F250 CC SB 4x4 6.2-3.73 or 4.30 for 10,700lb travel trailer

[dragr1]

Currently pulling the travel trailer with a '14 Ram 3500 SRW CC LB 4x4 Cummins Manual trans., not happy with the manual trans. bc at 19k miles the clutch is on it's way out (truck is stock). Have a claim with Ram customer care but so far they've been non-existent on even communicating. So looking at trucks

I would prefer the 4.30 gears with the F250 6.2 but they are nearly impossible to come by. Local dealer has 2 identical optioned out F250 CC SB 4x4 6.2 XL trucks with 3.73 gears. Thoughts on towing my 10,700lb 37' long travel trailer? It's a 2013 Jayco 33BHTS. We normally camp in Northern Alabama, Georgia and twice a year in Tennessee or North Carolina mountains. We frequent Cheaha State Park in Alabama several times a year and that's a pretty steep and slow curvy climb to the top- 3 miles at about 30-35mph due to curves and grade.

We've got a trip coming up soon so I'm in a time crunch too on whether or not to put a new clutch in if Ram won't help me on the $$ for a new clutch(probably $2,000 and they claim only covered for 12 months or 12k miles as a wear item) or just trade the truck (Ford dealer is aware of the clutch).

[dragr1]

Halmfamily wrote:

dragr1 wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
Some of the hills going into Cheaha are stupid steep!! My Chevy 6.0 with 4.10's was turning 4000 rpms in first gear and losing speed. Ended up at 20mph by the time I got to the top. I was pulling about 8000lbs.

I think you are on the right track, replace with an after market clutch and stick with that Cummins.

Yeah I have a biking app that shows grades on segments and a couple of those climbs are a ridiculous 20%!

It's amazing every year to see the bicyclists participate in the Cheaha Challenge. They leave Jacksonville at 8:00 AM and ride to the top of Cheaha and back. I can't imagine riding up those hills.

If your trailer is small enough you can take the back way up through Munford. It has a lot more curves but no long pulls.

My trailer is a little long to come up from Munford, I'd be taking up the whole road in those curves. I've never done the Cheaha Challenge but we do a ride in February on mountain bikes that starts at Lake Howard in Sylacauga and we ride the skyway dirt roads all the way up to the upper campground, 57 miles and 7000 ft of climbing on mountain bikes!

[Halmfamily]

dragr1 wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
Some of the hills going into Cheaha are stupid steep!! My Chevy 6.0 with 4.10's was turning 4000 rpms in first gear and losing speed. Ended up at 20mph by the time I got to the top. I was pulling about 8000lbs.

I think you are on the right track, replace with an after market clutch and stick with that Cummins.

Yeah I have a biking app that shows grades on segments and a couple of those climbs are a ridiculous 20%!

It's amazing every year to see the bicyclists participate in the Cheaha Challenge. They leave Jacksonville at 8:00 AM and ride to the top of Cheaha and back. I can't imagine riding up those hills.

If your trailer is small enough you can take the back way up through Munford. It has a lot more curves but no long pulls.

[spoon059]

I would get the 4.30's if I am towing. Spend a little more and order what you want.

Sounds like you would be more ahead financially to invest some money into that Cummins G56 and make it a better transmission for you though. Hopefully you can find a solution that works for you.

[kirkl]

rhagfo wrote:

dragr1 wrote:
Well doesn't look like Ford and I are going to get together, they want too much difference between my trade and the new truck and it's just an optioned XL. Same with Dodge dealer on a new Cummins tradesman with automatic. Still haven't heard from Ram customer care, I'll give them one more try today and then ordering an aftermarket clutch. I've been looking at valair and south bend.

Valair-dual disc for $1195 or quiet dual disc for $1395? How much harder is the pedal going to be with 3800lb pressure plate than stock?

South bend-stage 2? Which one?

I'm not interested in a really grabby racing type clutch, backing the camper with that would be a pain. I'll also probably not delete the truck, but might do an emissions friendly tune after warranty is out in 2 years.

I have the Valair DD and it is bit nosy when disengaged, but very solid, I don’t find the pedal too hard, I daily drove through town at least ten lights one way everyday and didn’t find it an issue.

Have you looked at the dodge dealer in Eugene? thats where i just bought my cummins tradesman about a month ago. They had the best prices that I could find. Even beat dave smith.

[dragr1]

Talked to valair and southbend, leaning towards valair dd quiet

[memtb]

dragr1, I went with the dual, quiet disc Valair. The clutch itself is quiet, but... the tranny (aluminum case) amplifies the diesel harmonics. The noise is quite noticeable when under heavy load at rpms under 1500. I changed to a different lube ( Mobil Delvac Synthetic Transmission Fluid 50 , the American version of what Mercedes uses in Europe in this transmission in medium truck service). This quietened the tranny some, but is a little stiffer to shift when cold. We use the truck in sub-zero temps, and really is a non-issue. Also, recommended on the Dodge Forums...add 1 additional quart (must be done thru top when shifter is removed for clutch change) as this will also help quiet the tranny. You must fill thru the top, as tranny,side fill port will not allow the extra quart.

