2015 3500 Ram

[T-Trucker]

Hi all have a friend looking at a 2015 3500 Ram Dually,He has a Cedar Creek Fiver 16,000lbs,the the is a diesel but only has a 3:42 rear ends in it,is that enough ratio for a 16000 lb trailer,or should he stick with 3:73s or 4:10s,Thx.for all opinions. T-Trucker.

[MudChucker]

minnow wrote:
I often wondered what kind of salaries one makes in Canada. seems prices up there are astronomical. 2 bedroom homes that share walls with neighbors selling for $700,000.

Your comment is true of most major cities in Canada.

I don't know how the average income folks do it either.

[minnow]

I often wondered what kind of salaries one makes in Canada. seems prices up there are astronomical. 2 bedroom homes that share walls with neighbors selling for $700,000.

[MudChucker]

trust me, Im canadian paying canadian bones, by the time we left the lot the truck cost just shy of a hundred K, running boards, spray in liner, cover, step tubes, grill inserts, curt hitch etc etc...I had a hard time not fainting...

[RustyJC]

dirtydan57 wrote:
Dang, Ram got proud of that Aisin fast. That option on my 2016 was $2,595.

I about fainted when I saw the sticker as well, but note that the poster is from Canada - those are Canadian dollars, not US prices.

Rusty

[McIntraveler]

MudChucker wrote:
I have the same gears, I tow near 30K pounds of equipment and steel with no issues and Im not a dually. Dont give it another thought.

Im insured for the weight, so the number nuts can relax.

Dang, Ram got proud of that Aisin fast. That option on my 2016 was $2,595.

[Cummins12V98]

T-Trucker wrote:
Hi all have a friend looking at a 2015 3500 Ram Dually,He has a Cedar Creek Fiver 16,000lbs,the the is a diesel but only has a 3:42 rear ends in it,is that enough ratio for a 16000 lb trailer,or should he stick with 3:73s or 4:10s,Thx.for all opinions. T-Trucker.

THAT is the perfect rear end for that load. If it has the Aisin even better with it's lower starting gears.

I towed 29K for 65K with my 11 HO RAM Dually with 68RFE and 3.42's. I towed in 5th with the same RPM's as a 4.10 in 6th. Around 1,700 @ 60. Perfect RPM's.

If he is looking to tow 23K like I do then the 4.10's are the ticket.

IMHO 3.73's are not needed.

[Me_Again]

Both transmission will work at the weight, however the Aisin will be much better at getting the load moving forward. In reverse the 68RFE wins with a lower reverse ratio. Chris

[Nicholsfamily05]

We have the CTD with the 3.42s and we are pulling our 15.5K Fifth wheel just fine.

Went to the great lake Ontario back in September from eastern Connecticut and it pulled the trailer amazing.
Doing 65 easily up hills and not having to get on the gas at all just held steady.
from a dead stop she easily got up to speed and for the most part held steady at 12.3MPG.
Had a full water tank and full fishing gear for 4 adult guys for a week.

I thought I wasn't going to be happy with the gears but it works great so far. No complaints here

[MudChucker]

I have the same gears, I tow near 30K pounds of equipment and steel with no issues and Im not a dually. Dont give it another thought.

Im insured for the weight, so the number nuts can relax.

[RustyJC]

YnotTurbo wrote:
My in laws had the 3.42 in their 2010 and my 2012 had the 4:10's and I would walk away from him on the grades and I had 4K more pounds of fifth wheel.

The Cummins in the 2010 was rated 350/650 while the Cummins in the 2012 was rated 350/800. Torque matters, too. (And yes, I had 4.10s in my 350/650 2011 and in my current 385/900 2016.

Rusty

[YnotTurbo]

If at all possible, get the 4:10. Your friend will thank you. My in laws had the 3.42 in their 2010 and my 2012 had the 4:10's and I would walk away from him on the grades and I had 4K more pounds of fifth wheel. He has the 43 foot XLR toy hauler and I the 43 foot Mobile Suites. He has since purchased the 2014 with 4:10's and I the 16 with 4:10's again... Crazy cycle...

[RustyJC]

fj12ryder wrote:
The rear end may be a 3.42, but what matters is the overall gearing. Lower gears in the transmission will allow higher gears in the differential.

It almost certainly has the 68RFE automatic, not the optional Aisin AS69RC. In both transmissions, 5th and 6th gear are overdrives, and 6th has almost identical ratios of ~0.615:1. Aside from overall gearing that's too tall in 6th with the 3.42 axle, 1st and 2nd gear in the 68RFE are higher (lower numerically) than the Aisin which will make starting from a stop on steep slopes more challenging that it would be with a 3.73 or 4.10 axle ratio or with the Aisin transmission.

The easiest way to determine which transmission the truck has is to look under the hood. If the transmission dipstick is on the passenger side, it's a 68RFE. If it's on the driver's side, it's an Aisin.

Rusty

[fj12ryder]

The rear end may be a 3.42, but what matters is the overall gearing. Lower gears in the transmission will allow higher gears in the differential.

[RustyJC]

Not the optimum combination, but it will work.

Rusty

[Old-Biscuit]

YES it is quite adequate.....good towing

Motor/transmission with that gearing will tow that 16K all day long and get good mileage