Any 6.4 8 Speed Drivers?

[Marine Les]

Just curious as how the big 6.4 with the 8spd. is performing? It seems like a great match for power/mpg/towing and acceleration.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Just curious as how the big 6.4 with the 8spd. is performing? It seems like a great match for power/mpg/towing and acceleration.

I think the same. I keep hoping the TFL Truck YouTube channel will review it. There are a couple videos out there of people being impressed with its acceleration, but nothing with a load behind it.


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[22hemi13]

I think the same. I keep hoping the TFL Truck YouTube channel will review it. There are a couple videos out there of people being impressed with its acceleration, but nothing with a pod behind it.


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Don’t have one. But I did drive one. It seems to be everything you’d want it to be

 

[NewBlackDak]

Don’t have one. But I did drive one. It seems to be everything you’d want it to be

I want it to tow a 10-12K fifth wheel without getting down into the fist gear lockout on big grades. I understand it won’t be a Cummins, but my very short commute would play hell on a modern diesel.


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[22hemi13]

I want it to tow a 10-12K fifth wheel without getting down into the fist gear lockout on big grades. I understand it won’t be a Cummins, but my very short commute would play hell on a modern diesel.


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Look in the 5th gen hd section and 5th gen towing section. You may find better answers there’s some that have them and use em

 

[wyo2track]

^^^ That's correct.

https://www.ramforum.com/forums/heavy-duty.189/

 

[mtofell]

^^^ That's correct.

https://www.ramforum.com/forums/heavy-duty.189/

I've been trying to avoid reading these reviews My worst fear has been confirmed. That being a drastic improvement over my 2014 6.4 with the 6spd tranny.

Pretty impressive.... guys are talking about pulling 15k with no problem. I've always known the 6.4 is a total beast. Now that it has a way to use that power I can only imagine what a great towing machine it is. Ugh, this could get expensive... I've really been enjoying having no payment.

 

[22hemi13]

I've been trying to avoid reading these reviews My worst fear has been confirmed. That being a drastic improvement over my 2014 6.4 with the 6spd tranny.

Pretty impressive.... guys are talking about pulling 15k with no problem. I've always known the 6.4 is a total beast. Now that it has a way to use that power I can only imagine what a great towing machine it is. Ugh, this could get expensive... I've really been enjoying having no payment.

Lol. Not sure it’s good enough to have a payment lol. Have you tried a tuner and custom tune? I’d try that first before having a payment if I was done. But don’t let me talk you out of an 8spd. My wife’s 1500 has the 8spd so I get my fix driving hers haha

 

[dhay13]

My son is in need of a 2500 very soon (like this week). He is looking at a 2016 Big Horn Cummins with 20,000 miles for $46k, a 2018 Big Horn 6.4 with 4.10s for ~$40,000 with 12,000 miles (identical to mine) or possibly a 2019 6.4 Big Horn with the 8 speed for about $52k.

He is trying to stay under $50k and closer to $45k. But in my searching I haven't seen too many 2019s with 4.10's. Most have all had the 3.73's. He won't be towing alot but will be putting alot of miles on it, like 30,000 per year.

So with the 8 speed do you really need 4.10's?

 

[22hemi13]

My son is in need of a 2500 very soon (like this week). He is looking at a 2016 Big Horn Cummins with 20,000 miles for $46k, a 2018 Big Horn 6.4 with 4.10s for ~$40,000 with 12,000 miles (identical to mine) or possibly a 2019 6.4 Big Horn with the 8 speed for about $52k.

He is trying to stay under $50k and closer to $45k. But in my searching I haven't seen too many 2019s with 4.10's. Most have all had the 3.73's. He won't be towing alot but will be putting alot of miles on it, like 30,000 per year.

So with the 8 speed do you really need 4.10's?

Doubt it. That said even if it did I’d rather update the ears and have the 8spd vs having 4:10 on the 6spd.

 

[mtofell]

Have you tried a tuner and custom tune?

I've got the Lifetime warranty (another reason I really don't want to sell) so a tuner isn't really an option. Also, from what I've read, tuners and towing gets complicated. And, all the tuning in the world can't fix crappy gear spacing. By far my biggest issue is the 1-2 gap and how the truck just can't find a spot to be happy at around 30-40mph up a hill. In the end I survive (pulling an 11K 5th wheel, 3.73 gears) but it could sure be better. I should have re-geared but now with 90K miles I don't know if I want to put that much into the truck. Also, I really don't tow a whole lot or I'm sure I would have done something.

