Towing- results

[ronheater70]

Well a few months agi I was considering skipping 4:10's and going right to 4:56 and getting rid of the 3:73's.
This weekend I had my first real world test with the 3:73's with the new heavier camper I traded for this winter.

SO I have an approx unloaded weight of about 8800 pounds based on dry camper advertised weight and adding propane and batteries. I had the clothes and necessities and all food and drinks for 4 teenage girls, myself and mywife, plus alll camping necessities like chairs, firewood, hoses, cables, camp stove, leveling blocks a bunch of concrete blocks etc. Plus 6 people in the cab. Im guessing the traile was around 9700 or so pounds all loaded up.. Just guessing But I was heavy.. I mean 4 teenage girls, the glamour accesories alone were an extra 100 pounds.

IN short I was plenty Happy. I was able to hold 5th gear with little trouble and even some minor hills was taken in 5th. 4th gear got me up everything on the interstate and 3rd was only used on the back roads when speeds dropped below 55 mph on some longer steeper hills. I will note speeds dropped because I chose them too. I could have went faster But chose not to on that section of 2 lane.
I kept my interstate speeds around 62 mph average, again by choice.

10.5 mpg going, 9.9 coming back, mix of hills and flat!

 

[sandawilliams]

I've been running 3.73's for years now pulling about 8000 with another 1200 in the bed and no problems in the mountains of Colorado.

 

[Mustangmike66]

Well a few months agi I was considering skipping 4:10's and going right to 4:56 and getting rid of the 3:73's.
This weekend I had my first real world test with the 3:73's with the new heavier camper I traded for this winter.

SO I have an approx unloaded weight of about 8800 pounds based on dry camper advertised weight and adding propane and batteries. I had the clothes and necessities and all food and drinks for 4 teenage girls, myself and mywife, plus alll camping necessities like chairs, firewood, hoses, cables, camp stove, leveling blocks a bunch of concrete blocks etc. Plus 6 people in the cab. Im guessing the traile was around 9700 or so pounds all loaded up.. Just guessing But I was heavy.. I mean 4 teenage girls, the glamour accesories alone were an extra 100 pounds.

IN short I was plenty Happy. I was able to hold 5th gear with little trouble and even some minor hills was taken in 5th. 4th gear got me up everything on the interstate and 3rd was only used on the back roads when speeds dropped below 55 mph on some longer steeper hills. I will note speeds dropped because I chose them too. I could have went faster But chose not to on that section of 2 lane.
I kept my interstate speeds around 62 mph average, again by choice.

10.5 mpg going, 9.9 coming back, mix of hills and flat!

Safe to say you have the HEMI?


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[ronheater70]

Safe to say you have the HEMI?


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Yes, the 6.4

 

[ronheater70]

I've been running 3.73's for years now pulling about 8000 with another 1200 in the bed and no problems in the mountains of Colorado.

Well when I pay to have a new rear end in this thing after camping season Im going to stick with the 3:73's i think. Theres only one place I go in WV that is fairly mountainous and I know it will struggle more there, but this trip I went on is typical of about 80% of my towing terrain.

 

[Mustangmike66]

Yes, the 6.4

Wow ok. I posted in the 6.4 thread last night that I was unsure that engine and trans combo. This is good to hear.


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[NewBlackDak]

Well when I pay to have a new rear end in this thing after camping season Im going to stick with the 3:73's i think. Theres only one place I go in WV that is fairly mountainous and I know it will struggle more there, but this trip I went on is typical of about 80% of my towing terrain.

I don’t see any reason not to go to 4.10s if you’re already making changes. You can feel the difference, and many report the same or better mileage from them.
I live in Utah, and I have to tow over a pass in literally every direction to get out. My trailer weights about 7500 lbs loaded out and the cab is always full. I normally have the bed full of bikes, water totes, and fuel for the generator. I can hold speed anywhere when I chose to, but I normally let it lug down for better mileage.


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[ronheater70]

I don’t see any reason not to go to 4.10s if you’re already making changes. You can feel the difference, and many report the same or better mileage from them.
I live in Utah, and I have to tow over a pass in literally every direction to get out. My trailer weights about 7500 lbs loaded out and the cab is always full. I normally have the bed full of bikes, water totes, and fuel for the generator. I can hold speed anywhere when I chose to, but I normally let it lug down for better mileage.


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I'm 4x4 so Id have to swap the front as well. Im already ticked Im paying to replace something the dealer should pay to replace since I just turned 11K miles on the truck but all that info is in another thread. if my WV trip turns out to be a horrible experience then I may consider it .

 

[NewBlackDak]

11K, and you’re replacing stuff?! You need to go above the dealers head.


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[22hemi13]

I have a 2014 2500 4x4 crewmab long bed with the 5.7 and 3:73 gears. I pull through Texas hill country gooseneck with cattle and it seems fine. For as often as I need to haul heavy it is more than sufficient. I try not to look at my gas mileage cause will. It SUCKS! But that’s part of it.

 

[mtofell]

Good news OP.... thanks for the report. I'm in roughly the same weight range but maybe 1-2K higher and a 5th wheel. Also, I'm out west with some pretty steep hills. Overall, it gets the job done just fine.

It's funny all the micromanaging and worrying we do with these trucks (I'm the worst offender, for sure). 25 years ago we were just happy to have the things move. These days, any truck within it's weight ratings tows like an absolute dream in a relative sense.

 

[ronheater70]

11K, and you’re replacing stuff?! You need to go above the dealers head.


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In the "General discussion" area I posted a thread ( I think its currently on page 2 or 3) "2 dealerships failed to fix my rear diff so Im paying to do it myself" It goes into a long explanation. In short, the rear diff has a whine, two dealerships think its normal, and I dont trust the dealerships to set up the diff so I am paying a shop to put a new rear end in for piece of mind. I also paid 250 bucks to have the rear diff diagnosed because after a total of I think 6 visits or so for the problem, no one had even took the rear diff cover off to look at it at the dealership.

 

[ronheater70]

Good news OP.... thanks for the report. I'm in roughly the same weight range but maybe 1-2K higher and a 5th wheel. Also, I'm out west with some pretty steep hills. Overall, it gets the job done just fine.

It's funny all the micromanaging and worrying we do with these trucks (I'm the worst offender, for sure). 25 years ago we were just happy to have the things move. These days, any truck within it's weight ratings tows like an absolute dream in a relative sense.

Thats my thought, it pulls it well and unless my trip to WV brings headaches I dont think I'll swap out the gears and just stick with the 3:73 when I have the shop put in the new gear set in the fall. AT least that way I dont need to pay to have the front as well.

I was honestly pleased.. And I have to say I REALLY like the stability of this truck.. Its really a great experience towing. I cant tell I have another 3,5K behind me compared to my lighter trailer. If anything the heavier trailer seems more stable.