3.42 or 3.73

[Lorimeyer]

We are looking to purchase a truck, a 2017 Ram 3500, 6.7L with 3.42 rear axle ratio. Our 5th wheel loaded is about 14000 pounds. Should we wait to find a truck with 3.73, or will the 3.4 to do the job?

Thanks for your help.

 

[mtnrider]

3.42 will do it but if the trucks main job is going to be towing I would get a 3.73. You and the truck will be happier. For 2019/20 Ram has gone back to the 3.73 as the standard gear and ditched the 3.42 in the cummins

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[Mega-Hemi]

3.73’s.

3.42’s will work, but at 14k you will not enjoy them. I had a 10k lb 5’er and the 3.42’s were ok but just seemed like there should have been more.

 

[BossHogg]

I disagree. I pull a Montana 3790RD (15,000 pounds wet) with a 3500 SRW Cummins with 3:42s. I've pulled all over the country for four seasons and couldn't be happier.

The 3:73s would pay off if you do a lot of stop and go driving, but that isn't typical when RVing.

 

[68PowerWagon]

I pulled the 3.73's out of my gasser & replaced them with 4.56. I would be willing to sell you mine cheap! The only issue with that is you would still have to buy a kit & pay for install.

 

[2018 Hemi]

I would get the 410 that’s what I have in my 07 3500 with the 6.7 and boy do I miss it now.

 

[Bldrinker]

If the truck is a good enough deal you could put whatever gears in it you want for $2500ish

 

[mtofell]

The 3.42 gears are rated to pull up to around 25,000# total with truck and trailer - 3.73 gears give you a couple thousand pounds more. Your truck likely weighs somewhere around 8000# with a 5th hitch and some gear so with a 14,000# trailer you're still a few thousand pounds under the max even with 3.42. Sure, the 3.73 gearing would be better but if the right truck comes along in a 3.42 I personally wouldn't hold back just because of the gears. I think far too much is made of the slight difference in gearing with these trucks.

 

[Gr8bawana]

My 2017 CTD has 3.42 gears and pulls my TT like it's not even there. Granted it only weighs about 8,000lbs but with all my other extra gear, water, fuel and dutch ovens I'm probably pulling about 10K lbs. It does this in 5th gear overdrive and dosn't even downshift for long highway climbs in the mountains.
Going from a gas engine to a deisel was the best move I ever made.