The new guy with towing questions!

[BanditPaul]

I'm about to order my new Ram but wanted some opinions on gear ratios. I'm ordering a 1500 Limited w/the 5.7 Hemi and would prefer the 3:21 over the 3:92 just for better mileage when I'm not towing.
Current truck is a Sierra 5.3 w/3:23 and works fine towing my 24' enclosed car hauler that is 8K loaded. I only tow about 3-4k miles a year. It seems to me the 3:21 would be fine but my dealer thinks I should go with the 3:92. BTW, I've been towing for many years and use a WD hitch. Just curious if any of you have experience towing with the 3:21?

 

[Ramrodd]

We towed my friends 8500lb travel trailer from upstate South Carolina to Bristol, TN. He has a 2017 1500 with the 3.21 ratio and the hemi with the 8 speed trans and it did great. The 8 speeds 1st gear ratio is very low so that’s why it towed so good. I had an older ram with the same hemi and 5 speed trans and 3.21 ratio and it was horrible to get the same trailer going. It did fine. But the 3.92 will do better. Thats just my experience. Good luck!


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[Riccochet]

I would go with the 3.92. You are not going to see much difference, if any, with gas mileage between the 3.21 and 3.92's and the 8 speed trans. Where you will notice a difference is in low end power.

 

[Neil E]

I would absolutely go with the 3.92.

4k miles is quite a bit and the gas mileage difference is not much.
If you want better gas mileage, just drive the speed limit (or a couple mph slower) and drive smoother.

Good luck, and welcome!

PS, it's much cheaper to add it at the factory than if you decide to change it down the road.

 

[Firebird]

My 2019 Ram with 5.7 and 3.92 gears, got better in town economy than my buddy's 2019 with 5.7 and 3.21 gears, it always pissed him off. Both were identical 4x2 Bighorns.

 

[Farmer Fran]

I am in he 3.92 camp. Mileage is not different unloaded and while the 3.21 will tow fine the 3.92 will tow better especially up in those weights.

How many miles you putting on the truck in a year?

 

[runamuck]

I dont know how your 5.3 sierra with 3.23's could tow that load so well. I traded my '17 sierra 5.3 with 3.42 gears because it struggled towing my 6000# travel trailer. my 1500 4x4 ram with 3.92 gears tows much better and is way more fun to drive. I often get 20 mpg on the highway when not towing and having the lower rear end gearing makes the truck more responsive when you need to step on it. sounds like you tow enough to make it worth getting the lower gears.

 

[Timsdually]

I had 4:10's and then for some reason I got a 3:93 thinking it would "help" with better mileage.

I am back with 4:10's.

 

[2019RamInSC]

2019 Ram 1500 Laramie hemi 4X4 3.92

Posted this on Thursday.


Just last week in the flats of I-95 in Florida. Towing a 2020 Surveyor. I experimented with different speeds and with no wind. Using the trucks calculations. For about 5 miles each time. I came up with 11 -12 MPG at 61 MPH. Any higher or lower it would drop off immediately into the 9s.

Your mileage may vary

Trailer Weight 6920 LBS
Gross Weight 14120 LBS

Yep 100 lbs over truck payload.

Doing 70 on cruise on slightly rolling hills. Empty truck. 22 MPG.

So yeah 3.92 !!!!!!!!
More Fun Per Gallon

 

[runamuck]

nice..the best I have got is 21.5 on a tank while driving from Jackson, wy thru Yellowstone and on to Sheridan. mostly 75 except in the park of course... towing my 6000# travel trailer at 68-69 I get 8.5-10. for some reason I can seem to go slower.

 

[Cactusmonkey]

We are on a 7 day trip to the beach pulling our 7 K pound trailer. Yesterday pulled over White Pass in Washington state. Some pretty good hills. My wife and I were talking about how good it is to have the 3.92 gears. This 1500 Ram with the Hemi and 3.92 gears pull like a dream. Smooth, strong and comfortable. Great combination!

 

[CKNOW29]

I personally would go with the 3.92 gears. There isn't that much difference in the mileage and you will notice it in the towing.

 

[ramffml]

It's actually the other way around. Once you're into 3rd gear there is absolutely 0 difference for towing (identical gear ratios are available to choose from for both trucks). But the MPG difference is significant when not towing, at least 3+ mpg due to a 400 to 500 rpm difference in final gear ratios.

 

[Ramrodd]

It's actually the other way around. Once you're into 3rd gear there is absolutely 0 difference for towing (identical gear ratios are available to choose from for both trucks). But the MPG difference is significant when not towing, at least 3+ mpg due to a 400 to 500 rpm difference in final gear ratios.

Ok so what mileage have you gotten with your 3.92 truck and then your 3.21? Then same for towing?


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[RAMTRPR]

what is the max weight a 1500 can tow? and can you increase that weight with new hitch or gears and motor upgrades?

my truck has 4.56's but also 37" tires. I am shopping for a trailer now.

 

[Riccochet]

what is the max weight a 1500 can tow? and can you increase that weight with new hitch or gears and motor upgrades?

my truck has 4.56's but also 37" tires. I am shopping for a trailer now.

Look at your door sticker. Payload is going to be the deciding factor. Subtract the weight of passengers and gear from your payload and that's what you have to work with as far as tongue weight.

Generally, you should stay within 80% of your payload rating.

 

[ramffml]

Ok so what mileage have you gotten with your 3.92 truck and then your 3.21? Then same for towing?

I personally have gotten 25+ mpg, with MDS disabled in my 3.21.

There will be no real difference in MPG while towing. That's because the 3.21 only saves gas when its in 8th and at 500 rpms lower than the 3.92. But the 3.21 cannot tow in 8th because the hemi can't make enough power at those low rpms for towing decent loads.

what is the max weight a 1500 can tow? and can you increase that weight with new hitch or gears and motor upgrades?

my truck has 4.56's but also 37" tires. I am shopping for a trailer now.

It's payload that restricts you; more than likely you are limited to 8000 pounds or less and nothing you do in terms of hitch or gears or motor upgrades will fix that for you; you'll just tow the same weight with more available power. But you can never go past payload/gvwr/gawr limits.

 

[Ramrodd]

I personally have gotten 25+ mpg, with MDS disabled in my 3.21.QUOTE]

Nice how fast were you running?


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[ramffml]

Average of 63 mph for several hours.

 

[dhay13]

No upgrades of any kind can change your payload. It is what it is. Your payload includes passengers, the heavier tires and wheels, tonneau cover, heavier bumpers, cup of Starbucks in the cupholder, etc. Oh, and tongue weight...lol