There seems to be many more 3.43 differentials out there than the 3.73. Those of you more in the know, is one much better than the other to pull a 12.5K (empty) 5th wheel?
Thanks for the help!
Lonney Wade said
12:14 PM Apr 5, 2014
The 3.73 will pull a little more weight with ease, more acceleration especial on the big hills. The gears will allow the exhaust brake to work a little better because of the lower gears. With the higher gear 3.43 with a heavy load the truck will be a little doggy with power, just a little. Now when you go to the 4500 series trucks and up they put 4.88 gears in the trucks, that's what allows the trucks to pull so much more weight, if they put 3.43 or 3.73 gears in the 4500 series trucks they would be a dog again with very little pulling power when pulling the weight they were design for. Just things I have learned in my younger days, boy do I miss the younger me.
Lonney
lindy said
01:31 PM Apr 5, 2014
The reason for more 3.43 gears is easy - Fuel Economy, with veh makers having to meet newer CAFE standards on way is with higher gear ratios.
Bill and Linda said
03:30 PM Apr 5, 2014
DebbieM wrote:
There seems to be many more 3.43 differentials out there than the 3.73. Those of you more in the know, is one much better than the other to pull a 12.5K (empty) 5th wheel?
Thanks for the help!
As a simple answer: 3.73 for towing. Hard to imagine a 3.43 for towing unless the truck is only used occasionally for towing a very light utility trailer.However, you naturally need to review all the specifications of the truck in addition to the rear end ratio.If the trailer is 12.5K empty, then what will it be loaded? I’ll bet it could scare 15K fully loaded. Naturally that is what matters in addition to the fully loaded pin weight.I’d sure consider a diesel if that is not already your thought.
VanMar said
07:01 PM Apr 5, 2014
I guess the trucks you're looking at are Fords because with Chevys, all you can get in a diesel dually is a 3:73. Are all of the trucks you're looking at diesels with DRWs? I think with SRWs you can get the higher speed gears...at least in a GM. I think you decided to go with DRWs, didn't you? If you have a choice, go with a 3:73...just my two cents.
HighwayRanger said
08:49 AM Apr 12, 2014
How big of a difference will 4.10 rear end make? We looked at a 2014 Ram 3500 DRW with the Cummins/Aisin combo. We were told they are available with 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 ratios. Your choice. Would the 3.73 be the best middle ground for torque and decent mileage? We intend to pull a fiver with a max gvwr of 18500 lbs.
Thanks,
Roy
Lonney Wade said
11:43 AM Apr 12, 2014
Roy, 3.73 is a very good gear, the 4.10 will give you more pulling power on the hills but your RPMs will go up as well and your gas mileage will go down. I'm pulling a 5 wheel at about close to 15000 pounds loaded and have plenty of power with the 3.73 gears, I get 10, 12, one time 14 MPG on a flat road, 63mph at 1700rpms with a Chevy diesel. 3.73 would be the best middle ground for torque and decent mileage.
Lonney
-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:44:44 AM
-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:46:19 AM
There seems to be many more 3.43 differentials out there than the 3.73. Those of you more in the know, is one much better than the other to pull a 12.5K (empty) 5th wheel?
Thanks for the help!
The 3.73 will pull a little more weight with ease, more acceleration especial on the big hills.
The gears will allow the exhaust brake to work a little better because of the lower gears.
With the higher gear 3.43 with a heavy load the truck will be a little doggy with power, just a little.
Now when you go to the 4500 series trucks and up they put 4.88 gears in the trucks, that's what allows the trucks to pull so much more weight, if they put 3.43 or 3.73 gears in the 4500 series trucks they would be a dog again with very little pulling power when pulling the weight they were design for.
Just things I have learned in my younger days, boy do I miss the younger me.
Lonney
As a simple answer: 3.73 for towing. Hard to imagine a 3.43 for towing unless the truck is only used occasionally for towing a very light utility trailer. However, you naturally need to review all the specifications of the truck in addition to the rear end ratio. If the trailer is 12.5K empty, then what will it be loaded? I’ll bet it could scare 15K fully loaded. Naturally that is what matters in addition to the fully loaded pin weight. I’d sure consider a diesel if that is not already your thought.
I guess the trucks you're looking at are Fords because with Chevys, all you can get in a diesel dually is a 3:73. Are all of the trucks you're looking at diesels with DRWs? I think with SRWs you can get the higher speed gears...at least in a GM. I think you decided to go with DRWs, didn't you? If you have a choice, go with a 3:73...just my two cents.
Thanks,
Roy
Roy, 3.73 is a very good gear, the 4.10 will give you more pulling power on the hills but your RPMs will go up as well and your gas mileage will go down.
I'm pulling a 5 wheel at about close to 15000 pounds loaded and have plenty of power with the 3.73 gears, I get 10, 12, one time 14 MPG on a flat road, 63mph at 1700rpms with a Chevy diesel.
3.73 would be the best middle ground for torque and decent mileage.
Lonney
-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:44:44 AM
-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:46:19 AM