Who is towing with 3.73’s?

[onesloryd]

Can anyone share their towing experiences, towing with the following combination: 325/600, 3. 73, Auto, 4X4, Quad Cab.

Thanks in advance

Matt

 

[klenger]

Towing a 10K 5er (see sig) with 3. 73's and 6 speed. No problem.

 

[daytripper63]

Towing 10k 5er with 3. 73's and 5 speed S. O. p. u.





Slightly power enhanced

tows fine

 

[Diesel Nut]

305 motor 6 speed and 3. 73's, 13K# 5th wheel, no problems at all. As I added power got even better. I think you would never need 4. 11 for anything you do with one of these trucks. Buddy has same as me, only with with 265 70 R19. 5 tires (36" tall!!!) and pulls a back hoe, total vehicle wt (combined) is just over 32,500 lbs!! :--) 6 Speed and a little power enhancment and she pulls great! These things are just mean!

 

[rfoust]

3. 73's with my 600/6 speed tow great but the best towing gears I ever had in my Dodges were the 3. 54's--wish they would come back with them. Then again, the most I tow is about 10K--ever.

 

[roperteacher]

ho/600 3. 73's 6 speed pulling a 7500# horse trailer A-ok!!! Rear end noise is now gone! Poof... nada!!

 

[EB]

Tow everyday, weights anywhere from 10k up to 22-24k sometimes more. Run 3. 73 gears, no problems, will pull it with ease. The only reason to get 4. 10 gears is if you want to put on bigger tires. Just my opinion.

 

[sarj]

onesloryd

You are asking about my setup, and I just got back from my first good trip towing. I'll mention that I'm running 315 all-terrains. I would have liked a 305 tire but I couldn't find one I liked.



At 75 MPH in OD I'm running 1900-2000 RPM w/ no trailer. A very comfortable cruising speed



I pull a 5000lb, 21' trailer.

At 55 on OD, I run 1650 RPM. I'd be happier if I had it up to 1800 @ 65 MPH.

With OD off at 60 MPH, I run 2200 RPM. It'll do it all day up anything I've seen.



If I was pulling 9-10K+,or more often than I do, I might be a little more worried, but I'm not.



Net: I do fine on flatlands in OD and fine in the hills out of OD. My only concern is the low RPM's on the flatlands. Any comment on the low RPM's is appreciated. Right now I'm looking for a spot for some gauges (don't want to give up the handle cuz of the lift, and the heated seats/mirrors are in the dash. They might get moved)



I assume this was the kind of thing you wanted to know, any other questions and you can PM me



sarj

 

[Bertram65]

3. 73s are the gears for the 6 speed, if it's an auto get the 4. 10s, they work out to closely the same final ratio. 3. 73s with the auto put the sweet spot (1900 to 2100 rpm) at close to 70 MPH, thats a little fast if you are towing heavy. Even with the 4. 10s I take it out of OD if I can't run over 60, below that in OD the EGTs are high as it takes a lot of pedal to keep it at that speed.

 

[Grunt]

I pull my 5th wheel (@8,000#)with no problem, only time I wish I had a 6 speed is going down long steep grades(jake brake would be nice) I run stock tires now but will be looking for 305's when it comes time to replace them. If you are planning on running 35" tires then I would suggest the 4:10 gears



Check out the my readers rig gallery to see the X-monitor I have installed in my pickup

 

[FJfonda]

Matt,



We tow 12,500lbs with the 325/600, 3. 73, Auto, 4X4, Quad Cab combo. At 65 mph..... set the cruise and sit back. Install guages to keep an eye on EGT. At highway speed I have been towing in OD with no temp problems either in EGT or trans. As Bertram65 said... . below 60 you need to be in Tow/Haul mode. Last trip was up the NYS thruway through the hills and I was quite happy with the setup.

 

[JEly]

I have the 3. 73's and wish I had the 4. 10's----------I tow a 7500 TT and with the 315's the 4. 10 would of been in the neighborhood of 3. 93.



Jim

 

[onesloryd]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I have been considering running 35” tires with the 4. 10’s and that would put it close to 3. 73’s with stock tires. When I tow (approx. 10K lbs. ) I usually have to go up a 6%-8% grade and was wondering if it would be better to put 4. 45 gears in with the taller tire.

Any additional input or experiences would be greatly appreciated.



Matt

 

[SRadke]

SHIFT DOWN!!!!! No need have your engine wound up its whole life because you have to pull a hill with a trailer once in a while. Get the higher gears and shift down for the hills. Direct is your best towing gear anyhow. Now, if you were towing everyday I may have a diffrent opinion.



-Scott

 

[hasselbach]

what's the final ratio for the automatic vs the 6 speed? Does anyone have the gear ratios for 1-2-3-4 and 1 through 6?



Thanks

 

[JEly]

Here is a link you can either open or save to disk that tells the different ratio's for the each gear------------I hope this shortcut works-----------You can put in different tire sizes and find out the results as well.

www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/gear-speed-calculator.xls

 

[PBingaman]

3. 73 with 315s on 2003 HO/4spd Auto towing 10K 5th wheel... . just fine uphill. Replaced the muffler with 4" resonator and recalibrated the revolutions per mile.

 

[JThiessen]

I tow 8500 lb - 3. 73 auto, 305hp, 285 tires. RPM in OD @ 65 now runs about 1600 (after installing the EZ). Out of OD, it runs about 2450. My perception is that at the lower RPM's, your transmission doesnt cool as well, therefore the need to run higher rpms.

Power has never been an issue, even before the EZ. Its just been transmission performance and longevity that I'm most concerned with.

BTW, EGT's on level ground hold around 750-850.

 

[JEly]

Mine was just the other way around------when I tow in O/D I am running 67 mph @ 1700 rpm's and transmission temp was 180* out of O/D @ 65 it is 2400 and temp was 200 and climbing

 

[Udaloy]

3.73's are fine

My 600 with a 6-speed loves the 3. 73's. I've pulled a small dozer with a large trailer that weighed about 15,000 pounds, and it had NO PROBLEMS!! In fact, I was able to pass a Ferd pulling a fishing boat uphill. .