Which Differential for Truck Camper

Sheriffdoug wrote:

I have had three diesels,

First, 2002 F250 4x4 Supercab Longbed 3.73 SRW, powerful, economical, but had
a Smaller Popup camper. Excellent.

Second, 2011 Chev Silverado DRW 2500hd Longbed supercab 3.73 with an
Adventurer 910fbs, heavy camper, would have been better with 4.10 and DRW.

Third, 2012 Ram 3500hd crew Longbed drw with 4.10 and 2013 Eagle Cap 1160,
extremely heavy camper, with sway bar, supersprings, Timbrens, despite extreme
weight, uses only 5-6% more fuel, but with 4.10 has incredible power at low & high
speeds with the added stability of dual rear wheel and other upgrades.

Apples and Oranges

You cannot make a judgment on gears with these trucks. They are all different years, makes, and models. The only way to make a statement about gears is to have the same drive train in a truck that has 4.10 gears vs 3.73 gears. Now if you go out and by a 2012 Ram with 3.73
with the same drive train then you can give real world experience about the gear ratio's.

Put 4.10 gears in that 2002 truck of yours and put 3.73 in the 2012 Ram. The 2012 Ram would still blow away that 2002 truck in towing.

Here is an approximate MPH chart for stock tires 31.8" tall

I have a 2011 F350 6.2 gas 6 speed auto tranny, with 4.3 rear( or 4.1 ,pretty sure though a .3) . Would do it again if buying again. Prior I had a F350 6.4 diesel with a 3.73 which had plenty of power. But comparing the diesel and gas as far as a 3.73 rear is comparing apples and oranges. With a gas there is a definite improvement going with the 4.1/4.3 . My mpg emty,close to 15 mpg, hauling a 4k# camper close to 11mpg. This is at 60mph highway driving , flat roads. My truck has no difficulty with hills etc.

On Edit; my rear is definitly 4.3

One time, at band camp; no wait, that’s a different story.

Back when we were shopping for our last truck in 2006, I was seriously considering a Ford V-10 gasser. I drove two, one with a manual / 4.30 and one with an auto / 3.73 (IIRC). The 4.30 was a rocket and the 3.73 was dog. I actually got out pulled by a 4-cyl Camry on the interstate in Birmingham in that 3.73. I couldn’t imagine driving that 3.73 with 4,000 lbs in the bed and the wind drag of a TC.

Brad

BradW wrote:
Gas motor, truck camper, 4,000 lb payload, high wind drag, hills (mtns), altitude hp loss, california highway speeds, 4.10 standard gearing, resale value .........

Unless 90% of your driving is highway miles with an empty truck bed, you want the 4.10 - you, your tranny and the folks behind you will apreciate it.

G'day,

Allways plan for that little extra.

You don't want to be that vehicle holding up traffic, the one with no stamina for those hills/mountains or the one with no extra grunt to safely pass.

I have had three diesels,

First, 2002 F250 4x4 Supercab Longbed 3.73 SRW, powerful, economical, but had
a Smaller Popup camper. Excellent.

Second, 2011 Chev Silverado DRW 2500hd Longbed supercab 3.73 with an
Adventurer 910fbs, heavy camper, would have been better with 4.10 and DRW.

Third, 2012 Ram 3500hd crew Longbed drw with 4.10 and 2013 Eagle Cap 1160,
extremely heavy camper, with sway bar, supersprings, Timbrens, despite extreme
weight, uses only 5-6% more fuel, but with 4.10 has incredible power at low & high
speeds with the added stability of dual rear wheel and other upgrades.


In summary, go with the 4.10 with either single or dual rear wheel, diesel or especially
with gas. Gas engines use revs for torque, therefore using more fuel. 4.10, less strain on gearbox & rear diff. Gas engines are cheaper to buy, with cheaper fuel.

Go 4.10, Diesel with DRW, please, you won't regret it.

smkettner wrote:
The only reason I would get 4.10 is because 4.30 or 4.56 was not offered.

Best answer. :) :)
If that was my rig, I would be looking for 4.30's.
Brad

I would go with 4.10 (and I did)
I think the milage difference is 3-4MPG.
If you plan on increasing wheel size from factory, I would certainly go with 4.10s.

The only reason I would get 4.10 is because 4.30 or 4.56 was not offered.
Less that 4.10 is diesel gears IMO.

Fishcamper wrote:
I drive a 6.0L 2011 extended cab 3500 with the 3.73 ratio. Here is a very specific example of what I experienced over a 6,611 mile trip last spring. I carry a Lance 920 (about 2700 lbs, so lighter than yours, but I'm probably not much under your 4000 lbs. when traveling cross-country). In any case, with holding tanks empty but everything else loaded (including 2 passengers) it weighed in at 11,160 lbs. I'm pretty much a speed limit plus 5-10 driver.

I found the 3.10 to provide more than adequate power for this rig. Note, however, for what it's worth, the trip was on relatively flat country with no climbing to speak of.

Gas mileage experience with the 3.73:
-Cape Cod to Sycamore, IL (slightly west of Chicago) - 11.8mpg
-Sycamore to Yellowstone - 8.9mpg (staggering headwinds)
-Within and around Yellowstone on the NP roads (1,020 miles at 45 mph but with numerous stops and starts) - 12.2mpg
-Yellowstone back to Sycamore - 8.9mpg (included some city driving in Montana and again forceful headwinds. Yes, headwinds coming west and going back east! Makes me think of my Dad who walked a mile to and from school, uphill both ways!
-Sycamore to Cape Cod - 11.7mpg

That's it for what it's worth; the good, the bad, and the ugly (699 gallons of gas).

I have a 6.0L 2012 Extended Cab 2500 with 3:73 ratio also. My mileage and performance has also been similar to yours and I live in Alaska where I'm almost always crossing a mountain pass or two. I am also towing a 16' snowmobile trailer with ATV's or snowmobiles depending on the season along with the my Wolf Creek camper. 4:10's will give you a larger load capability, but 3:73 will give a slightly better fuel mileage, even with a moderate load.

I drive a 6.0L 2011 extended cab 3500 with the 3.73 ratio. Here is a very specific example of what I experienced over a 6,611 mile trip last spring. I carry a Lance 920 (about 2700 lbs, so lighter than yours, but I'm probably not much under your 4000 lbs. when traveling cross-country). In any case, with holding tanks empty but everything else loaded (including 2 passengers) it weighed in at 11,160 lbs. I'm pretty much a speed limit plus 5-10 driver.

I found the 3.10 to provide more than adequate power for this rig. Note, however, for what it's worth, the trip was on relatively flat country with no climbing to speak of.

Gas mileage experience with the 3.73:
-Cape Cod to Sycamore, IL (slightly west of Chicago) - 11.8mpg
-Sycamore to Yellowstone - 8.9mpg (staggering headwinds)
-Within and around Yellowstone on the NP roads (1,020 miles at 45 mph but with numerous stops and starts) - 12.2mpg
-Yellowstone back to Sycamore - 8.9mpg (included some city driving in Montana and again forceful headwinds. Yes, headwinds coming west and going back east! Makes me think of my Dad who walked a mile to and from school, uphill both ways!
-Sycamore to Cape Cod - 11.7mpg

That's it for what it's worth; the good, the bad, and the ugly (699 gallons of gas).