3.73 or 4.10????

[CygnusSailor]

I am starting to put together my TV. Most of it is fairly simple. I am looking at a Dodge 3500 with a standard rear axle (not a dually). An interior fabric that is dog friendly and most of the bells and whistles for options. My question is with regard to the axle ratio. Should I go with the 3.73 or the 4.10? If my wife has anything to say about it (she always does!!!) I will be towing a CF30SK.

Thanks,

[Hunter11]

Gary, I have the truck you are discribing only an 05 and I have the 3.73. It has plenty of power to handle the PP. I think the 4.10 would be over kill for the 30SK and would get you a little less fuel mileage. I had this same truck when we had our Cruiser and I could get as high as 13 mpg pulling it. I have been debating selling my truck and upgrading to a dually but I would still stay with the 3.73 unless we decide to upgrade to a larger/heavier trailer in which case I would look at the 4.10. Let us know what you get.

[BipeFlier]

I agree with Hunter 11. Unless you are going to be in big mountains most of the time, go with the 3.73. I have an '01 Duramax with a similar ratio and it pulls the 30SK very well. The 4.10 will hurt the fuel mileage.

[Ridgeman]

I guess I would say it depends on what else you're going to use the truck for and if you plan to leave everything fairly stock. If you are thinking of getting a diesel with an automatic tranny and keeping stock or close to stock diametertires on it then I think the 373's are perfect and you will have plenty of power and optimum milage.



However if you plan to put 35" diameter tires on it like many dofor looks or off roading you may want the 410's.



I can only relate to my truck which has the 48E, 4 speed, auto transmission. I believe the newer Dodges have a 5 or 6 speed auto and I have no idea what the top gear ratios are on them. I currently have 33.5" dia tires onmy Dodgebecause I want the little extra ground clearance it gives me. I use my truckoff road quite a bit when hunting and I run into some pretty nasty ruts in some of those 4X4 roads.I don't like to tow my Crusier over 65 mph and I would prefer 60. But that only gets me into the 1600 RPM range when cruising which is a little low and costs me in fuel milage. I still have plenty of pulling power and I do drive in the big mountainson every trip .In fact I live in the mountains.I wanted to go with 35" tires but I now feel that willput the RPM's too far below the peak torque for my engine. Given my use of my truck, I wish I had gone with the 410 gear.

However if you are planning to go with the standard transmission , I think the top gear islower than the auto so that would have to be considered.

[fhenn]

I have an 05 with the 373 six peed manual I would not get the 410 in the dodge, remeber that torque gets it moving, and the torque curve on a Dodge starts at around 1100 and is a flt curve

[Cobra909]

3.73 gears, 4spd Auto, running 65-70 MPH on cruise control from the Louisiana coast to Dallas/FW.

Get between 10-13mpg (hand calculated) depending on head winds.

[papa2]

Seems to me you're here in the state shaped like a mitten. If you intend to pull primarily in the flatlands of the Great Lakes/Midwest and the mountains not so much ... then the 3.73 makes perfect sense. Ridgeman has it right if you're going to tweak the truck and have the bigger tires or pull primarily in the mountains.

Are you going to pull the trigger on the CF30SK at the Grand Rapids RV show?

[mbinohio]

I had a 250 with 3.73 not bad, on my dually I have 4.10, I personally think that they are great, a bit slower off the line but once your moving they are pretty hard to beat, if you are going to do any more than flat line pulling then go with the 4.10's, my truck is only used to pull the rest of the time it sits, I am planning on a bigger and heavier unit and I don't want to have to buy another truck...I also have the limited slip axel, and I really don't believe ther is much difference in fuel economy.....

[bigbear]

Just a suggestion, I would go with the 4.10. Just in case you see and like another heavier unit down the road. This way you have the truck to pull it. Then you won't have to worry about a TV down the road.

[Wontontr]

Go with 4:10. My neighbor had truck with same engine as me, and had 3:73. He would kick out of overdrive on slight hill, butmine stays in overdrive unless there is a long or steep grade. I get 12-13 towing my 30SK withFord duallyand 7.3 powerstroke. Don't think there is that much difference in mpg, and you will appreciated 4:10 in mountains.

[Chuck N. Wined]

I am assuming you are going the diesel route. I have an 04 2500 with the hemi and it has the 4.10. I went with the 4.10 in order to get a better towing capacity but the diesel should be "good to go" with the 3.73

Lonnie

[gtoguy1967]

Another vote for the 373. this is going to get you better MPG. As the others have stated the 410 will be good if you plan on upgrades or mountain towing. 373 is the only option I had in getting my truck.



These gears can easily be changed down the road if for some reason the one you picked is not working. I would guess for arond $450 you could have any gear you weant put in, I always thought Dodge offered a 390 or 391 gear ?

[Hunter11]

The 3.90 is only available on the Dodge 1/2 ton. My wife's 1/2 ton with the Hemi has the 3.90 turning 20" wheels.

[gtoguy1967]

Oh, I thought so. So she really has a 342,,,, If that ?

[Hunter11]

If so it has a lot of power for a 3.42 and gets lousy mileage.....