Bass Boat

[ranger520]

I have a 21 Ft. Ranger Bass boat.... probably around 4000 lbs. loaded. We travel all over the eastern part of the country. My wife is looking at a 2016 Big Horn 1500 with 5.7 Hemi and 3.21 gears and 8 speed trans. Am I going to be happy the ways it pulls? I'm extremely happy with my 2013 Express with 3.55 gears.
Thanks

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

http://www.ramforum.com/f119/3_21_gear_ratio_-_anyone_actually_towing-43001/

"Oh, sweet debt. Thy name is Truck."

 

[BossHogg]

The best way to provide an answer is to first understand differences in transmission output with respect to axle ratios.

RAM came out with the eight speed transmission in mid-model year 2013 and eventually the eight speed replaced the six speed in most trim levels. RAM also changed the standard axle ratio from 3:55 to 3:21 for eight speed equipped trucks.

Looking at the gearing of the eight speed compared to the gearing of the six speed transmission you will see that an eight speed transmission with 3:21 axles has more lower end off the line grunt than the six speed transmission with 3:92 axle ratio.

If I was pulling near capacity, daily, in the city with a lot of start/stop, I might consider 3:92s. I'm pulling 7,500 pounds occasionally with 3:21s and I don't have any complaints.

If you were happy with the 3:55 six speed combo you have, the eight speed 3:21 will delight you. Here is the math I used to take a look at both the six and eight speed transmissions with the various axle ratios. Notice the much lower gearing of the first five gears of the eight speed transmission.