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2010_Laramie

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Hey everyone, Though I'm new to this forum I've owned my truck for about a year now and I think it's time I get a new truck since I need one that has better towing capability. I have my eye on a 2500 Laramie that the seller is willing to trade for my 1500 Laramie (they are the same year and trim, so I don't have to change my username:favorites37:. I am wondering which differential gears best fit my needs.
Also, If it helps the truck is a 2010 2500 Laramie with the 5.7L Hemi and I will keep the stock wheels and most likely get airbags for it.
Thanks in advance.:happy160:
 

Dean2

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Welcome to the frum. Good to see another Canadian on here. With respect to your question, depends on weight you want to pull, type of trailer with respect to wind resistance, number of axles on trailer, loaded versus empty weight, speed you want to maintain, how much hill you pull in, how much of the time you will be pulling and does the Laramie 2500 have the Trailer package in it already.. Pretty hard to give you decent recommendation without more info.
 

392DevilDog

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The 5.7 l in the 2500 truck is gonna need 4.10 gears at the least...if you plan for it to feel more capable than your 1500.

You are essentially getting more stability...not much more capability.

If you were towing in the capacities of the 1500 and are going to tow the sane with the 2500...powerwise...it will feel less capable...everywhere else...it will shine.

Just an FYI so you understand the initial feeling. The 2500 is definitely the better truck. And congrats on getting it.

Just remember you are lugging around almost 1300 more pounds just driving empty.
 
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2010_Laramie

2010_Laramie

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Welcome to the frum. Good to see another Canadian on here. With respect to your question, depends on weight you want to pull, type of trailer with respect to wind resistance, number of axles on trailer, loaded versus empty weight, speed you want to maintain, how much hill you pull in, how much of the time you will be pulling and does the Laramie 2500 have the Trailer package in it already.. Pretty hard to give you decent recommendation without more info.
Trailer is a hydraulic dump trailer.
Trailer GVWR is about 9990 lbs, empty weight is about 2800 lbs, and 2 axles. I will have some equipment in the cab and bed too. I want to maintain at least 75 km/h (46.6 miles). I don't know if it has the full trailer package or just the option but it has the trailer brake. I won't be towing every single day, but when I do, it'll be most of that day. I live in a city that's roads are literally hills; you can't drive a mile before you've been at the top and bottom of a hill.
I don't know too much about the truck since I haven't traded it in yet; the only information I have is some pictures and an ad that has a 5-word description.
 
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HEMIMANN

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4.10 definitely in the 9980 GVWR range.
 
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2010_Laramie

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I think I should go a little bigger than 4.10 since I know I'll occasionally tow something heavier than my trailer. Any cons to a bigger ratio?
 

dhay13

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If you want more than 4.10 then you are looking at a re-gear as that is the lowest offered from the factory. But yes, lower will tow better but mileage will suffer. If going with bigger tires then 4.56 or 4.88 can help offset that too
 

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Good post here, brings out some things to consider about a 2500. I'm wondering what gearing the 2500 has that your looking at?

For what its worth, I have a 24' enclosed trailer I tow 2-3 times a year with 3.92 gearing in my 1500 and will be switching to 4.56 because I have a lift and anger tires on now which will balance out everything again.
 
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2010_Laramie

2010_Laramie

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So a 3.92 ratio gets more mpg but not as good towing capability, and the 4.10 is better for towing but it has lower mpg. Correct?
I'm wondering what gearing the 2500 has that your looking at?
I messaged the seller regarding the gears and transmission (if it's an 8spd) and he said he has no idea about either question and that he will check tomorrow since his shop is closed today.
I hope it's a 4.10 though, rather not go through swapping a differential
 

Dean2

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So a 3.92 ratio gets more mpg but not as good towing capability, and the 4.10 is better for towing but it has lower mpg. Correct?

I messaged the seller regarding the gears and transmission (if it's an 8spd) and he said he has no idea about either question and that he will check tomorrow since his shop is closed today.
I hope it's a 4.10 though, rather not go through swapping a differential
The difference between 392 and 410 is basically irrelevant. For what you are doing and the speeds you are working with anything from 355 on up will work fine. If it has the trailer brake it will have the tow setting. Use that and manually select your gears and you will have no issues at all pulling that dump trailer. The only time you would have to worry about gear ratio is if you are pulling at 100klm/hr in hills and even then 392 to 410 is little different.
 
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HEMIMANN

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Yes.
Back when they had 3.73 gears like mine there was a much bigger difference in both towing capacity and fuel mileage.
 

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So a 3.92 ratio gets more mpg but not as good towing capability, and the 4.10 is better for towing but it has lower mpg. Correct?

I messaged the seller regarding the gears and transmission (if it's an 8spd) and he said he has no idea about either question and that he will check tomorrow since his shop is closed today.
I hope it's a 4.10 though, rather not go through swapping a differential
Wouldn't have to swap "a complete differential", would only be the gearing (ring & pinion) if so. Good idea to do bearings of course.

