2014 dodge diesels

Ram has the same tranny and Cummins before they went to the 2013 with 3.42 gears. What they did was improve cooling in both the tranny and CTD. I'm guessing they did some tuning for the DEF as well. That was the downfall and the need for 3.73-4.10 gears before. Just look at the tow ratings pre 2013. Take my 2500 ST CC LB 4x4 for example.
3.42=9500
3.73=12,500
4.10=14,500

Jump to 2013
3.42=17,300

The 2013 has the same frame as the 2012. For 2014 it got the improved version.
Payload only went up 300lbs over the 2012 for 2013.

I have been looking at these and I have to ask, why are the new trucks coming out with such high gear ratios? something like 3:42's or the likes. is it for gas mileage or is it because of all the torque the engine has? I don't know how they can tow a 35 ft TT but then I stop and think of the semi's on the road, they also have some high gear ratios.

old guy, don't let the higher gears scare you off, I have the 3:42s in my Ram, pulled the old big heavy brick TT I had very well, it now pulls the fiver with ease... only difference between my 05 with 3:73 vs the 2013 with 3:42 is a little slower off the lights... but then I can now get to campsite with beer and Rum stirred but not shaken. The 3:42s did as well as the 3:73s in the Canadian Rockies.

As Mr. Peeps indicated, lots of power and transmissions with double over-drive make them very capable and get better fuel efficiency too.
A modern 4.10 ratio will turn lower RPM's in high gear than my 3.73 in 6th.

In the single rear wheel diesel trucks,
Ram is 3.42 only,
Ford is 3.55 or 3.31,
and GM is 3.73 only.

Two main reasons.

#1. Power.
The more power you have the less gear advantage you need. Gears are just there to give the engine more of an advantage.

#2. Transmissions with a lot of gears.
Final ratio's are where it's at now days. As in the racing game, we did not care what the rear gear was all long as the math came out right for our final drive. Sometimes we would run 1 to 1 and a 650 rear gear and sometimes we would run the tranny in 2 gear and use 389 rear gears. It made no difference because in the end it was all the same.

I think part of the reason, is due to the 6-speed transmissions.

Jerry