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]

jerem0621 wrote:
The 3:73 will be fine. Especially with the 6 speed transmission. It’s not like you can’t change them out later if you want too. You are still a few thousand lbs under the tow rating.

4:30 would be ideal. 3:73 is a good compromise for a truck doing double duty as a DD and a TV.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I should have posted that truck isn't my daily and only tows the camper, it only sees about 7000 miles a year

[memtb]

dragr1 wrote:
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).

The dual- mass clutches on the Rams are, to put it bluntly, garbage. They are quiet, easy to use, but don’t hold-up very well (especially with a heavy load - though Your Trailer isn’t heavy). For your 2 Grand, you could put in a great aftermarket clutch/pressure plate assembly, and have a far superior clutch. Unless you get into “sled-pulling” competition, you’ll never wear it out. The only drawbacks: you will get additional transmission noise, and a “little” harder to push in.

We often climb some steep grades, a 19+ K trailer, sometimes with a loaded utility trailer behind (doubles). Clutch doesn’t complain! 😉


Two clutches to look at: Valair and South Bend

[jerem0621]

The 3:73 will be fine. Especially with the 6 speed transmission. It’s not like you can’t change them out later if you want too. You are still a few thousand lbs under the tow rating.

4:30 would be ideal. 3:73 is a good compromise for a truck doing double duty as a DD and a TV.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Dave_H_M]

Based on your previous post, I think you got a grip on where you are headed.

And you know, a lot f the time when I am humming down the interstate empty with those 4.30's, i kinda wish I had taller gears. :W

[dragr1]

Dave H M wrote:
Well I am going to have do a little surmising here. :h I tow a 10K ish fifth wheel with a 6.2 CC SB that has a 4.30 diffy. I was not in as time crunch like you so waiting 8 weeks for the truck to get here was not s problem.

This year I will be running 3 times thru the Smokies so will get some grunting time in like on the Saluda grade.

Personally I think you will be running mostly 5th gear. That may not a bad thing though. I have found that the 6.2 needs a few R's to make any ponies and it starts to bog in 6th anywhere under 2000 R's.

So I think you will get along OK with the 3.73 if you are not expecting to chug along in 6th and say cruise at 60 mph.

Rpm's don't bother me, I don't run in 6th gear with them manual either unless I'm on the interstate on really flat ground, 60mph or under is always in 5th even with the Cummins

[dragr1]

rhagfo wrote:
I need to ask, is this your first diesel? That and have you towed with a manual before?
With gas most people slip the clutch a bit when starting off, that isn’t necessary with a diesel, you can pretty much, as soon as the truck starts moving let it out and go!
I tow a 32’ 5er at about 11,500# with a 5 speed manual with 3.55 gears. In traffic I use 1st a lot in traffic towing or not, much easier on the clutch.

Not my first diesel and definitely not my first time towing with a manual, dealer feels certain it's defective but so far Ram customer care isn't agreeing

I do wish the SRW trucks got something other than the 3.42 gears though

[rhagfo]

I need to ask, is this your first diesel? That and have you towed with a manual before?
With gas most people slip the clutch a bit when starting off, that isn’t necessary with a diesel, you can pretty much, as soon as the truck starts moving let it out and go!
I tow a 32’ 5er at about 11,500# with a 5 speed manual with 3.55 gears. In traffic I use 1st a lot in traffic towing or not, much easier on the clutch.

[Dave_H_M]

Well I am going to have do a little surmising here. :h I tow a 10K ish fifth wheel with a 6.2 CC SB that has a 4.30 diffy. I was not in as time crunch like you so waiting 8 weeks for the truck to get here was not s problem.

This year I will be running 3 times thru the Smokies so will get some grunting time in like on the Saluda grade.

Personally I think you will be running mostly 5th gear. That may not a bad thing though. I have found that the 6.2 needs a few R's to make any ponies and it starts to bog in 6th anywhere under 2000 R's.

So I think you will get along OK with the 3.73 if you are not expecting to chug along in 6th and say cruise at 60 mph.

[dragr1]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
a bit of a downgrade (my opinion)

I have a 2012 Ford F 250, 6.2L... carry in truck bed of 1,500 pounds.. and tow a 30 foot TT.. at 9,000 pounds PLUS...

the truck will do all east coast mountains.. Mine Did...
but WILL YOU LIVE with 3,500 to 4,500 rpm's... No issue for me..

but going from a Diesel you just might.

have a Good aftermarket clutch installed.. much cheaper.
a friend has a 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel .. real nice truck and its a manual. he pulls a 5th wheel KZ toy hauler. with a HD Trike.

