3.21 vs 3.92 Gear Ratio...will not be towing much.

[CML1]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on buying a new 2021 RAM 1500 and call me crazy but I would like to achieve the best mileage possible with a V8... (really not sure about the diesel and noise, and $$$)
#1 Priority is the most quiet best riding 4x4, without paying a fortune and able to achieve the best mileage possible. Priority #2 - I won't be towing much maybe a small 2 person fishing boat short distances or a small trailer to haul stuff...under 100 miles.
Here is what I am looking at:
1500 Laramie (need me some cooled seats), Sport, V8, Laramie 2 package, Multi Function tail gate, anti spin diff, 33 gallon fuel tank, 22 inch tires, tow package.

What do I lose by not going with the 3.92 ? ARE there any other options I should consider?

Thank you!

 

[Travelin Ram]

Buy the 3.21.

 

[SOKY_RAM]

Buy the 3.21.

Ill second that. I had a 2015 with the 8-speed and 3:21 and it will surprise you.

 

[CML1]

Winner Winner first vote 3.21 !
Can you recommend any other options I may have missed?
Thank you!

 

[CML1]

Ah man ...your truck looks great! Love the lift look but that won't fit in my garage...so going with the stock/lower look Thanks for the info... Anyone out there use that new air box they are offering as an option ... pretty expensive but was wondering it helped with HP or MPG? Thank you.

 

[jeeplj8]

I have a 2020 with e-torque and 3.92 gears. I often get better mpg in town than on the highway. Best it will do is 17 if you baby it, draft a truck and stay way under the prevailing speed. My typical highway mpg is around 14.

 

[soapy]

Do not get the 22 inch wheels if you want a nice ride and best gas mileage. The 3.92 gears will cost you about 2 mpg hiway.

 

[runamuck]

I have a laramie 1500 ccsb 4x4 5.7 with the 3.92. if you get the 3.92 the truck will handle quite nimble for a pick up and I have got 21 mpg several times on the highway..usually get around 20..maybe you will get 1 0r 2 better but doubt if it will feel as peppy. also the low 1st gear and the 3.92 rear end are a good combo for towing. with the 33 gal. tank go farther on a fillup if towing..

 

[CML1]

Thanks ...with all the Covid stuff I thought I may just config and go but looks like I gotta go old school and test drive the 3.21 and 3.92 for the performance as well as the ride quality of the 20 inch vs the 22 inch tires. My gut says that the 20 inch tires and 3.21 will work the best for what I am looking for ....thanks everyone...really appreciate the advice.

 

[CML1]

...AND one more thing ....I like the look and functionality of the lower level look (can also fit in my garage) anyone use the lower / leveling kit...was thinking 2 or 3 inch kit? Do they screw up the ride at all?

 

[fprevos]

I agree the best mpg I can get is about 17, but the fun factor with 3.92 is kinda worth it. I tell my wife that everyone wants to race.

 

[HEMIMANN]

For your described application, yes, 3.21 gear ratio is sufficient for your towing, and provides best fuel economy.

But - (there's always a 'but', right?) you need to consider the popularity of your configuration in the general market place, for when you want to sell the truck. This applies to almost all people, as most don't run them until they need to go to the boneyard.

If you get a really weird combination, you'll have a very difficult time selling it in the future. I would ask the sales person about it - I'm thinking the 3.21 axle in a 1500 is not very common.

 

[yakalong]

3.21 will be fine, I have the 3.21 and pull a 20ft fiberglass boat. Absolutely no issues

 

[tidefan1967]

Get the 3.21's if gas mileage is a priority. I have a 100% stock crew cab 2 wheel drive truck with 3.92s and I get 15 in town and 17-18 on the HWY on summer gas. This time of the year I get 15 no matter what. Also for the best mileage don't mess with the suspension or change over to any kind of A/T tire or you will take a hit in the mileage department, guaranteed. Just remember looking cool costs money and in more way's than one.

 

[Musky Mike]

3:21s and the 8 speed, you will have no problem. If your looking for good MPG and don't tow much, have you considered the V-6?

 

[Neil E]

Buy the 3.92, you never know when you might need to tow something heavier. If you want better gas mileage, drive conservatively. Accelerate slowly, anticipate stops, and mostly, drive the speed limit. My V6 3.55 always got better than my friends V6 3.21 just because of the way we drove. I mostly averaged 27 mpg on the highway just driving the speed limit.

 

[sammon287]

Get the 3:21. I ordered 3.92 in 2016 and I like the way it drives, but I rarely get over 18mpg. I think I hit 20-21 once on a highway trip. A couple years ago, I rented an almost identical truck with 3:21s at the Denver airport for a trip to Moab UT. That truck never felt underpowered even at high elevation and got mid 20s on the 6hr trip back to the airport. That was a 2019 classic, but the mechanicals are still the same. If I did it over, it would be 3:21 for mileage.

 

[corneileous]

I’m sure glad I opted for the lower-geared option. I like the extra get up and go. I don’t tow much and when I do, it’s just my little utility trailer loaded with my lawn mower in the summer but there has been a time
where I did have to tow heavy and as far as I’m concerned, my 3.92 gears are like my 4WD; I may very rarely need or use it but it’s just like what ole Burt Gummer says on Tremors- when you need it and you don’t have it, you sing a whole different tune....lol.

My old 2008 had the 3.92 so my new one having them, it’s like nothing new. But I’ll say one thing, tho. If you ever have any thoughts about lifting your truck and think there might be a day where you might wanna stuff 35’s under your truck, don’t be like this dude I talked to on one of them Dodge Ram Facebook groups a while back who complained that his new truck wouldn’t sling mud the way his old one did and he couldn’t figure out why...lol. He said it didn’t make sense because his new truck was puttin’ out about 50 more ponies over his old one but didn’t make the connection that his much higher gears was making his truck feel underpowered with big tires.


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[Andy Richardson]

I too opted for the 3.92. Why? Because that’s what I wanted, I do tow my side by side (occasionally 2 of them), my boat and snowmobiles. I’m not interested in eeking out a few more mpg. The 3.21’s would probably work fine too. I just bought what I wanted.

 

[ramffml]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on buying a new 2021 RAM 1500 and call me crazy but I would like to achieve the best mileage possible with a V8... (really not sure about the diesel and noise, and $$$)
#1 Priority is the most quiet best riding 4x4, without paying a fortune and able to achieve the best mileage possible. Priority #2 - I won't be towing much maybe a small 2 person fishing boat short distances or a small trailer to haul stuff...under 100 miles.
Here is what I am looking at:
1500 Laramie (need me some cooled seats), Sport, V8, Laramie 2 package, Multi Function tail gate, anti spin diff, 33 gallon fuel tank, 22 inch tires, tow package.

What do I lose by not going with the 3.92 ? ARE there any other options I should consider?

Thank you!

So you already know the answer:
- highest priority is mpg
- very light towing

--> you want the 3.21


You're not missing anything, only the ability to tow > 8000 pounds, which you can't do anyways in a loaded Laramie due to not having enough payload.

The 3.21 was made for guys like you and I. Just get it, you will have 0 regrets. My truck accelerates like a jack rabbit (compared to all my previous rides) so I have no idea what the 3.92 guys are talking about.

As for the tow package, don't get it. Just get the receiver hitch and the brake controller. If you get the tow package you would get those 2 items and also get different mirrors which are worse than the default mirrors (less features in some way, I forget how).