2014 Ultimate 1 Ton Challenge results

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

It does not make power, but it does increase or decrease the power depending on the ratio.

850 ft/lbs in direct they 3.73's is 3170 ft/lbs to the wheel, 4.10's would put 3485ft/lbs to the wheel, 9.9%, for the same engine output and fuel consumption. That is the difference in 775 ft/lbs or 850 ft/lbs for the same gearing. At 2500 rpms that is like an additional 35hp... So yes it does make a difference.

I also don't believe that the difference in rpms, 9.9%, is going to make a huge difference in fuel economy on a modern HPCR engine, 20 years ago absolutely.

Sorry but it doesn't work like that.

The best way I can explain it without writing a book is this:

Chassis dyno a vehicle a with 2.75 gears in it and note the HP.
Then chassis dyno the same vehicle with a 4.56 gear in it.

Or do this. Take a vehicle and dyno it in a 1 to 1 gear or as close to 1 to 1 as you can get. Then take the same vehicle and dyno it in 1st gear.

Which vehicle is going to show the most HP? This will be HP to the wheel which is what counts. From your way of thinking the 1st gear way of dyno'ing should show way more HP. See if it works out that way for you.

If the short gear will not make that much difference in fuel economy why doesn't Ram just have the 4:10 gear and call it good? Think what that would do. Less inventory stock. You could just stock one gear in your dealers for your trucks.

I have the 3:42's and tow a combined near 29K. I assume the big reason for the 3 different rear axles is how much weight each can get rolling on a steep grade. 4:10's would make a difference for me.

As far as fuel economy driving solo with 3:42's I don't think it makes a bit of difference over 4:10's, I get 14.7 or so hand calc freeway. I also don't think the tall gears hurt me either towing as some think. I average 9.5 hand calc West Coast towing averaged over many tanks.