Real world difference between 3.21 & 3.55?

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Burla

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Right if tow guides mean anything.
 

Dusty

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Right if tow guides mean anything.
Since you stated these were 3.73 v. 4.10 I assumed these are probably 10.5 or 11 inch ring gears for a 3/4 ton. The pinion gear looks to me that it revolves much slower against the ring gear due to its larger gear circumference, which would mean that it would be the 3.73 gear set. The difference is even more dramatic when looking at what is suppose to be the 4.10.

I don't know off hand what the towing specifications are for 3/4 ton Rams, but in the 1500s the 4.10/9.25 gearset (when it was offered) has a lower load/tow rating than the 3.92.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 69718 miles
 

Burla

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lower gear ratio lower torque, which means it will tow less then higher torque, obviously.
 

Dusty

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lower gear ratio lower torque, which means it will tow less then higher torque, obviously.
Yeah.

I guess when I read "go big..." it conveyed a message to me that 'larger is better,' which is not necessarily the case.

It may have been a mindset issue since I was at a small social gathering yesterday where eight or nine women were discussing the same concept, except the subject was different. Even then there was no firm agreement.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 69718 miles
 

rvance

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What wheel sizes are you running with the 3.55? I'd think you'd want the 3.55 with the 20" wheels.
The wheel size does not affect the diameter of the tire. They do weigh more though.
 

Wahrsuul

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So the overall tire size of the 17" vs the 20" is the same? Hm, hadn't looked into that. I do love the looks of the 20" on the 4th gens over the 17".
 

tcp2133

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3.55 is the sweet spot, almost zero effect on MPG's, yet substantially higher towing capacity. 3.55 all day long and twice on Sundays!
Will this upgrade require new axles?
 
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