2014 Ultimate 1 Ton Challenge results

4x4ord wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
It took me a while to understand why I could still pull every grade along I-5 border to border at 55 or more with the 3:42's at near 29K. It's gearing. But I found out it does not like to take off on a steep hill from a start. That is why my next RAM (not Dodge) will have 4:10's.

When I went on the TDR and told of my purchase and what I was towing you would have thought the sky was falling! I did have a price from the dealer to swap front and rear diffs to 4:10 for $1,500 but decided not to after seeing how the truck performed.

I have been thinking lately I may just go ahead and do the gear swap if RAM does not get the air ride in the 3500 dually's soon.

I tow loads close to 40,000 lbs with 3.55 gears and 20" wheels (34" tall tires) and I honestly have a hard time believing how easy the Ford makes the task of getting going seem. You put the truck in drive and touch the accelerator and it takes off as though you're not hooked to anything. Our GM on the other hand does let you know you have a huge load hooked up that you're trying to get going. The Duramax revs and you slowly start moving until the trailer wheels drop in a hole or need to climb over a mole hill causing the truck to almost stop. Part of the difference is the lower 1st gear ratio that the Ford transmission has but I believe much of it is the torque converter. The Aisin transmission has a lower 1st gear (3.74:1) than your 68RFE (3.23:1) so the Aisin mated with a 3.73 rear end would have a very similar 1st gear ratio as your 68RFE mated to 4.10 rear gears and very similar as well to my Ford's 1st gear mated to the 3.55 rear end.