As a daily driver my current truck is near perfect. If I were in the market and trying to get the best bang for the buck I'd have a hard time not scooping up a remaining new 2018 w/6spd. They are pretty much giving them away. A few weeks ago there was a guy on here talking about a Laramie 4X4 for 37K!!

 

[Tim Garceau]

As a daily driver my current truck is near perfect. If I were in the market and trying to get the best bang for the buck I'd have a hard time not scooping up a remaining new 2018 w/6spd. They are pretty much giving them away. A few weeks ago there was a guy on here talking about a Laramie 4X4 for 37K!!

I’ve got a brand new original iPhone and IPad 1 I’d be willing to sell you at a helluva price.

 

[nwsewell]

So with the 8 speed do you really need 4.10's?

Here's an unpopular opinion.
I have a 5.7 with the 8speed. After reading through the forums, I thought for sure i would need the 3.92s instead of the 3.21s, because thats what the general consensus swears by. But then I went and test drove trucks with both gearings, and I decided the truck with 3.21s was better for me. It seemed more at ease at highway speeds, it accellerated faster from 50-80 and cruising at 70mph it sat at a lower RPM. Then begged the question of towing capabilities. The 3.92s are rated to tow over 10,000lbs, whereas the 3.21s are rated somewhere around 8,500lbs. The business I'm in, theres never going to be a time when I need to tow more than 7,000lbs including trailer. Its just not going to happen.
So I happily settled on the truck with 3.21s, knowing it would be faster for the way i like to drive, get slightly better fuel economy (which doesnt matter much), and still be plenty capable for the work that I do.

If the truck is going to be used frequently for towing heavy loads, go for the 4.10s. It would be the wise choice. If the truck is just going to be driven a lot, without much towing, the other gearing will be much more satisfying.

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[22hemi13]

I've got the Lifetime warranty (another reason I really don't want to sell) so a tuner isn't really an option. Also, from what I've read, tuners and towing gets complicated. And, all the tuning in the world can't fix crappy gear spacing. By far my biggest issue is the 1-2 gap and how the truck just can't find a spot to be happy at around 30-40mph up a hill. In the end I survive (pulling an 11K 5th wheel, 3.73 gears) but it could sure be better. I should have re-geared but now with 90K miles I don't know if I want to put that much into the truck. Also, I really don't tow a whole lot or I'm sure I would have done something.

As a daily driver my current truck is near perfect. If I were in the market and trying to get the best bang for the buck I'd have a hard time not scooping up a remaining new 2018 w/6spd. They are pretty much giving them away. A few weeks ago there was a guy on here talking about a Laramie 4X4 for 37K!!

They make custom tunes that are specific for towing. That 1-2 hap has been addressed many times. But hey you don’t gotta sell me on you wanting to get a new truck lol. Just go get it haha

 

[dhay13]

Yeah my step-son has a 2019 with 3.21s and hates it. Partially his fault but the salesman told him he didn't need 3.92s because of the 8 speed to tow his 26' camper. His camper is about 6000 lb dry but he had thought about getting one with more slideouts and being closer to 8000lbs. His truck is rated to tow 8150 so that is out. He had a 2010 Ram, and 2015 Ram and now this 2019 and hates this one. He wishes he had his 2015 back but it had the 3.92s.

Another thing for my son to think about is re-sale. If he gets a 2019 with 3.73s his re-sale might suck

 

[mtofell]

Another thing for my son to think about is re-sale. If he gets a 2019 with 3.73s his re-sale might suck

I'm not so sure about this - if no one was buying them, we wouldn't have thread after thread of people complaining about them. So, somebody must be buying them.

Honestly, with modern trannys and relatively minor numerical differences the whole gear ratio thing is probably the most overblown aspect of trucks these days IMO (I think we're running out of things to complain about).

This being said, I really don't understand why Ram is so stubborn in what they manufacture. 90%+ of the people on here want the 4.10 yet 90%+ of the trucks on lots have the 3.73. Again, I'd bet a case of gear oil that few could really notice this minor of a difference (either driving or at the gas pump) but why not just give people what they want Ram?

