Wish I had 4.10's

[jimnance]

boost

I'm seeing plenty of boost (30" +), but perhaps because of the exhaust system I can't get the EGT's over 1100 degrees no matter how much pedal or RPM I put to the engine. I almost feel like I could use a little more fuel. What do you think?

 

[jimnance]

Trans Temp

Another thing, most of the time trans temp is barely off the peg, and max temp up the hills is between 180 and 190 degrees.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have hauled around 20K lbs of hay behind my truck. I was cruzin' and 65 to 75 depending on hills. If your gonna pull heavy, Get the gears. I get real bad mileage as a daily driver. 11. 5 to 12.

Pulling my 5 horse stock trailer I get 12 to 14 mpg. Go figure?

 

[RobG]

Greg:



I was getting awful mileage in my truck with 4. 10's for the longest time (even on trips unloaded). Now lately, things are starting to improve now that I'm just over 20k miles. My last trip from Reno to the SF Bay Area (200 miles), running 70-75 most of the way (plus a couple of full power blasts up to 100 with the UPM box on 5), I averaged 18. 6 mpg. That's a new best. The last few tanks prior I was in the 17's, so things are improving.



I guess it really does take a lot of miles to break these in. Thing is, I've done a lot of towing and load carrying (camper), and it's still taking time.



Rob

 

[TXRam]

If anyone is interested, I would be willing to discuss swapping gears/axles - just e-mail me. I have a 99 2500 4X4 with 4. 10's and hardly ever pull anything. I would rather have the 3. 54's for mileage and top end.

 

[LSMITH]

TXRam, do you have a manual or auto transmission? That is the key, seems us auto guys want the 4. 10's and the 5 speed guys want the 3. 5 gears. Bad part is the rear gear set is not swappable between the 2500 auto and manual trucks. The one tons can be swapped.

 

[DWillenbring]

I've been pulling a 12 to 14k 5'er for about 1 1/2 years now. 4:10 keeps me going about 70 to 75 on the Interstates at around 2500 to 2600RPM. Only a couple of bigger grades have slowed it down. Mileage goes way down at this speed. I travel a lot around 65MPH (2400RPM) and mileage seems to stay around 10 to 12. Glad I got the 4:10 for it seems to take some of the work out of the pulling.

 

[TXRam]

I have an auto with about 60K miles on it - synthetic in the rearend, and hardly ever use 4X4 - put it in more often to keep everything lubed and working right than I do to really use it.



The thing is, I hardly ever tow anything, and, living in Southeast Texas, hardly ever drive hills. 95% of the time I would prefer to have 3. 55's, with only about 5% of the time do the 4. 10's come in handy FOR ME. I would REALLY like to have 3. 73's - that would be perfect!

 

[jimnance]

about 4.10's - NOT

Just drove 750 miles to L. A. in my newly modified truck. I averaged 18. 3 MPG for the whole trip and drove between 72 and 78 the whole way.



At 70 MPH went to pass someone and was doing 90 before I could blink! WOW!



The mods really turned this truck on. If Dodge were to sell trucks set up this way they would kick the competitions butts!



Since only tow about 10% of the time ( this is my daily driver) I'll stick with the 3. 54's.



Kicked *** down the highway!

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by TXRam

I have an auto with about 60K miles on it - synthetic in the rearend, and hardly ever use 4X4 - put it in more often to keep everything lubed and working right than I do to really use it.



The thing is, I hardly ever tow anything, and, living in Southeast Texas, hardly ever drive hills. 95% of the time I would prefer to have 3. 55's, with only about 5% of the time do the 4. 10's come in handy FOR ME. I would REALLY like to have 3. 73's - that would be perfect!

Why not just run 295/75/16 tires, and that puts you right around 3. 73 ratio.

 

[cullyguy]

And Somewhere he said he was happy with the power BEFORE the mods

 

[RustyJC]

I have the 4. 10's and think they're great for towing our 13,500 lb 5ver, especially when we get into the Texas Hill Country. Towing, we get around 11 MPG at 65-70 MPH with 1050-1100 degF maximum EGTs.



Our truck sees little highway use when not towing, but I'd still like to find a way to financially justify (in my own mind) a U. S. Gear 20% overdrive unit. An equivalent 3. 28 rear axle ratio would give us 1880 RPM at 70 MPH instead of the 2350 RPM we see with the 4. 10's. Let's see, that would also give us 112 MPH at 3000 RPM... .



Rusty

 

[jimnance]

4.10's

Convinced me to stay with 3. 54's. For daily driving 2350 at 70 MPH is too many RPM and probably poorer fuel consumption. I'll just live with 35-40 MPH up the hills and not worry about it.

 

[RoryTek]

RustyJC I,m with you on this, I too have 4:10 and thought about going 3:54's but then I would be stuck with the 3:54 while towing my 30ft fiver. I live near Cajon Pass and I really like passing 4 wheelers whilst towing. So I'm going the overdrive soon, not sure yet if I want GearVendors or UsGear setup, still need to do some research on this one.



My . 02¢

 

[jimnance]

US Gear

I had a US Gear overdrive unit on my 1991 Dodge Diesel. Because the 1991 has no O/D in the transmission it did help fuel economy, but the unit was noisy. It had a constant gear whine which I was told was normal.



I'd go slower up the hills before I paid $ to listen to gear whine all the time.