sputnik

I know this is a site primarily for deisels, but ,ya'll may be able to help with this question. I'm soon ordering a 2500 Ram with the 5.7l and 5-spd auto. About monthly I'll pull horse and (tall) trailer 1-2 hrs at 75 mph. Would I be better off with the 4.10 (to keep the RPMs up,and how much would they be up?) or the 3.73. Would my around town mileage suffer appreciably? My current F150 w/5.4 and 3.7 or so down shifts alot w/any grade , obviously not in it's sweet spot. Thanks.

PistolWhipt

Sputnik,<br> I ran a 95 1500 with the 5.2 for quite a while with 3.55 gears. I pulled a friends cadillac about 150 miles thru the hills and thought that I was never gonna make it.<br> When I swapped to 4.11's, a whole new truck emerged !<br>I was able to tow my 29' trailer through the hills of Socal.<br>Not fast mind you, but she'd get the job done and much easier on the engine. The 10-12 thousand foot Rockies was another story which lead to me getting the deisel that I have now.<br><br> Mileage suffered with the lower gears, I suppose. I never really paid too much attention to that. I didn't buy a big truck for gas mileage. (Gas prices weren't up where they are now though ... I'm singing a different tune now).<br><br> Hope this helped, bottom line is that I would suggest getting the 4.11's.<br>PISTOL

Stamey

You REALLY should try and get a diesel if at all possible. Besides the fact that it will pull the trailer with the 3.54 gears, diesels get better fuel mileage, especially when towing, and they last much longer than gassers.<br>I have towed 7-9K with mine, with 3.54 gears, in moderate hills, and it hardly ever came out of OD.<br>If you have to stay with the gasser, the 4.10 would be the best choice.<br><br>Chris

erics76

We've got a 98 3500 with the V-10 and 4.10 gears. I couldn't see pulling anything with 3.55 gears. Unlike diesel engines, gas ones don't make much power down low, and you'll need the 4.10's to get going. I would suggest the diesel too. We've got a 02 truck set up just like the V-10, but it's a HO diesel. It's amazing how much difference there is pulling. Oh, and gas mileage too. V-10=7-9mpg, Diesel=14-19

Lil Dog

I have a 96 2500 4X4 with the other 5.9 <br><br>It has the 3.55 gears and it sucks on the highway. I rev about 2000 Rpm at 78 MPH in OD and no low end power to pull with. I don't tow with it either. <br><br>If you are going gas, get the 4.10 and be happy with it. The way the Hemi is spec'd you need the RPM for the full HP available and to tow.<br><br>J-eh