3:21 no lsd a deal breaker?

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hotkarl

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Awesome deal offered for on lot Hemi Big Horn crew, like 12k under. Fully loaded aside from leather and...the 3:92 lsd.

Anyway, the last 4th gens I had were 3:92 lsd.
I'm normally an orderer, I like to pick and choose my options and always got the 3:92 lsd.
So this in stock truck has pretty much everything I would have ordered including the hitch package.
Just wondering if it's gonna be that big of deal with the 3:21 rear. I don't tow often, and even then it's not heavy loads. I'm in a rural area, can be hilly but no mountains. Dont care about mpgs. Will I notice? will I care? Is having the 3:92 really that important to have?
 

troutspinner

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You need to test drive it and find out for yourself. I was use to 3.92 in my last Ram so when I test drove a 19 Ram with 3.21, the only thing that went through my mind was "dog". I don't tow heavy but I do tow and I knew I'd be putting on larger wheels so a 3.92 was a must for me.

FWIW, I got 11k off of a 52k 2019 6 months ago and all it took was a 5 minute phone call. Find the truck you want with the deal you mentioned and use it as bargaining power.
 

gofishn

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I think a posi is nice for snow, not just towing.
but if it has everything you want and you do nto tow much, what the heck.
with the speed tranny 3:21 is not a end all like it would be back in teh 70's
 

Truck Fun

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I would think that if you like the 3.92 lsd, you wouldn't like the 3.21. I live in a small town in a rural area that varies from flat to hilly. Also spend time at my dad's farm (farm stuff and hunting). Don't drive very far to work.
For me, after having a truck with a 3.42 open and then one with a 3.55 open, I knew that my next truck was going to be at least a 3.73/3.92 lsd. I also plan on going with a size or two bigger tires at some point in the future so the 3.92 will be better for that also.
But I'm not buying your truck. 12k is quite a discount.
 
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hotkarl

hotkarl

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Yeah the 12k is why it's enticing.
I was just tire kicking, exploring options because I think sadly, my "02 is probably going to the big driveway in the sky.
I'm really wrestling with dumping a 2nd fortune into my current Ram vs buying a new-to-me 2nd or 3rd gen, or going new. All 3 optioms are a gamble.

There is only one dealer within a reasonable driving distance. The other inventory is way too rich for me. This is basically the cheapest new truck on the lot with a Hemi.
 

R1nZX

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The lack of a mechanical LSD isn't a big deal. Most modern vehicles, including this one, automatically apply just one brake if a wheel is slipping, giving you the benefits of an LSD without the extra weight and cost. (Owner's manual, page 196 re: traction control: "A feature of the TCS, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), functions similar to a limited slip differential and
controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This
will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning.")

The 3.21 rear is another matter, but may or may not be important to you.
 
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hotkarl

hotkarl

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Yeah I kicked it around. It's a good deal but I'm gonna pass. If I'm going in hock I'm getting everything I want. Not skimping.
Fairly sure I'd regret it sooner or later.
 

userjh160

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I pulled around a 6k load last week with 3.21s. I won't pull that heavy very often, but it did fine. 8 speed and tow/haul work well. If it was a daily thing, it might be different, but it's good for me.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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hotkarl

hotkarl

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I'm going to make one last run at getting my 02 repaired. Calling the dealer with the **** or get off the pot demands. If this doesn't pan out...

...I'm going with the 2019 2500.
6.4 with the 8 speed is a no brainer.
Might have to be patient though. No official release or order dates to my knowledge, then the wait for delivery because I will be ordering my truck ala carte. Could all be a pipe dream.though. we'll see what happens this week. You're a Dodge dealer for Christ's sake.
Fix my damn truck.
 

runamuck

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the 3.21 rear end is probably the reason you can get such a good deal. while the 8 spd. tranny has a very low 1st gear that can get you moving, it will be be a noticable difference at highway speed and will be doggy if you tow anything. I dont think I would buy a truck with higher than 3.55 gears..my last truck, a 2017 gmc sierra 4x4 ccsb had 3.42 rear end and that was the weak link for my needs or I might still have it
 
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Rogues Gambit

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A truck or RWD vehicle w/out LSD is like a Sports car with an automatic. Sure, good deal, but without the Stick, just doesn't feel right
 

PoMansRam

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To me, like said, if you're comparing a 6spd auto with 3.21s and an 8spd with 3.21s, it will be a completely different experience between the two.

