8.1 versus 6.00

The new tow spec has a min starting grade of 12%` 150% of the steepest interstate freeway max grade. Issues will be on forest service roads, local city roads, where I have been on grades into lo to mid 30% range. Yeah maybe only a few hundred yards.....but if you stall out and you LOW overall gearing is too tall. You do not move forward. Been there did that done that lots of times with older 3 so autos. Manuals no stall outs.
New 6 so has a 4.10-1 first gear. Vs 3.1 in almighty Allison, and 2.48 in POJ4m80/th400 derivatives.
Marty

BenK wrote:

Ozlander wrote:
4.10 gears only help when you are in 1st gear.
I've never been down to 1st towing in the mountains.
YMMV

REthink that when someone in front of you or something in front of
you forces you to stop on that incline...and have to get it going again...

The 6 speed transmission has made the difference between rear gear ratios less important. Pick the gear that best fits what the truck will be used for most. If most miles are unloaded or towing miles on relativity flat ground the 3.73 will be ideal.

If you get in a position that you can not get going in first gear and have a 4x4 it is simple. Select low range and you will tear the tires off of the wheels before you run out of enough torque to get moving.

I can tell you I'm at the upper limit of what the 6.0 can do at approx 8500-9000lbs. Sure, it does great on the flats but get it up in the mountains and it falls a little short.
Combine 7-8 mpg towing with a 26 gallon tank, well do the math.
The 8.1's were in the duallys and the workhorse chassis motorhomes, for a reason.
With the cruise set at 65 it'll hit second on a majority of overpasses, that get's aggravating on a long day of driving.

jrp26789 wrote:
4.10 only have a impact in first gear after that the trans takes care of it by down shifting. If you have 3.73 you could be in third and have the same rpm as a 4.10 in 4th.

4.10s have a mechanical advantage over 3.73 at any given RPM. If anything, 4.10s have less of an impact in first gear with first gear ratio and the converter unlocked.

4.10 only have a impact in first gear after that the trans takes care of it by down shifting. If you have 3.73 you could be in third and have the same rpm as a 4.10 in 4th.

Ozlander wrote:
4.10 gears only help when you are in 1st gear.
I've never been down to 1st towing in the mountains.
YMMV

UM? You're going to have to elaborate, because that makes little to no sense.


From my experience having owned an 8.1 with 4.10s while my father had a 6.0 with 4.10s and a 4 speed auto. The Allison is fantastic, the 6.0 will probably do anything the 8.1 will if you don't mind listening to it wound up to the sky.

First gear in the six speed is a real stump puller. You may run out of power at seventy, but certainly not at zero. The six speed is a real game changer when it comes to rear axle ratios. Nothing like the 50's when we only had three speed transmissions to work with.

Ozlander wrote:
4.10 gears only help when you are in 1st gear.
I've never been down to 1st towing in the mountains.
YMMV

REthink that when someone in front of you or something in front of
you forces you to stop on that incline...and have to get it going again...

4.10 gears only help when you are in 1st gear.
I've never been down to 1st towing in the mountains.
YMMV

What about comparing a 6.0 with the 3.73 and a 6.0 with the 4.10 gears ? Anyone have any expierance with this ?