Forum Discussion

MikeRP's avatar
MikeRP
Explorer
Oct 29, 2020

Need some advice, gearing/fuel mileage.

Hey

I know we have a big thread on fuel mileage going. I’m considering a 2020 Ram 3500 Crew Cab with the HO Cummins/Aisin and it has the 4.10 gears and it’s a dually. On a test drive it appeared to be doing around 2000 rpm at 70 mph.

My 2018 3500 is a SRW SB with the HO Aisin and it gets 18-20 in mixed driving and 11 mpg towing my 14,500 lb fifth wheel with the 3.42 gears.

Looks like these sales guys are ordering 4.10’s on everything but I could go w 3.73 gears and hopefully some better fuel mileage.

I tow usually around 65-68 mph. Like I said any ideas on the fuel mileage for this new truck? I live in Ohio and I try to generally stay within the speed limits.
Tow Vehicles
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Oct 29, 2020
    jdc1 wrote:
    MikeRP wrote:
    Jdc1: Ohio hasn’t been 55 for a long time. I think it is 65 mph now on Freeways.

    ShinerBock: you are right I will consider stepping back to the standard Cummins and the 3.73. Plenty enough to tow 14,500 lbs.



    I just looked it up.....towing speed limit in Ohio is 55mph.


    That's on secondary roads. On expressways like I-80 it's 65, but the regular speed limit is 75, so you're still getting passed by like you're standing still.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2020
    MikeRP wrote:
    Jdc1: Ohio hasn’t been 55 for a long time. I think it is 65 mph now on Freeways.

    ShinerBock: you are right I will consider stepping back to the standard Cummins and the 3.73. Plenty enough to tow 14,500 lbs.



    I just looked it up.....towing speed limit in Ohio is 55mph.
  • MikeRP's avatar
    MikeRP
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2020
    Jdc1: Ohio hasn’t been 55 for a long time. I think it is 65 mph now on Freeways.

    ShinerBock: you are right I will consider stepping back to the standard Cummins and the 3.73. Plenty enough to tow 14,500 lbs.
  • ShinerBock's avatar
    ShinerBock
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2020
    Not sure what your power/towing requirements are. If mileage is your utmost concern then I would not get the HO or performance series as it is called in the medium duty world. The standard output(efficiency series in medium duty trucks) will net you better fuel economy due to it's much higher compression ratio of 19:1 versus 16.2:1 of the HO.
  • ksss's avatar
    ksss
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2020
    jdc1 wrote:
    Well, let's start with Ohio's 55mph towing speed limit......That alone will improve your mileage by 15% or more.



    And increase your road rage factor by 150%. Pulling a trailer in Cali is extremely frustrating.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2020
    Well, let's start with Ohio's 55mph towing speed limit......That alone will improve your mileage by 15% or more.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2020
    If improving mileage is your priority, decrease your speed to 55 mph. “If combined truck/trailer combo exceeds 8,000 lbs, speed limit is 55 mph.” See...

    https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-speed-limits/

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