Gear Ratio

Consumer Reports has bad mouthed HD trucks for years. They are a "green" org. So, when they review pickups, I take most of what they say with a LARGE grain of salt. The HD features that allow you to haul a bigger load, they rate as NEGATIVE! They prefer a small, low capacity truck, with car like features! To them, a nice seat, is MUCH better than the ability to tow a load!

They down rated a 3500, BECAUSE it rode a little rougher than a 1500! No s**t!

Gotta get me one of the T-shirts to be sure....:)

If I'm not mistaken, I thought the Duramax/Allison combo comes with the 3:73...can tow a lot of weight, has low end TQ and still get's pretty good mpg.

As far as 4:10, which is what I have, it gives you more gross combined weight..the truck and what you tow can weigh more than with a 3:73, 3:42 etc...

The way I understand it, the 3:42, 3:73 would give better mpg than the 4:10 would...I'm use to a 4:10 so it doesn't matter to me...But there are Math equations that show you tach lower with the 3:42, 3:73 than with the 4:10 when empty or towing, thus, higher rpm, would equate to using a little more fuel, but would allow for heavier towing...(if trucks GVWR can handle pin or tongue weight).


4:10 isn't as "economical" as the 3:73, 3:55, 3:42, but they have a less GCWR than the 4:10 gives one in an identical truck....

hope this helped......

NC Hauler wrote:

covetsthesun wrote:
NC Hauler.. a "big dog" truck is simply a bigger stronger vehicle than a small one. In every group of dogs there's always an "alpha" male and he is the Big Dog.

There's also a saying... "if you can't run with the Big Dogs stay on the porch".

It's just a way of highlighting the more powerful object.

Our friend just happens to own a Ram diesel that can tow just about anything. I can ride in his truck and not deal with a salesman right away.

I've had Chevy/GM's for a long time and while I like them...Dodge compared well in Consumer Reports too. Our Ram friend thinks I should get a Sierra... he's impressed with the comfort and finish.

Thanks to all for the education. There's a lot of experience here and y'all are generous with sharing it. I'm sure there's a few folks out there that learned something new too.

cts

AT 63 years of age, and towing steady since 75', I've owned a pile of Chevy's, gas and diesel...and Dodge/Ram since 2010 (three of them)...

Never heard a truck, no matter the size, referred to as a "Big Dog", must be a regional thing:)

The old saying, if you can't run with the big dogs has been around for a lot of years, when I was younger I used it quite often, it was more of a "macho" thing, same as the "alpha male" tag.....I just know trucks and what they can and can't do...

I learned a lot the hard way and wished, when I was younger that I had listened to some advice given me at times..now that I've "been there, done that' got the T-Shirt, all I try to do is try to help some not make the mistakes I did, saves some money and grief in the long run:) Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

oh, Consumers Report in my mind, having been a member for well over 20 years has proved out wrong on quite a few of their reports on reliability and choice of vehicles....I dropped them and pay no more attention to any of their reports on anything, they don't have the credibility they did years ago.....they "miss" more than they "hit".

And trying to avoid mistakes is exactly why I come here to ask questions! I wish I'd listened more too... my Dad passed a few years ago and there's so much I could have learned if I'd only listened.

My CR scrip runs out in 2014. On the fence about keeping it.

Re Big Dog... it's probably regional, but there's a brand of Big Dog clothing out that's pretty cool. DH loves his "we don't need no stinking leashes" tee shirt. BD has become a "state of mind"LOL!

cts

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
When GM changed to the 4.10 as the standard rear ratio for the 2013 HD, they indicated that it was because it improved fuel economy for most lower speed driving.

So, I wouldn't necessarily be giving up fuel economy? Also... would the lower gear ratio help driving over rough ground?

A few years ago we (DH)accidentally got on a BLM mountain forest road... while it was gorgeous our Silverado is not tricked out for that type of road. A crush plate would have been nice. It took about two hours to go 10 miles. Had to move a few logs and rocks out of the "road". No way to turn around or back out. Lets just say the GPS lied.

