Dodge RAM payload
We currently tow our travel trailer with a Nissan Armada. Thinking of getting a little bigger trailer, we decided to get a truck. Decided on a Dodge RAM Limited today until I noticed the payload was...
Forum Discussion
noteven wrote:
A seldom discussed aspect of GVW and therefore payload capacity calculations is the vehicle final drive gearing and cooling capacity.
Light duty and passenger vehicles are geared to deliver good EPA mileage numbers at 75mph on the I roads. 20 inch rims, axle gears for the salt flats, 2 and 3 overdrive ratios, fluffy shift management, quiet fans etc.
Just because the rear axle won't break in half doesn't mean the vehicle will be comfortable towing a barn door up a grade at 100F in a cross wind...
Do "1/2 tons" come with 4.10 or 4.56 rear axle ratios?
No, and rarely do 3/4 tons anymore, compare the first 4 final gear ratios of a modern 6 speed with a 3.43 rear end to a 4 speed with a 4.10 rear end, in most cases the 6 speed will have a greater final ratio. Now realize that a 6 speed is the old tech on the way out and most trucks are coming with a 8 or 10 speed. Basically if you don't get the lowest available rear end you'll be fine.
As far as cooling, I think every brand now has a tranny cooler as standard equipment, and an extra radiator as part of the heavy duty trailering package. Heck, my Grand Caravan came with a tranny cooler as standard equipment and it's only rated to tow 3,600 pounds.
*edit*
Just to prove how lopsided it is, I did a cars.com search for F350s within 250 miles of my house, 3.73 292 available, 4.3 6 available. The diesel 350 SRW doesn't even have 4.10 or 4.30 as an option, Ford's engineers must have concluded 23k pounds doesn't need it, meaning 99.99% of trailers don't.
