I’ve heard a number of Cummins fans saying they are waiting for an 8 or 10 speed transmission before getting a new truck. Why? Does the Cummins struggle to get your trailer moving from a stop? Or are you running higher rpm cruising than you’d like? Or is it just because Ford and GM have 10 speeds?

Because it is MOAR! speeds?10 speeds and more are needed to optimize gas engines.Why not use them in diesels too? Diesels don’t care.

Not needed. More speed towing is dangerous for many reasons, and you achieve a good speed now. Lugging any engine while pulling a weight not good either. Continual searching for correct gears can't be good. The best overall range for towing with that Cummins is around 1800 RPM so in my opinion not needed.

4x4ord wrote:I’ve heard a number of Cummins fans saying they are waiting for an 8 or 10 speed transmission before getting a new truck. Why? Does the Cummins struggle to get your trailer moving from a stop? Or are you running higher rpm cruising than you’d like? Or is it just because Ford and GM have 10 speeds?Well our old 2001 Ram 2500 with Cummins 5.9 and 3.55 gears, worked to get going off the line, it didn't struggle, but it was working to get our 13,000# 5er moving, we likely had about 300 hp and 610 torque. Now the same 5er behind the 2016 Ram CDT with Aisin and 3.73, 385 hp and 850 torque seems to not really working at all. Our towing (pulling) rating is 25,224#, so moving about half of what it is rated to pull.The old Ram was pulling about 1,000# more than it was rated at stock.

It just seems that all truck manufacturers are going to higher numbers of gears. I'm not sure its needed in a diesel though, but I'm not an engineer... heck I've never even been on a train before.That said, I've never felt the need for more gears in my CTD. Plenty of grunt to get moving off the line and most of the time I'm towing its in 6th gear and rarely downshifts. Seems to me that Ram knows how the engine is supposed to work and designed a transmission that keeps the powerband where it needs to be.

rhagfo wrote:4x4ord wrote:I’ve heard a number of Cummins fans saying they are waiting for an 8 or 10 speed transmission before getting a new truck. Why? Does the Cummins struggle to get your trailer moving from a stop? Or are you running higher rpm cruising than you’d like? Or is it just because Ford and GM have 10 speeds?Well our old 2001 Ram 2500 with Cummins 5.9 and 3.55 gears, worked to get going off the line, it didn't struggle, but it was working to get our 13,000# 5er moving, we likely had about 300 hp and 610 torque. Now the same 5er behind the 2016 Ram CDT with Aisin and 3.73, 385 hp and 850 torque seems to not really working at all. Our towing (pulling) rating is 25,224#, so moving about half of what it is rated to pull.The old Ram was pulling about 1,000# more than it was rated at stock.The 2021 Cummins makes 1075 lbft of torque and Ram quit offering the 3.42 gears.

Why do you Cummins guys want more gears | Good Sam Community

Devo_the_dog
Explorer
Apr 08, 2021
Huntindog wrote:
Interesting. I would like to see the GM 10 speed, and the Ram 6 speeds as well.

Not asking for much, just all of your free time. LOL:B

Not a problem. I did this for my F350 and for the other trucks before I ordered.

Ram 3500 HO with AISIN, 3.73's and stock tires (dually)

I'd provide the same for the GM but I don't know the gearing.
Huntindog
Explorer
Apr 08, 2021
Devo the dog wrote:
Ram 3500 HO with Ford 10 speed, 3.73's and stock tires (dually)

Ram 3500 HO with Ford 10 speed, 3.42's and stock tires (dually)
Interesting. I would like to see the GM 10 speed, and the Ram 6 speeds as well.

Not asking for much, just all of your free time. LOL:B
Devo_the_dog
Explorer
Apr 07, 2021
Ram 3500 HO with Ford 10 speed, 3.73's and stock tires (dually)

Ram 3500 HO with Ford 10 speed, 3.42's and stock tires (dually)
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2021
I would run 3.42's/AISIN that my friends is "GOLDEN".
4x4ord
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2021
Would 3.73 gears give you what you want in 9nth? Or if you could get 3.0 gears you’d have the towing rpm you want in 8th. 3.0 x 4.6 would still provide you with an overall lower 1st gear ratio than your present 3.42 x 3.75.
ShinerBock
Explorer
Apr 07, 2021
4x4ord wrote:
If Ram offered a 10 speed with the same gear ratios as Ford’s 10 speed, what would you want for a final drive rear axle ratio?

I would want the OD gear ratios of the Ford 10-speed to be a bit different. Ninth gear should be around .75, not .687, to keep me in the sweet spot of the Cummins when towing at speeds between 60-75 mph.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2021
If Ram offered a 10 speed with the same gear ratios as Ford’s 10 speed, what would you want for a final drive rear axle ratio?
FishOnOne
Nomad
Apr 07, 2021
4x4ord wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
This is about all I got left in me for this thread...:Z

QUITTER!!!

Ya really, what kind of Dog are you. Here we are right on the verge of going down a rabbit hole and you’re going to put your tail between your legs and go home?

I think he decided to stay on the porch and watch the big dogs play. :B
Huntindog
Explorer
Apr 07, 2021
Grit dog wrote:
Ya I’m a lightweight...
He's baaaaack!

Go ahead and show us some true grit!:B
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Apr 06, 2021
Grit dog wrote:
Ya I’m a lightweight...

Go get your favorite afternoon beverage and return to the keyboard.