Why are 4.10 gears offered?

[dodgeguy44]

I cannot believe Dodge offers 4. 10 gears. These Cummins engines have plenty of low rpm torque to keep the rpms down when towing and make significant milage gains with a lot less engine wear.



I would like to see a range between 3. 08 - 3. 73. Nothing lower than 3. 73... ... ... it's just not necessary!



My truck(below) has 3. 54 and a 5 spd and it's way too low geared... ..... 2100 rpm at 110kph(70 mph) 15 mpg towing. My 94 had 3. 54 and automatic... ... ... . 1800 at 110kph, 18 mpg towing the same trailer, much better milage, less rpm, and less engine wear. With the choice I would put 3. 21 gears in my present truck and I know the milage would come up substantially.



That's my RANT for today. :-{}

 

[Nyoest]

Sure the 4. 10 gears are necessary, I really like getting to shift 3 times going through a light with my six speed! They also come in handy when your house isn't just where you want it you can give it a little tug... ... ... ... ...

 

[Nate]

Or if you have bigger tires.

 

[Donn]

I cannot believe Dodge offers 4. 10 gears. These Cummins engines have plenty of low rpm torque to keep the rpms down when towing and make significant milage gains with a lot less engine wear.



I would like to see a range between 3. 08 - 3. 73. Nothing lower than 3. 73... ... ... it's just not necessary!



My truck(below) has 3. 54 and a 5 spd and it's way too low geared... ..... 2100 rpm at 110kph(70 mph) 15 mpg towing. My 94 had 3. 54 and automatic... ... ... . 1800 at 110kph, 18 mpg towing the same trailer, much better milage, less rpm, and less engine wear. With the choice I would put 3. 21 gears in my present truck and I know the milage would come up substantially.



That's my RANT for today. :-{}

I have 3. 73 in my truck and I just replaced the tires with goodyear 20" (about 2"taller over all). It lowered my mpg by about 1. 5 so I am glad that I don't have higher gear ratio in my truck, so go figure

 

[Forrest Nearing]

20" wheels are heavy... take more power to turn...



taller gears weigh the same

 

[Bertram65]

I have found towing at less than 2000rpms the engine has no power to hold speed on hills, it is also better for the automatics to have the engine running at a higher rpm. Maybe the older motors had more power down low but the couple hpcr motors I have driven with trailers are gutless below 2000rpms. I also have not noticed any significant mileage difference when running below or above 2000rpms either.

 

[RustyJC]

Towing our 5th wheel, the NV5600/4. 10 combo produces 2350 RPM @ 70 MPH. That's just about the sweet spot for the Cummins as configured in my truck since I don't have to come out of 6th gear (torque rise, ya know) even on 6%-7% grades. The 4. 10s were worth an additional 1,500 lbs in GCWR when I ordered my truck.



Rusty

 

[Rman]

towing heavy loads 4. 10's are a necessity. Long grades will compound the effect. I don't have them, but there have been several occasions where I needed them. Just try loadin up your truck at or above max and see how it performs. I have 3. 54's and most of the time they suit me just right, but when loading her up 4. 10's would sure be a life saver.



They help the automatics out when towing as well, by allowing them to stay in OD longer then with 3. 54's. The newer trucks only go down to 3. 73 now don't they?

 

[klenger]

I had 4. 10's on my 01. 5 NV5600. I kind of miss them when I'm towing.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

4. 10's + Automatic is great...



I have 3. 55's and 6spd now - Haven't put a real load on it yet though.

 

[DiTrani]

I cannot believe Dodge offers 4. 10 gears. These Cummins engines have plenty of low rpm torque to keep the rpms down when towing and make significant milage gains with a lot less engine wear.

Your engine is likely happier and wearing less running at that higher rpm when towing a heavy load.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I had the 4:10 in my '01 with 6 speed. I miss it, especially when towing. Wish I had ordered it on this '05.

 

[Rman]

Low RPM's with a load are bad, you want higher RPM's to keep boost up and EGT's down. My EGT's get ridiculous unless I stay above 2200. Unloaded it's a whole different story. Put 15k of trailer behind you and things are mighty different.

 

[JRhinehart]

I had 4. 10's in my 92 w/5-speed and have them in my 04 w/auto and the 04 tows MUCH better than the 92, thats for sure! I tow an 11,140 lb LQ trailer and have NO problems up or down mountains! I couldn't even imagine trying to haul that with 3. 73's!

 

[NIsaacs]

In answer to the original question, it's cuz as good as the Dodge/Cummins combo is, the powers that be, are still in the gasser age Cummins, manual trannys and 3. 55 axles=good stuff!!





"NICK"

 

[RustyJC]

Cummins, manual trannys and 3. 55 axles=good stuff!!

Yup, when I'm running unloaded, that's the setup I want. When I have 15-16K of 5th wheel hitched up, however, the 4. 10s are the way to go.



Rusty

 

[nps]

I only pull 11-12K with my 3. 54's so I guess 13-14K must be the threshold for needing 4. 10's huh?

 

[CUMMINZ]

4.10s with 315s

You guys with anything other than 4. 10s don't know what you are missing!!

 

[Bloomy]

I am unfortunate enough to have the 4. 10s. With the power level that I am at I would much rather have the 3. 55's. I tow quite often, but I only go to about 10k max. (Anything over that would be illegal) I can go dangerously fast up any hill around here with plenty left over. Would rather have the higher gears, better mileage, and cruising down the highway at 70 or 75 and not racing the engine the entire time.



Thomas

 

[dodgeguy44]

I have not towed with a 24 valve but my brother has and he agees with me. He has 3. 54, auto, 24v and it works great with his 5th whl. When I had my 94, 12v, auto, 3. 54, my GCW was 19000 lbs and I never found a hill that slowed it down even 1-2 mph, 6%, 7%, or what ever. EGT 950 post turbo. transmission 185. Now my 98 12v 5spd set up the same slows down about 5-10 mph on the same hills running higher rpm, 1800 vs 2100, hmmmm. So why would I want it geared lower?



As for low rpm towing... ... ... ... highway tractors run from 1400 to 1700 rpm because that is where the torque is on a I6 diesel. I ran mine(Clatterpiller) in this range and never went over 1800. Drives me nuts listening to the engine scream for no reason. If the engine doesn't want to pull below 2000 rpm, it needs some help.