Question about rear end and towing

[jmmemoli]

Hello all,
I'm researching for a new Ram in the spring, and I've come upon a question. Can I ask why someone would order a one-ton truck and then hamper it with a 3.42 rear ratio? I'm looking for a tow monster and nothing more, and I can't figure out why a dealer would order, or a customer would purchase a 3500 with little more tow rating than an F150. Am I missing a purpose of buying a one-ton truck?

Thanks,

A frustrated shopper

 

[Firebird]

I believe you can get 4.10 gears in a dually with Aisin trans

 

[RoadDog66]

One word...payload. And the 3.42 still pulls like a freight train.

A 4.10 in the diesel would be a monster but hamper mileage and your wallet at the same time because the Aisin is definitely needed for it. That's another $2600. I think there's a 3.73 option for the Aisin as well, but that might only be for the stake bodies though.

 

[SouthTexan]

If you do the math, the current 370 hp /800 lb-ft Cummins with a 68RFE and 3.42 rear axles is actually sending more torque to the rear wheels in every gear than when they offered the other ratios in the 2011 350 hp / 650 lb-ft Cummins with a 68RFE and 4.10 rear axle. Hence the reason why the current 3.42 axles diesels are rated to tow more than the older 4.10 geared trucks.

 

[jmmemoli]

I keep running into trucks ordered with the Aisin transmission and a 3:42 rear end. That gives it a 17000 lb. tow rating. I still fail to see the logic of ordering a $50000.00+ heavy duty truck equipped such a way.

 

[SouthTexan]

All Ram single rear wheel HD Cummins trucks(regardless of trans) are 3.42. Only the dual rear wheel trucks have shorter gear ratio options. How much are you looking to tow?

 

[Jaywoo]

The ford may be close to what the Ram is rated to pull, but they by NO means will tow the same. Hook them both up to 15,000 lbs and the Ram will pull circles around the Ford. Upgrade it to 4.10s and pull 30,000 lbs.

 

[Jaywoo]

All Ram single rear wheel HD Cummins trucks(regardless of trans) are 3.42. Only the dual rear wheel trucks have shorter gear ratios. How much are you looking to tow?

I'm looking at Ram's site right now. You can get a 3500 with 4.10s and a single axel. Well, that is, until you go to build one. Then a Dually is required. Huu.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

 

[SouthTexan]

I'm looking at Ram's site right now. You can get a 3500 with 4.10s and a single axel

https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

Is is a Cummins engine or a gasser?

 

[Jaywoo]

Is is a Cummins engine or a gasser?

I went to build one because I'm sitting in a hotel and bored. If you select 4.10s it makes you select dually. A diesel.

 

[SouthTexan]

The ones I see in that link show a single rear wheel in the picture but the specs (like the 30k tow rating) means it is a DRW.

 

[Jaywoo]

Yeah, that's what I get for just looking at pictures.

 

[SouthTexan]

Yeah, that's what I get for just looking at pictures.

I can't blame you for only seeing pretty pictures of all the new trucks. I do the same.

 

[Jaywoo]

Still, if you want a tow pig, you can get a Cummins Dually tradesman for not a bad price and tow pretty much anything.

I built a Tradesman 3500 with the Aisin transmission, cummins, UConnect 5.0, trailer brake controller, Dually and 4.10s. Cost was $48K. You can probably find one on a lot for less.

 

[Ratket]

^^ prolly 6-8k less

 

[mtofell]

The Ram build site is pretty stupid. You'll be 3 pages deep into putting together the perfect Cummins truck and when committing to a a type of floor mats it makes you go to a 5.7 liter Hemi. I think Ram underestimates just how much time some of us junkies put into that site dreaming.

 

[jmmemoli]

Still, if you want a tow pig, you can get a Cummins Dually tradesman for not a bad price and tow pretty much anything.

I built a Tradesman 3500 with the Aisin transmission, cummins, UConnect 5.0, trailer brake controller, Dually and 4.10s. Cost was $48K. You can probably find one on a lot for less.

 

[jmmemoli]

Find one being a very important phrase. Apparently, when dealers encroach on $50K, they think any buyer looking at that much truck wants drive a mobile office.
The GM selection is even worse. There is no way to get a diesel with 4.10 rear. That explains the difference in towing capacity.
I still have difficulty trying to see anyone buying a pricey, 1-ton truck and limiting it to 17K towing.

 

[JoshR104]

Find one being a very important phrase. Apparently, when dealers encroach on $50K, they think any buyer looking at that much truck wants drive a mobile office.
The GM selection is even worse. There is no way to get a diesel with 4.10 rear. That explains the difference in towing capacity.
I still have difficulty trying to see anyone buying a pricey, 1-ton truck and limiting it to 17K towing.

Actually when I worked for a landscaper back in my college days we pulled a trailer with 3 mowers on it maybe 8k pounds but used it way more often for payload hauling stone, top soil and other such items on a regular basis. Needed it for the payload but could also tow pretty well so there is a market for them. Not everyone is towing 30k with these suckers.

 

[ronheater70]

I just bought a 2018 3500 6.7 CTD 4x4. . I bought it because I tow an RV, like to camp.. don't need tot ow 30K pounds, but it tows 10K effortlessly compared to my 6.4 2500.. I have no understanding why anyone would ever want to tow a camper that is 40 something feet long and weighs 20K pounds. I mean just rent a house.. But then again a few years ago I never thought of anything bigger than a tent.