On the fence on which gears to go with

[2018_ram]

so i have a 2018 ram 3500 4x4 with 3.73 gears and wanting to do a gear swap but on the fence on 4.56 or 4.88 i have stock tires and dont plan on going any bigger tires. i already looked at the gear calculator with both gears. would 4.88 be to much gear on stock tires? i know either gear is going to improve over stock. gas milage doesnt matter cause the truck is mostly pulling a 13k 5th wheel camper. so what are your guys thoughts on either gear?

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

If you have stock tires "I" personally wouldn't do either of them ... especially if you are not planning on going with bigger tires ...

If anything 4.11 is what I would get with stock tires ...

 

[chris1126]

If you have stock tires "I" personally wouldn't do either of them ... especially if you are not planning on going with bigger tires ...

If anything 4.11 is what I would get with stock tires ...

this

 

[JRS950]

The first question is, what are you trying to gain from the gear change? What issues are you having, and at what times? Just my $.02.

 

[Mountaineer83]

I went from factory 4.10 to 4.88 on my 2016 2500 and it is amazing at the difference just being empty. I tow about 14k lb 5th wheel and it does do a lot better than stock, even here in West Virginia where everything is a hill. I almost went 5.13, but the Yukon 4.88s were a little less so that's what I got! No noise and they have been great for over a year now.

I have everything factory except my tires are 275/65/20 which is 1/2" taller. The 4.88s are not too much in my opinion for empty or towing. I'm not leveled or anything at all and may go back down to the 285/60/20 tires when I need new ones again. I highly doubt you would regret the 4.88 at all. Also, I have the 6.4 in mine for reference.

 

[White six four]

Is yours a gas or diesel? 6 or 8 speed? Sorry I don't remember when they switched to the 8. I don't ever plan on getting bigger then the 34's on my truck but with the 6.4 and 6 speed if I had the extra money I would definitely regear.

 

[Ramit355]

I do not have a 2500....I have the 1500 with 392 and Pull a 12000 lb camper with ease no struggle up hills at all and on the open road it never hunts for a gear in tow/haul. I would thin k a 456 would be awesome pull in a 2500. Just my 2 cents for what its worth...lol.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

I have a 1500 with 37s and I went up to 4.88s and fawken love my truck now .... acceleration is always there when I need it and going up hill is just fun ... before I wouldn't get out of 3rd, 4th gear and now it stays in 8th gear no matter the grade unless of course I chose to drop speed myself ...

Unless you have 35s I wouldn't go more than the 4.11s on a 2500 .... the rpms would be very high with that small of a tire wouldn't they?

 

[NewBlackDak]

If you have stock tires "I" personally wouldn't do either of them ... especially if you are not planning on going with bigger tires ...

If anything 4.11 is what I would get with stock tires ...

Said by someone who has never towed heavy with a 6-speed 6.4 with 4.10s.

I was originally thinking 4.56, but it’s not enough difference from the 4.10 to be worth the cost. If I do it’ll be 4.88s.


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[NewBlackDak]

I have a 1500 with 37s and I went up to 4.88s and fawken love my truck now .... acceleration is always there when I need it and going up hill is just fun ... before I wouldn't get out of 3rd, 4th gear and now it stays in 8th gear no matter the grade unless of course I chose to drop speed myself ...

Unless you have 35s I wouldn't go more than the 4.11s on a 2500 .... the rpms would be very high with that small of a tire wouldn't they?

RAM screwed up with the 66RFE. They just used the same gears from the 68RFE. Great for a Cummins, but not even close for a Hemi. With my 4.10s I’m still under 2K RPMs cruising at 75MPH. The 6.4 doesn’t even come on until about 2300RPMs. It’s a heavy duty truck. It should be geared to tow a heavy load, not cruise down the highway at 85.


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[irnwkrkev]

OP should state gas or diesel. HUGE difference!

 

[Bldrinker]

OP should state gas or diesel. HUGE difference!

Turn your phone sideways. Your questions will be answered.

 

[Daw14]

Turn your phone sideways. Your questions will be answered.

Rectangle gears is what you want

 

[Toddz]

Just as a comparison, I use the Ford 6 speed transmission when I look at the Ram gears. The Ram 4.10 is the equivalent to the Ford 3.73 final gearing and the 4.88 geared Ram is the equivalent to Ford 4.30 final gearing. This is due to the transmission gear ratios. If I was towing around 12,000 or more I would opt for the 4.88.

 

[Toddz]

BTW, I base my towing weights for the gearing on the Ford towing guide because although I love my Ram more than my past Fords, I think Ford is better with their towing numbers in my experience. That is why me towing up to 10,500 the 4.10 is perfect for my needs.

 

[2018_ram]

6.4 hemi 6 speed

 

[MAC830203]

Those sized tires? Gas? 4.56 or 4.88. Taller if you can.

 

[Mountaineer83]

I have the 6.4 with the 6 speed. The issue with the 6 speed as mentioned is it has the same gear ratios as the 6 speed behind the cummins (66RFE vs 68RFE). That said, the gearing in first is a 3.23 and 2nd is a 1.83. That hurts the towing with a heavy load behind you. Going lower it makes a huge difference without much loss on top end. As Toddz mentioned above, it brings our hemi trucks closer to the ford 6.2 with the 4.30 rear gears.

For comparison sake, the Ford 6 speed has a 1st gear ratio of 4.17 and 2nd gear of 2.34. The Ford tranny is geared alot lower in first and a bit lower in second compared to our Rams. I only run about 2k rpm in overdrive (6th) on my truck running 70 mph. In 5th when towing I'm about 2500-2600 rpm. And I'm running 34" tires, half inch above the factory.

I would seriously consider the 5.13 if I were doing it again. But my installer was super impressed with my truck after he did the swap and he drives a 2019 Cummins 2500.

 

[KenOfAZ]

You could go with the 4.88. If they are too deep of gears, you can put a little bigger tires on it to compensate.

 

[Bldrinker]

Rectangle gears is what you want

I don’t get it