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]

rhagfo wrote:

dragr1 wrote:
I just saw where the G56 is being discontinued next year

It was a great theft deterrent!!!

Agreed!

[Grit_dog]

dragr1 wrote:
I just saw where the G56 is being discontinued next year

Yeah, that's a total bummer! While my next truck will very likely be an auto, Ram should a figured out a 7-8speed manual, it's not that hard to engineer around a new manual trans, and stomp the market with a full power, plenty of gears, properly clutched manual trans diesel pickemup truck!
I'd still run a manual for towing and hauling, all day long and twice on Sunday. City traffic is what makes it a no go for me.

[rhagfo]

dragr1 wrote:
I just saw where the G56 is being discontinued next year

It was a great theft deterrent!!!

[dragr1]

I just saw where the G56 is being discontinued next year

[rhagfo]

EDIT: I guess I thought it was only two pages!:S

Looks like you did well, yes love my BD 2 low for backing, our DD can be grabby at times when starting out when towing, solution is quicker release.

I only wish I had your G56 instead of my NV4500. It does the job, but with 3.55's and 12,360#+ there is a big gap between 3rd and 4th.

[dragr1]

Update I have 6000 miles on the new clutch now with about 2800 miles of that towing my camper. All is good but backing up with that single disc is tricky. It’s a chatter box and jumpy if you aren’t careful. It does not slip so you are either barking tires or bucking like crazy but this is only when backing up and empty. I think this is partly to do with my front end being so heavy from a big bumper and winch which makes it much lower than the rear - kinda like you are always backing up hill. Of course none of this is a problem when backing the camper bc I just engage 2 low.

I think I’m going to install a Thuren leveling kit to raise the front up and make it level.

[dragr1]

I got the more gear rollover noise straight from a tech at southbend. The noise from my single disc is hardly noticeable and above 1000 rpm it's non existent.

[Grit_dog]

blofgren wrote:
I wasn't aware that the dual disc made the gear rollover noise worse. That definitely makes me rethink the dual disc. I also didn't realize that the posted HP/TQ numbers were at the rear wheels and the clutch you have would certainly be higher than I would ever tune to. I may just end up going the same route you did.

Thank you very much for providing all of the info!

I always thought it was the solid flywheel that made the gear rollover noise (whatever that actually is, it's a real thing, but 120k miles later guess I'm used to it.). Gear noise is like a "lugging alarm". Low rpms, mash the throttle, trans tells you.
I've only drove a dual disk with a NV trans, but liked the behavior of the clutch more than my single disk.
If I was starting over for the long term, I'd go dual disk.
Note, it will rattle though when disengaged, which takes away from the quietness of the newer Rams.
My 07 makes so much noise, one more rattle or vibration doesn't bother me. My newer clutch makes more noise than a dual disk, but opposite, when it's engaged in neutral. The 3 finger arm pressure plate on mine rattles like a 24V. Dual disk is actually a little quieter.

[dragr1]

blofgren wrote:
I wasn't aware that the dual disc made the gear rollover noise worse. That definitely makes me rethink the dual disc. I also didn't realize that the posted HP/TQ numbers were at the rear wheels and the clutch you have would certainly be higher than I would ever tune to. I may just end up going the same route you did.

Thank you very much for providing all of the info!

I'll keep you posted, it's going to take me a while just to do the break in miles since it's not my daily driver , might be a month or so before I get to tow the camper with it

[blofgren]

I wasn't aware that the dual disc made the gear rollover noise worse. That definitely makes me rethink the dual disc. I also didn't realize that the posted HP/TQ numbers were at the rear wheels and the clutch you have would certainly be higher than I would ever tune to. I may just end up going the same route you did.

Thank you very much for providing all of the info!

[dragr1]

blofgren wrote:

dragr1 wrote:
Definitely looking forward to having the truck I thought I bought! I was on the fence about the dual disc too but not knowing how long I may keep the truck lead me to the single disc

Gotcha. My plan at this point is to keep my truck until death do us part so I think I will go to the dual disc. I may also do a mild towing tune after my warranty is up so some extra clamping force would be a bonus. I will ask Southbend for some recommendations.

I talked to them several times, they were very helpful. The dual disc is a lot noisier than the single with the gear rollover noise according to them. The single disc is good for a lot more horsepower and torque than stock- the numbers on their site are for at the wheels power and not at the flywheel-I did ask that question.
The single I got is rated for 425hp and 900 torque at the wheels . I'm gonna guess that stock the 6.7 probably puts down 300hp and 575 torque to the wheels-just a guess, I'm sure there are some dyno tests on the web. I only plan to tow with mine so even if I tune it one day the towing tune should stay within those numbers.

[blofgren]

dragr1 wrote:
Definitely looking forward to having the truck I thought I bought! I was on the fence about the dual disc too but not knowing how long I may keep the truck lead me to the single disc

Gotcha. My plan at this point is to keep my truck until death do us part so I think I will go to the dual disc. I may also do a mild towing tune after my warranty is up so some extra clamping force would be a bonus. I will ask Southbend for some recommendations.

[dragr1]

Definitely looking forward to having the truck I thought I bought! I was on the fence about the dual disc too but not knowing how long I may keep the truck lead me to the single disc

[blofgren]

dragr1 wrote:

blofgren wrote:

dragr1 wrote:
Southbend single disc clutch is in, truck drives so much better already.

Now I'm looking into this to help backing the camper:

BD 2wd Low kit

I installed the BD 2 low kit a couple of years ago and it works great. MUCH easier on the clutch while backing the trailer.

What differences have you noticed with your new clutch? My OE clutch is still fine at this point but I know that I too will be dealing with a replacement at some point and am interested in people's experiences with various styles.

The clutch engagement has more feeling rather than just being a lazy noodle like the stock clutch. The engagement seems to be lower in the travel rather than at the top of the travel like stock. Pedal is a little stiffer but at least it feels like a clutch now. The gear shifter moves a lot less now-mine seemed to shake a lot more than it should of in gear. Of course my transmission was a quart low on fluid-thanks Ram-so we ending up adding 2 full quarts to it. I stayed with the stock fluid for now but will probably switch to the Mercedes recommended fluid at some point. I haven't put the break on miles on it yet but just driving around the truck feels stronger. I've long suspected that my clutch was faulty since day one and that some sensor knew that and was cutting power to compensate. So I'm eager to get the break in miles on it and hook up to the camper.

Gear rollover noise isn't that bad and is only noticeable below 1000 rpm.
My stock disc wasn't too bad but it had gotten hot as indicated by the blue hue ring on the stock pressure plate and flyweel.

Thanks for the feedback; it sounds pretty good. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not to go with the dual disc.

I think you will really like your truck now that you have that issue resolved. Mine pulls our 16k lbs fiver with power to spare and easily tows in sixth gear even on moderate grades. The mountain passes around here will put me down a gear or two on extreme grades but that is to be expected.