4.10s Necessary with 8 Speed Transmission?

[Slick61]

I have a 2016 Tradesman with the hemi & 4.10s. It was really kindof a fluke that I found it... but after having it a while, found that I LOVED the 4.10s. This thing is QUICK... and I have not really noticed a significant penalty in mileage. I get about 11-13 around town & 17-18 on the highway, according to the lie-o-meter on the dash. I am looking to get into a newer truck, but short of ordering one, finding a higher trim level with 4.10s is extremely difficult. I am also looking a purchasing a travel trailer... approximately 7000 lbs & 700 lbs tongue weight. My question is: with the 8 speed transmission, are the 4.10s really necessary... or will the 3.73s serve me just as well... with slightly better fuel consumption unloaded?

 

[Ricktara]

I have had my 2019 Bighorn with 3.73 gears and pull a 9500 lb trailer. I have no concerns at all.

 

[andymax]

Plenty of people pull similar trailers with 3.21's with no problem. A little bit slower off the line, but so what? At highway speeds the tranny will just kick down a gear to 7th, which IIRC is the same-ish final ratio as the 3.92 in 8th.

edit: Oops...just realized this is in the HD section, and my comment is clearly related to the 1500's. Point remains though, the super tall gearing is just not necessary for that trailer.

 

[nlambert182]

Didn't pull anything super heavy with my Bighorn and 3.21s, but it didn't have any issues. The 8spd did seem to keep it in 7th most of the time.

My 2500 has 3.42s (but a 6-spd) and tows a 9800 TT and also doesn't seem to care.

4.10s are nice for towing though. I also towed with 3.73s. The difference isn't that noticeable in terms of towing or mpg. It will be fairly close.

 

[Bearcatrp]

My 2021 Ram 3500 with the 6.4 and 3:73’s pull my 11,000 lb 5th wheel just fine. The 8 speed transmission does its job well to the point I sometimes can’t feel it going into the next gear on flat lands. Unless your pulling max capacity, 3:73 rear end will do just fine.

 

[Ratman6161]

I have a 2016 Tradesman with the hemi & 4.10s. It was really kindof a fluke that I found it... but after having it a while, found that I LOVED the 4.10s. This thing is QUICK... and I have not really noticed a significant penalty in mileage. I get about 11-13 around town & 17-18 on the highway, according to the lie-o-meter on the dash. I am looking to get into a newer truck, but short of ordering one, finding a higher trim level with 4.10s is extremely difficult. I am also looking a purchasing a travel trailer... approximately 7000 lbs & 700 lbs tongue weight. My question is: with the 8 speed transmission, are the 4.10s really necessary... or will the 3.73s serve me just as well... with slightly better fuel consumption unloaded?

I have had both and pull a 7600 ish pound travel trailer. I barely notice any difference.

 

[crash68]

My 2500 has 3.42s (but a 6-spd) and tows a 9800 TT and also doesn't seem to care.

That due largely to the fact the Cummins makes more torque just off idle than a 5.7 or 6.4 does at their torque peak, the CTD also makes over double the torque of either Hemi engine all while at half the rpms. With that amount of extra torque it will make up for taller gearing.