs are no problem. about 65-70 is perfect speed I honestly don't see why anyone gets 4. 10 unless they pull 30k+lbs all the time. IMO

 

[SnoKing]

If you are going to tow with the Auto and do not do much high speed freeway cruising, get the 4:10's. I live in the NW and tow a 8-9000lb 5er and love the 4:10's. With 3. 54 I would have to be out of OD all the time. With the 4:10's I can tow at 2000RPMs at around 63-65 MPH in OD most of the time. On the mountain passes I can run in 3rd TC locked up at 2700RPMs and over 60MPH. HOWEVER, it is NOT a freeway high speed cruiser, it is a TOWING machine. Fall and Spring 5er, and winter the snowmobile trailer. In the summer I play with the two Cummins in the boat. SNOKING

 

[pwr2tow]

If you leave it stock and are going to tow then get the 4:10's, no if and's or buts.



If you are going to add power inhancements then 3:54 would be just fine.



Fuel mileage seem to be close with maybe 1 Mpg difference two tops, some 4:10's get better mileage than 3:54's it all depends alot on your driveing habit and even the same trucks get different mileage equiped the same.



It all depends on what your going to use the truck for.



Ron

 

[LSMITH]

If you get an automatic transmission get the 4. 10 gears. If you get a manual transmission then you have a choice of ratios, and I would still get the 4. 10's. If you are going to put bigger tires on it, like 285's or bigger get the 4. 10's. I would get the 4. 10 gears without debate on all but a 6 speed no matter what I was doing, the beautiful even splits of the 6 speed would give you a gear for any occaision with either rear ratio. MHO, HTH.

 

[RustyJC]

Towing Ratings:



4. 10 - 21,500 GCVWR, 14,700 "trailer tow"



3. 54 - 20,000 GCVWR, 13,200 "trailer tow"



Rusty

 

[Diesel Freak]

My $.02

Get the 3. 54's. you can always grab a lower gear. I have the 3. 54's and 315/75R16 tires and tow on occation... . biggest load yet 18500 GCVW (Massey Furgeson 360 4x4 with front end loader, rear emplement and all four tires loaded with CaCl) and it worked great.



2000 rpm is an indicated 70 MPH in 6th... . closer to 75 actual with my current tires.



If you are going with the auto and are going to keep it stock I would suggest 4. 10 (IF you are going to tow more than 8K)... . the auto has an overdrive ratio of . 69 where the 5600 is . 73, and the 4500 is . 75 (I think)



As far as I am concerned the factory tow ratings are bogus, and are a guideline for the uneducated consumer. . all these trucks can and will move 25999 GCVW if properly equiped (exhaust brake etc. ).

 

[RustyJC]

Re: My $.02

Originally posted by Diesel Freak

As far as I am concerned the factory tow ratings are bogus, and are a guideline for the uneducated consumer. . all these trucks can and will move 25999 GCVW if properly equiped (exhaust brake etc. ).

I'll agree that the "trailer tow ratings" are pretty much worthless since they are based on a stripped truck with only a 150 lb driver. I'd not be so quick to disregard the GCVWR's, though.



Edit - More than absolute numbers, my point was more along the lines that the design engineers feel that the 4. 10 gears are worth about 1,500 lbs of GCVWR. This is primarily due to the reduced loading on components upstream of the rear axle (i. e. , u-joints, driveshafts, transmission shafts and gears, clutch, etc. ) due to the increased mechanical advantage achieved with the 4. 10 gears versus the 3. 54.



JM2CW... .



Rusty

 

[Ramboy]

My GCW towing is over 24k. If you will be that heavy, I can tell you that my 3. 55 would handle it o. k. as long as I was out of O. D.

Put some mods on your truck and you will love the 3. 55 while in O. D. You can see my mods and my mileage is better than bone stock.

Phil

 

[jbone]

Owned both had 98. 5 w/3. 5 see my sign for present, but will say both are great... . just depends on your load... . that 5'er of mine is 10k+, the 98 would pull it, but the 99 does it so much nicer!!

Got 22mpg with 98, only about 17 with 99... . your call---look at all the sides... . R, J. B.

 

[Jerky]

Thanks guys for all the info and help. Will see how many the dealer will let me drive!!



Dean

 

[Barry]

Went on a buying trip over the weekend. Hooked on to a 97 Franklin 5th wheel. 42 ft. long, triple slide, triple axle, 2 bedroom. I loved my 4:10s all the way home, 500 miles... ... all uphill.

 

[Diesel Freak]

Originally posted by Barry

500 miles... ... all uphill.

I was wondering how NASA put those satelites in orbit.