You can also plug in the VIN number and Mopar will provide you a list of all components the Ram came with. Available online for free.
 

dhay13

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Not a noticeable difference unless you are changing by about .4 or more. 3.73 to 4.10 isn't a huge jump and not really worth the money to do. 3.21 to 4.10 would be. But you should be fine even with 3.73s.
What year did you say it was? won't be an 8 speed unless its 2019 or newer.
 

HEMIMANN

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I dunno.......I have the 3.73's and it feels like my 7,000 load is plenty enough for it. I also have the 66RFE trans, but really the only diff there is the wider shift ratios. Ok, sloppy valve body too, but doesn't limit planetary and clutch capacity.

Just sayin' - if I were to pull north of what I've got, I'd want axle gears in the 4's.
 
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2010_Laramie

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I've circled the two that mine could be



Screenshot 2021-09-07 073822.png

You get 2,000 pounds more max. trailer weight and 2,000 pounds more GCWR (maximum weight that the vehicle can bear when fully loaded as a tow vehicle) with the 4.10 as opposed to the 3.73 :shrug:
I'm going to be towing 10,000+ lbs and the 4.10 has a max trailer weight of 10,450 which is 2,000 over the 3.73. The difference between 3.73 and 4.10 is .37. So theoretically, If I had gears that are 4.47, my max trailer weight would be about 12,450 lbs. Is there a gear size that's close to 4.47? Would the max trailer weight actually be in the 12,000s?
 
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dhay13

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The problem you are running into there is no matter what gears you install (or any other mods) it does not change your 'legal' maximums. Sure 4.56 or 4.88 will tow easier but your legal maximum will still be what is listed for your VIN. Even if the truck came with 3.73 and you install 4.10's your legal maximum is still what is listed for the 3.73's. It doesn't make sense to us that know about trucks and towing but think about a jury hearing and seeing charts stating a trucks max tow rating is XXXXX and you exceeded that and were then involved in an accident?

Also, didn't realize you were towing 10,000lbs. That is quite a bit for a 5.7. Towing that occasionally might not be bad but towing that much too often won't be fun. In my opinion 5.7 is pushing it at 10,000lbs. I have never towed with a 2500 with the 5.7 so can't say for certain but my 2013 1500 with 3.55's ran hard towing 8000lbs. Yeah it was a 1500 but that has no impact on power.
 

Dean2

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We have provided you with the best advice we can, beyond that it is up to you to decide which way you want to go.Like I said before, the 3.73 should be fine in your specifc use parameters. If you were hauling on the highway different recommendation. At worst, if it has 3.73 gears, try it, if you find it wanting, it only costs about $400- $500 to have the gear sets swapped out.
 

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I've circled the two that mine could be



View attachment 470199

You get 2,000 pounds more max. trailer weight and 2,000 pounds more GCWR (maximum weight that the vehicle can bear when fully loaded as a tow vehicle) with the 4.10 as opposed to the 3.73 :shrug:
I'm going to be towing 10,000+ lbs and the 4.10 has a max trailer weight of 10,450 which is 2,000 over the 3.73. The difference between 3.73 and 4.10 is .37. So theoretically, If I had gears that are 4.47, my max trailer weight would be about 12,450 lbs. Is there a gear size that's close to 4.47? Would the max trailer weight actually be in the 12,000s?

It's interesting to note that for the 5.7 and comparing the gear options, that yes you do get another 2,000# to tow, but here is something to think about and not sure how RAM figured this in but:

Granted you can get that extra 2,000#'s moving, but how are you going to STOP it?

Perhaps there are bigger brakes on that, but I'm thinking its all the same or at least not aware of it.

I look at it this way. sure getting up the hill will be easier with that weight, but at some point you have to come down that hill. :33:
 

62Blazer

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The two factory gear options are 3.73 or 4.10 and there isn't that much of a difference between them. I doubt many people could really tell the difference by the seat of the pants feel between them. For towing performance I pulled a 9,000+ lb. plus trailer for years with a Chevy 2500HD 6.0L gas engine that was rated at 300 HP and it did fine. Sure, a diesel would pull it easier but not like the gas engines won't get it done. The biggest difference is what type of speed you can maintain on the grades on the freeway. If most of your driving is on 2 lane roads at lower speeds it's not nearly as big of a deal as compared to trying to drive 70 mph through the mountains of Colorado. Same thing goes for fuel mileage, if you are spending a lot of time driving slower (under 50 mph) and pulling a lot of grades then lower gears could actually help fuel mileage.

People who make comments about being able to get a heavy trailer moving but not being able to get it stopped always make me wonder if they have actually ever towed a larger trailer before. It's called "trailer brakes"....you know, this concept where the trailer actually has brakes on it to compensate for the added weight. State to state laws are different but in my state any trailer with a GVW (max weight) over 3,000 lbs. is legally required to have brakes on it. There is no way I would consider towing any decent size trailer at posted highway speeds without brakes on it.
 
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