4:10 or 3:73 ?
Possible upgrading to Ram dually. I'm pulling 12,500# gvw with SRW and 3.42 rear end. Usually lock 6th gear out. Plan is to move up to new 15,000# gvw 5th. Not sure if I want to get 4.10 or 3:73. Wh...
Forum Discussion
justme wrote:
There is no easy answer, but if you pull a heavy load most of the time the lower gear is the better. Otherwise the high gear is prefer for light loads and intermittent heavy loads. Fuel mileage and engine wear (piston travel/mechanical stress) is important for long term wear and tear. For my experience the higher gears are preferred because I pull a heavy load intermittently. I pull a 165000GVW trailer with a F350 SRW with a 3.5 rear end. I have 40k miles on the trailer and 90K miles on the 2012 diesel truck. The TV pulls very well and if the tranny starts hunting between 5th an 6th gear, I lock it in 5th and everything is good. The torque on the F350 is fantastic and pulls grades very well. I see no need for 4:11 rear end.... I average 12mpg pulling 20mpg not pulling. I set the cruise control to 60 mph pulling and 75mph not pulling.
That is very good fuel economy. Do you have a programmer on it? I might see 20 mpg empty if the stars are all aligned and I don't exceed 60 mph. Pulling I'm more like 9 - 10 per US gallon. My overall average mileage for how I use the truck is 12.5 mpg.
