Ram owners. What gear while towing on highway?

I lock out 6th when towing that heavy of a load and just cruise at 65-70 mph. According to Cummins Powerspec, your most efficient rpm towing in the 6.7L is between 1,700 and 2,100 rpm which is right where towing in 5th gear puts you at that speed.

In my 2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the 5.7 we would just throw tow/haul mode on and off we went.
Trailer was 11K and I don't go over 65mph.
Always held the gears nicely and very rarely down shifted.
I do not use cruise control.
Our mileage was between 10-12mpg with that trailer.
Should mention we also had the bullydog system installed along with a cold air intake and a flowmaster exhaust.

Usually 5th. Every time the trans shifts it creates heat and wear.

How do you guys drive in town? The shifting must be unbearable! The only truck I've owned that didn't downshift on every hill was my 98 12v 5spd 4.10 Cummins Ram because it was up against its 2500rpm governor at 70mph towing or not. I haven't had to rebuild a transmission since my drag racing days in the late 70s.

2010 Ram 3500 4x4 megacab towing 13.5k 5ver and tow on flat ground at 60 mph 1700 rpm 6th gear and in varied terrain like AZ or NM at 60 mph 2200 rpm in 5th gear. I am running a 4.10 axle. A buddy has 3.73 and is about 200 rpms less.

Thanks guys. I am a little bummed that the truck only came with 3.42s. I think 3.73s would keep me in 6th more.

Brisk wrote:
Thanks guys. I am a little bummed that the truck only came with 3.42s. I think 3.73s would keep me in 6th more.

What did you want? To tow the world in double overdrive?
Yeah the new trucks like yours might do it with deep rear gears, but I would t be bummed. I would t have even asked the question.
I tow or haul in 6th, but my 6th is like your 5th and you don't know much about trucks if you're asking this question, so yes 5th is the proper and preferable gear for what you're doing. Unless you're doing like 90+ with the 5ver behind you, in which case 6th should be well enough into the powerband to run it as well!

To not be so sarcastic, you won't experience any better mileage with running a few hundred rpms less in high gear as opposed to 5th. And it won't hurt the engine either. These motors will pull hard down low, but lugging them and high egts is not what you're after.

You got the best rig out there IMO. When pulling heavy on the flats, pick whatever gear keeps you over about 1800rpms. Going up hill, keep er at 2k rpms plus.

Mine has 4,10s and runs easily in D.
Your combo to keep anove 1800 RPM might need 5th. Learn to drive via the tach and keep revs above 1700. That will put you in the low end of the motors power band.

I'm pulling similar weight with the Aisin tranny SRW. I always lock out 6th when towing and sometimes lock out 5th in the hills as the tranny tends to lug itself and hunt fairly bad. Lower gears would be nice when towing but would be a little low when empty running somewhere north of 80 on the freeway. The five useable gears for towing seem adequate, with a good gear for getting up and going when not hauling the 5er

Lock in 5th at about 1,700 rpm's nearly the same as 4.10's in 6th at 60mpg.