2014 2500 5.7L gear upgrade

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boudreaux76

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So I didn't end up buying the truck I wanted, but I got a deal so sweet on a brand new 2014 2500 HD 5.7L (yes really - only 31 miles) two months ago that I couldnt pass it up.

I am getting ready to purchase a new fifth wheel trailer and I have no problems at all with the pin weight, but it makes me uncomfortable to pull a 10-11k trailer (yes that is total, not just dry weight) when my max is just a couple hundred pounds over 11k.

I was wanting to get a tuner to help but after talking to Moe's, calling Diablo and searching for a few hours yesterday - it looks like the 2014 2500 5.7L isn't supported.

So now I am looking at switching my 3.73 to a 4.10. Has anyone else done this? It looks like my towing capacity should increase by about a ton and I think it will also put a little less strain on the motor and tranny.

Here's the weird part - most of the 2014 (and up) 3/4 ton have a 10.5" ring, but according to Dodge with my VIN - mine is actually 11.5" which is what they put on the 3500's. Weird.....??
 

DannyMK2

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id probably skip over the 3.73's and go for 4.56's. same cost, better performance. the gear swap will reduce the strain on your motor and tranny and will greatly help with towing, but it's not going to do anything for your towing capacity from a legal stand point. just throwing that out there
 
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boudreaux76

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id probably skip over the 3.73's and go for 4.56's. same cost, better performance. the gear swap will reduce the strain on your motor and tranny and will greatly help with towing, but it's not going to do anything for your towing capacity from a legal stand point. just throwing that out there




I wasn't overly worried about that, but thanks for the heads up and giving me something to worry about....hahaha.

Anyone who is good with calculations have an idea of what the towing capacity jumps up to with 4.56?

What do you mean by better performance? I'm pretty new to switching gears and the whole concept of increases and decreases.
 
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boudreaux76

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Here's a good chunk of reading for you with some great info from people that have done the swap:

http://www.ramforum.com/f158/6_4_hemi_gear_swap-77499/


So I was all for just making the switch to 4.10 and then I read the thread. Now I'm seriously thinking 4.56 or the 4.30 (I think) that the other guy mentioned.

It's truly a DD and I will only be towing occasionally in the 10-11.5k range (ever week with my boat but thats gotta be only 1-1.5k tops)....

Keeping stock tires....

Now I'm more confused than when I started. :crazy:
 

69GWC

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I would look at the 4:56s, this sounds low but with the high gears that your transmission as its not that low.
Not only will the truck feel quicker it will pull waay better and your transmission will have less stress and should last longer to boot.
 

14hemiexpress

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Personally I would look into 4.10s. it's still a factory gear set. And I'll be this guy I'm not trying to be weight police but just for your knowdgle the gears won't legally change your towing capacity. Can the truck physically handle it yes same truck will a Cummins handels 17k same chassis same brakes no conserns there but it'll start messing with your warranty also. In my honest opinion if you arent pulling it alot i would wait and try out the 3.73 and give it a shot. Just give adiquite time to accelerate and see what happens.
 

GsRAM

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I would not consider 4.10s. There simply is not that much of a difference between 3.73s and 4.10s, to justify the cost of the change (around $3k for both axles if you have 4x4)

Personally, I'd go for a 4.30 gear. A nice improvement over the 3.73s, but not as extreme as the 4.56 or 4.88s, especially with how your using your truck.

Or as suggested, give it a go with the 3.73s first and see how it goes. In tow/haul mode, it may be ok.

For me, the 3.73s have pleanty of bottom end, but that's just me.
 
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KarL45

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Would personally do nothing less that the 4.30 and up to the 4.56. Thinking for the weight towing, 4.88 would be a bit too much. 4.10' wouldn't achieve the change you would want and the cost would be the same.
 

smurfs_of_war

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I'm with a couple others- I'd see what the 3.73's can do before I'd go balls into the price of a gear swap. I was actually pretty surprised at how well they got things moving. Yes- I have a 6.4, but there really isn't that much difference in torque between the two. If it's not satisfactory, then don't waste money with the 4.10's, jump straight to 4.30 or 4.56. It won't really be the weight of the trailer that will get you, it's going to be that frontal surface and wind resistance.

Just my .02- take it for what it's worth.
 

Bigdaddy

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I had the same truck as you, I just my 2014 2500 5.7L with the 3.73 and it was rated payload 2400 lbs and towing was about 11,050 so you might try it out first and then go for the 4.30 or 4.56 gears.
 

Ghetto Fab.

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3.73 to 4.10 isn't much of a difference. If you want to try it, just put smaller tires on the tow rig. Its actually cheaper to buy a new set of tires than regear your current axles. Its probably cheaper if you look around to find a used set of stock axles with 4.10s than it is to do a gear swap.

If your going to swap gears I would also go lower than 4.10. More like 4.56-5.38.

Kevin
 
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