RLS

I have not owned a diesel and I have only test driven a few in the last weeks.<br>This may be a stupid question but If I am going to drop $40,000 I want to get the best truck. I realy like the Dodge but I drove the Ford 6.0 and it was smoother at highway speeds. <br><br>I drove a 6 speed HO and the California SO and both seemd to need one more gear at highway speeds. The RPMs were between 2000 and 2200 and it felt like one more shift would smooth things out. Is this common and do you notice this after a few miles.<br><br>Both had 3.73 rear ends.<br><br>.

FiverBob

RLS,<br>I have a 4.10 rear end and find the truck very nice at 70. New to diesel will give you the feeling you might want another gear. And, after a gasser, the feeling of the torque makes you think you are in a lower gear - - accellerates too quick at 60. As for the ride, there is no comparison between the 2wd Dodge 3500 and the Ford 350. The Dodge holds the road like a leach and has a much better feel in cornering and in bumps. 2000 to 2200 is the sweet spot for the Cummins. You put one more gear on that and you would not do good towing at 60 to 65 - - you would have to gear down to tow.<br><br>Bob

RLS

Bob,<br><br>Thanks thats what I needed to hear. You are right about the ride. I am looking at 4X4 and they feel like sport cars. They feel more nimbel than the Ford or the Chevy.<br><br>The the Ford 6.0 truns about 1800 RPMs and I think down shift may be very common when towing. They are smooth at 70.

OH Sick

Fiver, your right about the extra gear. I have a &quot;3.what ever&quot; rear end and I have to pull my 30' 5th wheel up between 70 to 75 MPH just to keep the RPM near 2000. If I drop my speed down to 65 the engine is only turning around 1600. And I drive it at that speed when I cant go 70-75 and it doesn't seem to be hurting it any. One thing that has bewildered a lot of my friends is that the oil on the dip stick is always HONEY colored, it has never turned black between oil changes. I thought that was neat too.<br><br>Robert <br>

moss2904

Robert,<br> I am experiencing the same thing pulling my fiver that you described. I makes me think that maybe I should have got the 4.10 rear end.<br> I have to pull the trailer faster than I am used to so I don't have to shift on the rolling hills while going down the interstate here in Texas.<br> I drove Ford F-350 PS auto's with the 3.73 for several years it was happiest around 62 mph or so when pulling on the interstate.<br> I am very happy with the ride of the Dodge.<br> RlS, one thing I can comment on is I drove the Ford Powerstroke for years. I noticed a difference in the Dodge diesel that I had to get used to after driving the Powerstroke for so long. I would imagine with the new 6.0 the difference would be even greater. I would guess if you are use to driving a gas engine the 6.0 is going to feel more like what you are use to that the Cummins is.<br> I am sure if I jumped in a Power stroke and drove it now I would think it seemed weird running up to 4000 Rpm's before shifting.<br>FWIW Randy<br> <br>

OH Sick

Randy, your right on. For the most part I dont mind going 70 to 75 but you sure have to keep your eyes on the road and drive about one mile ahead. Over a 6 to 8 hr day driving it sure does sap a guy, because just going down the road is not bad its thinking about the quick stop or emergence stop you might have to make. I know there is no way I could bring that rig to fast short stop. I think the 4.10 would be better for me too.<br><br>Robert<br>

RLS

Thanks for all the great info. I was going the same direction but wanted to hear it from people that have been there. <br><br>All your answers bring up one more question; How much are you guys pulling that make you want the 4.10 rear end? I have about a 4000 pound boat and trailer plus a camper shell that when full adds another 1000 pounds or so. I am going to order the HO and don't mind shifting but I don't want to drive much more than 70. I pull the boat in alot of the same areas that Phil talks about. Here in California the speed limit for trucks or autos with a trailer is 55 so 75 is pushing it. Will I be able to cruise at 65 - 70?

FiverBob

RLS,<br><br>60 mph is 2000 rpms with the 4.10. 70 is 2200 rpm. That is the sweet spot on the Cummins. I needed the rating so I went for the 4.10. Now that I have hooked up, I am glad I did. With the 17&quot; wheels, it is somewhat higher than the 4.10 with 16&quot;. I am getting good mileage and feel I can still run along at 55 towing on the flat in 6th and still be good. I would not want to drop much lower than that with 16000 pounds behind me.<br><br>No more weight than you are going to handle, you would probably be OK. I don't want to drive over 70 - 75 even empty, so 4.10 was right for me.<br><br>Bob

bulabula

I pull an 8500 lb boat and am delighted with the 4.10's. I did a 400 mile round trip to NYC this weekend w/4 people aboard, doing about 75 on the turnpike(s), with some driving around in mid-town Manhattan, and avg'd 18.5mpg for the trip.<br><br>

BRDIESEL

03 4x4 long box s/o 5 spd.<br>2100 rpm at 70 mph with 3.73 11.50 anti-spin<br>stock tires. 265/70R17. mph is around 19 - 20

RLS

BRdiesel<br><br>I saw the new ride it looks great. I drive through Hollister now and then. I think I stopped there to look at what they had. I am going to order an HO 6 spd. soon. Enjoy the new ride and thanks for the info.

spinlocker

My 3.73 4x2 6spd turns 2000rpm at 67mph, 265/17x70s. <br><br>I can only imagine what this beast would do with a seventh gear.........the surge passing cars beats my old 97 with the 360. That is, until I put the Vortech on it.<br><br>Which reminds me.....<br><br>I go to pass, and it is one of those 'stand on the gas' situations. The truck pulls up smooth and solid and up around, say, 80mph, I begin to let off the gas, and it SURGES forward. I also find this when under some amount of power shifting under acceleration. My truck has 3000miles. The dealer says let it 'settle out for 10K'. Some folk say the governor needs adjusting. Some say that's just the nature. It's not unsafe or anything, pretty impressive, actually, but I'd like to have that power with the pedal to the metal, not at 90%.<br><br>Is this behavior normal?<br>

bulabula

I've noticed the surge as well, but figured its the nature of the Beast.

LinearX

My '03 at 80 is turning about 2450 rpm. It's an HO with 3.73 gear.<br><br>I'm kind of wondering what kind of rpm decrease any of you guys that are running taller tires have seen on the highway at speed. Anyone?<br><br>I'm looking to hit between 2000 and 2200 at 80 on the highway (since I can't seem to go slower than that for some reason).

Push Rod

I'm running 3.73s in my 03, and towing up to 12K thus far, I think that particular gearing is ideal. 60 mph - 2000 RPM, and the truck just pulls along. When I get into hills, I've been dropping a gear into 5th just to keep power up, but the sweet spot (on my truck) seems to be around that 2000 RPM mark (versus my 01 at 2200 RPM).<br><br>Rod