True is kind of a downgrade but I've had several other little annoying things go wrong, Ram customer care has anything but helpful so far and I'm getting tired of all the diesel recalls, I've also never really been a Ford fan but their new trucks are super nice seem to have less issues than the other 2 companies and come with the right combination of parts that I like so all that has me leaning towards a trade

[dragr1]

MFL wrote:

WillT wrote:

TUCQUALA wrote:
Haven't towed with a 6.2, but with the 6.8 V10, the 4.30's are so much better than the 3.73's,

I 2nd this. I have the 6.8 V10 with the 3.73s and not a towing day goes by that I don't wish I had the other gearing. And I pull a smaller trailer than you have!

While I agree with both of these posts, I have to say the 6-speed transmission gear spacing, and lockout capability makes a big difference with the 6.2 in later model SuperDuty trucks. The 4.30 gearing is still best choice for towing, but 3.73 is not bad, especially if the XL models have the smaller 17" tires/wheels. The 18"-20" larger tires/wheels will take away from actual gearing. I have a 13 6.2 with 3.73 that works great for my various use, not just for towing.

Jerry

The trucks I'm looking at all have the 18" wheels with 275/70/18 tires

[dragr1]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
a bit of a downgrade (my opinion)

I have a 2012 Ford F 250, 6.2L... carry in truck bed of 1,500 pounds.. and tow a 30 foot TT.. at 9,000 pounds PLUS...

the truck will do all east coast mountains.. Mine Did...
but WILL YOU LIVE with 3,500 to 4,500 rpm's... No issue for me..

but going from a Diesel you just might.

have a Good aftermarket clutch installed.. much cheaper.
a friend has a 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel .. real nice truck and its a manual. he pulls a 5th wheel KZ toy hauler. with a HD Trike.

Do you have 3.73 or 4.30 gears in the F250?

[MFL]

WillT wrote:

TUCQUALA wrote:
Haven't towed with a 6.2, but with the 6.8 V10, the 4.30's are so much better than the 3.73's,

I 2nd this. I have the 6.8 V10 with the 3.73s and not a towing day goes by that I don't wish I had the other gearing. And I pull a smaller trailer than you have!

While I agree with both of these posts, I have to say the 6-speed transmission gear spacing, and lockout capability makes a big difference with the 6.2 in later model SuperDuty trucks. The 4.30 gearing is still best choice for towing, but 3.73 is not bad, especially if the XL models have the smaller 17" tires/wheels. The 18"-20" larger tires/wheels will take away from actual gearing. I have a 13 6.2 with 3.73 that works great for my various use, not just for towing.

Jerry

[Chuck_thehammer]

a bit of a downgrade (my opinion)

I have a 2012 Ford F 250, 6.2L... carry in truck bed of 1,500 pounds.. and tow a 30 foot TT.. at 9,000 pounds PLUS...

the truck will do all east coast mountains.. Mine Did...
but WILL YOU LIVE with 3,500 to 4,500 rpm's... No issue for me..

but going from a Diesel you just might.

have a Good aftermarket clutch installed.. much cheaper.
a friend has a 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel .. real nice truck and its a manual. he pulls a 5th wheel KZ toy hauler. with a HD Trike.

[dragr1]

For clarification, my Jayco 33BHTS is 37' over all but classified as a 33 footer (33' box), 9060 lbs empty, about 10,700 lbs loaded (including tongue weight), tongue weight is around 1440 when loaded in winter, a little lighter in the summer.

I've weighed it between 8800 and 9360 on the trailer axles.

[valhalla360]

dragr1 wrote:


Got to be a defect in it to already be going out I would think because I'm not rough on it. It actually doesn't slip, well it's not noticeable, but it sure does smell. The pedal gets spongy if I get into traffic too. I really think there has been something wrong with the clutch for a while, the truck has always seemed to be a dog on hills when towing. I've read that there is a sensor that starts pulling power when it senses clutch slippage, maybe that's been it's issue all along.

Is there something wrong with the linkage?

Your spongy comment reminds me of an old S-15 I had. The slave cylinder that actuated the clutch got a piece of grit in it a couple times and the hydraulic fluid leaked out over a period of time. At first it just felt kind of spongy but after a week or two, it wouldn't fully disengage the clutch.

I don't recall any odor but with a little 4 banger, I wasn't towing anything. Pulled the slave cylinder apart cleaned it and bled the system and it would work fine for a couple years till it got another piece of grit.

Might be worth a little troubleshooting before dropping a couple grand on a new clutch that may or may not solve the issue.