In 2003 we (I was driving)had a Ford 150 out in Colorado and took a "squiggly grey line on the map" that looked like a promising short cut... it was ONLY if you had 4wd. We did make it through the "short cut" without damaging the truck.

DH's coffee was all over the place... him, the headliner... windshield...dash... he didn't enjoy it much and was adamant that we never ever do anything like that again. Meaning me of course.

So... when HE got on the wrong road in GA... it was agreed we would never speak of it again.

That's a long winded story but it does illustrate the kinds of places I find fascinating and why I'm leaning 4wd...crush plate... etc.


So..does the lower gear help even when not towing?

cts

covetsthesun wrote:
NC Hauler.. a "big dog" truck is simply a bigger stronger vehicle than a small one. In every group of dogs there's always an "alpha" male and he is the Big Dog.

There's also a saying... "if you can't run with the Big Dogs stay on the porch".

It's just a way of highlighting the more powerful object.

Our friend just happens to own a Ram diesel that can tow just about anything. I can ride in his truck and not deal with a salesman right away.

I've had Chevy/GM's for a long time and while I like them...Dodge compared well in Consumer Reports too. Our Ram friend thinks I should get a Sierra... he's impressed with the comfort and finish.

Thanks to all for the education. There's a lot of experience here and y'all are generous with sharing it. I'm sure there's a few folks out there that learned something new too.

cts

AT 63 years of age, and towing steady since 75', I've owned a pile of Chevy's, gas and diesel...and Dodge/Ram since 2010 (three of them)...

Never heard a truck, no matter the size, referred to as a "Big Dog", must be a regional thing:)

The old saying, if you can't run with the big dogs has been around for a lot of years, when I was younger I used it quite often, it was more of a "macho" thing, same as the "alpha male" tag.....I just know trucks and what they can and can't do...

I learned a lot the hard way and wished, when I was younger that I had listened to some advice given me at times..now that I've "been there, done that' got the T-Shirt, all I try to do is try to help some not make the mistakes I did, saves some money and grief in the long run:) Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

oh, Consumers Report in my mind, having been a member for well over 20 years has proved out wrong on quite a few of their reports on reliability and choice of vehicles....I dropped them and pay no more attention to any of their reports on anything, they don't have the credibility they did years ago.....they "miss" more than they "hit".

NC Hauler.. a "big dog" truck is simply a bigger stronger vehicle than a small one. In every group of dogs there's always an "alpha" male and he is the Big Dog.

There's also a saying... "if you can't run with the Big Dogs stay on the porch".

It's just a way of highlighting the more powerful object.

Our friend just happens to own a Ram diesel that can tow just about anything. I can ride in his truck and not deal with a salesman right away.

I've had Chevy/GM's for a long time and while I like them...Dodge compared well in Consumer Reports too. Our Ram friend thinks I should get a Sierra... he's impressed with the comfort and finish.

Thanks to all for the education. There's a lot of experience here and y'all are generous with sharing it. I'm sure there's a few folks out there that learned something new too.

cts

X2 on 4.10 with gas and diesel 3.73-happy towing!

covetsthesun wrote:
Haven't decided on diesel or gas yet. As for a TT.. not sure about that either. So the short answer is...it depends.

Then the only answer possible at this juncture is lower is better when comes to towing.

For towing with a gas engine I would get the 4.10 (which is the lower gearing). If you get a diesel your only option will be the 3.73 which will do just fine.
Please don't judge a diesel engine by a 1984 Mercedes. Try comparing anything else from 1984 to today's technology: computers, cell phones, televisions, etc.
Diesel engines have come a long long way. Unfortunately a lot of Americans still seem to make those comparisons to long past diesel technology. I think that's why we don't have as many diesel vehicle options in this country.

When GM changed to the 4.10 as the standard rear ratio for the 2013 HD, they indicated that it was because it improved fuel economy for most lower speed driving.