Anyone with a 3500 dually, 4:10 gears and the six speed AISIN?

WI Huck

WI Huck

Where does the time go?
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Feb 25, 2008
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I am thinking of upgrading to a new truck. The towing capacity now is amazing! I looked into the 4500 and 5500 expecting better towing ratings. The 3500's have them beat! To get the highest towing capacity the 4:10 gears are required. In the past these high ratios = poor fuel mileage due to the high RPM running at freeway speeds. I am curious with this new over drive transmission what speeds you are seeing, with stock wheels and tires, at 2000 RPM?

Thanks!
 
I got one Mark. MPGs have never been anything to speak of. I have averaged 12.4 over the life of the truck. I put a Bully Dog on it at 5k hoping for some mileage gains but didn't see much. On the plus side, pulling 14k I still see the same mileage. All that being said, I drove it empty (just over 9k with tools) to your shop for the class with Zach both days. The first day I ran 75 @ just over 2k and saw 14 on the evic. The second day I ran 68 @ 1900ish and the evic was showing 18. That is the best I have ever seen in this truck.

Truck is a 2013 3500 crew 8ft bed dually 4x4 with 385hp motor and aisin and 4:10 gears

Nick
 
Thanks Nick! Normal these days is 16 MPG and that is a good day in the summer. With the winter fuel it is even less.

I did the math and here is what I found;

2015 Ram 3500 Dually Laramie

In over drive the transmission is .63 to 1
I found the stock tire for a Laramie 3500 is P235/80R17 = 31.8 inch diameter
Engine RPM at 2000

4.10 ratio = 73 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 28,900 lbs
3.73 ratio = 81 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 23,400 lbs
3.42 ratio = 88 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 16,750 lbs

2015 Ram 5500 Laramie Cab & Chassis

225/70R19.5 tire = 31.9 (assuming the transfer case is the same)

4.88 ratio = 62 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 28,650 lbs
4.44 ratio = 68 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 17,150 lbs
4.10 ratio = 73 MPH Maximum towing capacity = 17,150 lbs

So why go with the 5500 and give up almost 10,000 pounds of towing capacity at the same 4.10 ratio? I would have thought the 5500 would be higher. The wheels are 19.5 instead of the 17's on the 3500. Are the rotors and brakes larger on the 5500?
 
Nick, we should have put your truck on the dyno to find the peak torque number and what RPM it was at. That would be the sweet spot to run for maximum MPG.
 
WI Huck said:
So why go with the 5500 and give up almost 10,000 pounds of towing capacity at the same 4.10 ratio?
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I would guess it's because of the difference in payload? The 5500 has around 4,000 lbs more available than the 3500. So for a dump truck/flat bed it makes sense.

However for trailering, even with a 20% pin weight (of the 28,900lb) at 5,780lb the 3500 is still within the payload limit of just over 6,000lb. Plus the GCWR is higher for the 3500??
 
My '13 3500 cclb dually with 4.10's and the aisin got horrible milage stock (9 to 12 mpg). Now its completely deleted with Hardways 90hp street tune and I'm averaging 15-17 mpg unloaded highway.
 
What I am struggling with is to come up with a logical reason to upgrade to a newer truck. Yes, I like new and shiny, and that is what is driving me. But my logical side would justify moving into a medium duty that would handle the load better. I specked out a trailer with triple 8,000 pound axles. That puts the maximum weight of 24,000. To my surprise I find out the 3500 will handle that better than the 5500. So what am I really getting? I already have a tricked out 2005 3500 with 600 rear wheel HP. What will a new 2015 3500 gain me over my 2005? :doh:
 
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WI Huck said:
What I am struggling with is to come up with a logical reason to upgrade to a newer truck. Yes, I like new and shiny, and that is what is driving me. But my logical side would justify moving into a medium duty that would handle the load better. I specked out a trailer with triple 8,000 pound axles. That puts the maximum weight of 24,000. To my surprise I find out the 3500 will handle that better than the 5500. So what am I really getting? I already have a tricked out 2005 3500 with 600 rear wheel HP. What will a new 2015 3500 gain me over my 2005? :doh:
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You're paying for the niceities of the new stuff really. I'm sure you could spec the turbos and tuning on your truck to tow much better than a new one rated for 30k.

And as far as medium duty goes, Ford and Ram make some nice stuff, but I've spent a lot of time in some other brands and was not at all impressed, so a bigger class rating and price tag doesn't always get you the best stuff.
 
A friend of mine had a 2005 Kodiak. You can see in in my video. I have seen what that thing could do, and it was impressive! The axles, brakes and the whole setup was a step up. It towed like a beast after we turned up the power and took off the speed limiter. I can't say I will be "happy" at the 400 HP level but the reliability of a new truck would be nice on longer trips to places like KY.
 
WI Huck said:
A friend of mine had a 2005 Kodiak. You can see in in my video. I have seen what that thing could do, and it was impressive! The axles, brakes and the whole setup was a step up. It towed like a beast after we turned up the power and took off the speed limiter. I can't say I will be "happy" at the 400 HP level but the reliability of a new truck would be nice on longer trips to places like KY.
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Yeah, that's the other part. My truck gets a really good going through before I tow cross country with it. Last big haul I lost a trans cooler line in the middle of Iowa... That was fun.
 
I went to the Chicago auto show last weekend. I compared the 3500 and the 4500. The 4500 is a much better truck all around. The axles are bigger, the brakes are bigger, and the tires are a better commercial style. Even though the 3500 is "rated" higher for hauling, with the 4.10 gear ratio, the 4500 would do a much better job at it. I did not see any reason to sell my 2005 3500 for a 2015 3500 other than a sticker that said the 2105 could haul more. I will keep my 2005 and run it again this year. If I do make a change it will be for the 4500. It is stupid though that according to the law the 4500 is no better than what I have now! It is another example of how screwed up our government is.
 
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