The clutch kit will also come with a new, larger clutch master cylinder, which will reduce the effort to push-in the clutch.

I hope that this helped with your decision. You may also go to Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum.... they have more answers than you will have questions. If you want to learn “anything” about a Dodge Cummins...it’s there!

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do!

[NWnative]

Go with the 4.30 gears. That is what I plan to do next year. Walk into the dealer and order the truck the exact way you want. I plan to go that route as well. I am buying mine for towing and minimal daily driving so.....going to make sure it's is built as such.

[rhagfo]

dragr1 wrote:
Well doesn't look like Ford and I are going to get together, they want too much difference between my trade and the new truck and it's just an optioned XL. Same with Dodge dealer on a new Cummins tradesman with automatic. Still haven't heard from Ram customer care, I'll give them one more try today and then ordering an aftermarket clutch. I've been looking at valair and south bend.

Valair-dual disc for $1195 or quiet dual disc for $1395? How much harder is the pedal going to be with 3800lb pressure plate than stock?

South bend-stage 2? Which one?

I'm not interested in a really grabby racing type clutch, backing the camper with that would be a pain. I'll also probably not delete the truck, but might do an emissions friendly tune after warranty is out in 2 years.

I have the Valair DD and it is bit nosy when disengaged, but very solid, I don’t find the pedal too hard, I daily drove through town at least ten lights one way everyday and didn’t find it an issue.

[dragr1]

wowens79 wrote:
Some of the hills going into Cheaha are stupid steep!! My Chevy 6.0 with 4.10's was turning 4000 rpms in first gear and losing speed. Ended up at 20mph by the time I got to the top. I was pulling about 8000lbs.

I think you are on the right track, replace with an after market clutch and stick with that Cummins.

Yeah I have a biking app that shows grades on segments and a couple of those climbs are a ridiculous 20%!

[wowens79]

Some of the hills going into Cheaha are stupid steep!! My Chevy 6.0 with 4.10's was turning 4000 rpms in first gear and losing speed. Ended up at 20mph by the time I got to the top. I was pulling about 8000lbs.

I think you are on the right track, replace with an after market clutch and stick with that Cummins.

[dragr1]

Well doesn't look like Ford and I are going to get together, they want too much difference between my trade and the new truck and it's just an optioned XL. Same with Dodge dealer on a new Cummins tradesman with automatic. Still haven't heard from Ram customer care, I'll give them one more try today and then ordering an aftermarket clutch. I've been looking at valair and south bend.

Valair-dual disc for $1195 or quiet dual disc for $1395? How much harder is the pedal going to be with 3800lb pressure plate than stock?

South bend-stage 2? Which one?

I'm not interested in a really grabby racing type clutch, backing the camper with that would be a pain. I'll also probably not delete the truck, but might do an emissions friendly tune after warranty is out in 2 years.

[memtb]

Grit dog wrote:
Well you could have something more than the general c rappy performance of the dmf clutch going on. Again easy fix.
BTW, you may not think it’s slipping, but if you can whiff it you slipped it, period. It won’t smell unless it’s slipping. Period.
Nice Southbend DD street or 3250 clutch is in order. Single disks are good and I’ve had a single disk SB for over 100kmiles but in retrospect I should have spent the couple hundred more for dd clutch.

We went dual disc (though Valair)....very happy so far. I’m sure the two brands are similar in quality.

[Grit_dog]

Regarding the other nagging issues you’ve had, other brands aren’t immune either.
Had a ‘12 and then a ‘15 F250 gasser work truck. The ‘12 had zero issues. The ‘15 had an engine issue like an intake leak. Could hear it and it would throw a code every month or so. Also had an electrical issue with either the body control module or some wiring/switches in the door? that would randomly set door ajar signals or turn on the dome lights while driving down the road. Dealer “couldn’t replicate” either problem and it was a company rig, so......
With that I could say 50% of Super dutys have issues, but I know that’s not the case.
Sometimes it’s better to have the devil you know vs ......the one you don’t. Just food for thought......from a Cummins/G56 fan! Lol

[Grit_dog]

Well you could have something more than the general c rappy performance of the dmf clutch going on. Again easy fix.
BTW, you may not think it’s slipping, but if you can whiff it you slipped it, period. It won’t smell unless it’s slipping. Period.
Nice Southbend DD street or 3250 clutch is in order. Single disks are good and I’ve had a single disk SB for over 100kmiles but in retrospect I should have spent the couple hundred more for dd clutch.

[ib516]

4.30