The 8spd and 3.21 should be much better. You can either toggle down a few gears if you feel she's bogging a bit while towing, or just mash the tow/haul button to keep it out of 8th.

If you were talking a Pentastar powered Ram as opposed to a Hemi, then I would want the 3.55s or 3.92s for towing.
 

aladin_sane

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I have a 5.7 with the 3.21 and open diff. I tow a 4500 lb boat with no problems and honestly, the traction control seems to mimic a posi pretty well in snow. I was in doubt about not having a posi rear end, and my dealer pointed out to me that the electronic traction control would accomplish the same result. I have not been able to argue with that through two winters now.
 

JoeCo

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I have a 5.7 with the 3.21 and open diff. I tow a 4500 lb boat with no problems and honestly, the traction control seems to mimic a posi pretty well in snow. I was in doubt about not having a posi rear end, and my dealer pointed out to me that the electronic traction control would accomplish the same result. I have not been able to argue with that through two winters now.

Kind of a similar result but using traction control is so frustrating, at least to me in terms of being in snow. Can't stand it limiting the RPM's, much prefer the LSD with no traction control. However, if it weren't for the snow I wouldn't care as much.
 

Shaky Town

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Jeepers, you guys. After reading several comments on how the 3.92 is the only way to go, I was visiting four different dealers, and asked the 3.21 vs. the 3.92 question, the ALL said NO to the 3.92 for my needs. I’m not towing much of anything, and I never go off road.
My last ruck was a 1997 Dodge Dakota with the old trusty 318 engine V8. That engine produced 240 HP, and pulled my 5,000 lb boat & trailer with ease. I don’t know squat about gears in trucks, but we are talking about a 400 hp engine now.
If the 3.92 is the way to go, then why are they using the 3.21 as the preferred production choice? Why not just have the 3.92 as the stock choice?
So, since I ordered my truck (HEMI) with the 3.21 gear, I’ll prepare for it to be a 400 hp “dog”, whatever.
 

Iowa ram

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I'm on my second 3:21, and pull a cargo trailer a few times a year, and it's worked fine.

I agree with some, the 3:55 would be a better fit for the occasional puller with the 8 spd.

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Firebird

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Personal preference, but for me, 3.21 gears are a definite deal killer
 

Fernando Bastidas

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I've driven both, and it's not as big of a difference as people make it out to be. Is a 3.92 rear rated to tow more? Yes. 3.21 is rated 8k lbs.

I personally wouldnt be towing anything over 8k lbs with a 1500 anyways regardless of tow ratings.

The other argument is better acceleration. Is a 3.92 rear a little quicker of the line? Sure, a little. But if you're buying a pickup truck to race then you may be buying the wrong vehicle.

I took the 3.21 rear on my 19 bighorn because the 3.92 at the lot didn't have the options I wanted and I couldnt justify waiting 3 weeks for a 3.92 with my options for such a small difference.

Mine is also 4x4, I have KO2 tires, muffler, intake and a pulsar tuner. No issues at all with acceleration or towing.

At least from my personal experience, there isnt as big of a difference between the 3.21 and 3.92 as some people make it seem. The eight speed tranny is great.
 

tidefan1967

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The only dealers that will try to steer a customer towards 3.21 gears instead of 3.92s is a dealer that doesn't have any with 3.92s on the lot. As a two time RAM owner I can tell you that my first dealer did the same thing saying "you don't need those, you'll be fine without them" because they literally did not have the first 3.92 truck on the lot and they always have at least 150 half ton trucks on hand. Another thing I notice is the lack of LSD trucks. Where there are no 3.92 equipped trucks there are usually few with LSD available too. Who in their right mind would buy a truck without LSD, especially a RWD model.
 
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