 

[GsRAM]

I'm not so sure about this - if no one was buying them, we wouldn't have thread after thread of people complaining about them. So, somebody must be buying them.

Honestly, with modern trannys and relatively minor numerical differences the whole gear ratio thing is probably the most overblown aspect of trucks these days IMO (I think we're running out of things to complain about).

This being said, I really don't understand why Ram is so stubborn in what they manufacture. 90%+ of the people on here want the 4.10 yet 90%+ of the trucks on lots have the 3.73. Again, I'd bet a case of gear oil that few could really notice this minor of a difference (either driving or at the gas pump) but why not just give people what they want Ram?

100% correct. Not much difference 3.73 to 4.10s unless your towing north of 10k with a 6.4 truck.

That's exactly why those considering gear changes go to a 4.30, 4.56 or 4.88 gear. Not enough difference 3.73 to 4.10. I bet you couldn't even feel a seat of the pants difference....and if so it would be very minor

 

[pwjouster]

honestly, as soon as your talking about 33+ tires anything under 4.10 is not for the performance driver.

yes, 90% of buyers are not performance/aggressive drivers and those 90% are not on these forums..which is why it sounds like people always complain here.


in the jeep world, if you have 3.73 and want 35 inch tires...it just flat out sucks. a 6 Speed manual helps Alot
The Rubicon and 4.10s on 35s was night and day better.

my 4.10s and the stock tires on the PW was great, and the jump to 35s was certainly noticeable.
the jump from 35s to 37s was not as noticeable and the ride improvement was huge.
I am 100% certain that 3.73s would not be acceptable with 37inch tires, and it would be borderline with 35s....
They get the PW right in this case for most buyers

 

[wyo2track]

And, all the tuning in the world can't fix crappy gear spacing. By far my biggest issue is the 1-2 gap and how the truck just can't find a spot to be happy at around 30-40mph up a hill. In the end I survive (pulling an 11K 5th wheel, 3.73 gears) but it could sure be better. I should have re-geared but now with 90K miles I don't know if I want to put that much into the truck. Also, I really don't tow a whole lot or I'm sure I would have done something.

Totally agree...my gripe too. Power in the low & mid-range speeds is enhanced with the 8spd. I like that it has filled the gaps and has the gearing to provide good power at whatever speed. Being able to leverage all of that 429 lb-ft the 6.4 has is huge. I've read where the 8spd will pull 9k trailers up grades in 4th right near peak torque at 4500rpm;, which is like having a 2.5 gear in the 6 spd. I'd need 2nd at 5400 rpm. Efficiency win for the 8 spd. There's not a whole lot of difference between 4-6 on the 6spd and 6-8 on the 8spd though, so your standard hwy speeds of 55-70, is going to feel the same. If your one to complain the truck won't get out of 4th with the 6spd, your going to be in 6th with the 8spd. There both 1:1 ratio. The big difference is with pulling grades with the 8 tranny making small incremental steps down to keep the engine near peak torque.

 

[wyo2track]

I think the same. I keep hoping the TFL Truck YouTube channel will review it. There are a couple videos out there of people being impressed with its acceleration, but nothing with a load behind it.

I'm curious myself. I've test driven one and its a huge difference in the low and mid range speeds. There is no doubt the 8spd is a huge improvement in both power delivery and efficiency. My biggest fear however is still the heat management with the 6.4 on these long climbs. There's been no internal or power changes to it. I think the 8spd will prolong the issue of ECM locking the truck into a certain gear as it will allow the truck to stay near peak torque longer at a higher speed. I'll make a prediction I'm hope I'm wrong about; if TFL loads the truck up with 13-15k and it cannot maintain 3rd gear all the way up that hill, the truck will lock itself in 2nd at peak torque and 35 mph just like it does now in 1st gear. Again, I hope I'm wrong...

I returned yesterday from a camping trip pulling my 6500# TT, up and down grades, 30-45 mph speeds, shifting between 2nd and 4th on every hill for 35 miles of dirt road. Then 12 miles of 68 mph hwy to home. Truck oil temp was in the mid 230's when I hit the house. 72 degrees out. Just seemed a little hotter than what I expected and have seen before.