Chester

I just picked up my 03 Ram Dually on Saturday. It has the HO with 48RE, 4x4 with 4.10LS. With less than 1000miles the computer is reading about 17mpg. I expect this to get better with a few miles. My 01 2500 HO 6sp 2X4 with 4.10 LS got about 3 mpg better than that. I'm assuming that the dual wheels and the 4x4 transfer case is costing me the difference in mileage. I sure hope I can get it to the 20mpg range once broken in.<br><br>Did you guys notice an increase in mileage after you put some miles on it???

TON4FUN

Chester,<br><br>I have the same setup and am getting about 14.5 MPG running around town. I have 5K on my truck and have not seen any increase and I don't expect to until I hit the 20K mark since I don't do alot of towing currently, soon to change. I have a heavy foot and like to drive the truck about 80 MPH down the highway. Top speed with the 4.10's is about 105 MPH, I tested it :. I hope that gives some insight.

Chester

Thanks Ton4Fun. Your foot sounds a little heavier than mine so far and much of my time has been highway. I'm trying to get a few miles on before I head to the east coast in 3 weeks with my 5er hooked on. This is my 3rd Ram with the Cummins and I love each one better than the last. This one is certainly the best so far. Nice and quiet and quite lively with the 4.10 rear end. The final drive ratio must be higher than my 01 Ram 6sp. RPM at 60 on the 03 is about 1900. My 01 was spinning just over 2000. Could be the tire combo as well.

Robert Venable

[quote author=TDC link=board=20;threadid=11560;start=0#109765 date=1046366889]<br>Everyone is talking about five and six speed autos. As you can see from my signature I have had a five speed auto and I can tell you I did not like it. Yes it shifted smooth but on the slightest hill it would go in and out of OD. This new 48re shifts just right for me and it holds in OD much better. I hope they keep the four speed.<br>[/quote]<br><br>I don't think Dodge would have a problem with jumping in and out of OD if they went to a 5 or 6 speed auto. I don't have hard numbers for either of Ford and Chevy's Automatics (does anyone have the gear ratio's for the new Ford 5 speed auto, Chevy's Allison, and the new 48RE?), but I would be willing to bet that there OD gear ratios would not be very far off. The main difference would be that there aditional gears allow less of an RPM drop between shifts, there for keeping the engine in the torque curve better for increased fuel mileage, and less strain on the engine, not to mention the increased acceleration times.<br><br>You will find that Dodge's, be it gas or diesel engines, always hold OD alot better/longer, and hunt less between gears, than Ford and Chevy. I think this is mostly because Dodge's always have a torque curve that starts at lower RPMs where you're normaly driving at in OD. If you look at both Chevy and Ford, there torque curves don't start getting up there untill quite a few 100 RPMs higher than Dodges. So, they need to shift out of OD more often so they can stay in the power band of the engine.

Vittorio

Well, I am anxious to see how much better my 04' Cummins/48R will handle the mountain than my 02' PSD/Auto. <br><br>A couple of days ago I was pulling my Gooseneck <br>(weight 4000#) with a load (#8000) up the mountain and had a difficult time on the 4 x 4 grade (maybe 7% or 8%). I think the PSD has about 300 lb of torque but it was very tough going. While I was in 4 x 4 hi I had to stop three times to cool down the tranny temp which was in the yellow. Pretty disappointing.<br>

spots

[quote author=Vittorio link=board=20;threadid=11560;start=15#150368 date=1055890737]<br>Well, I am anxious to see how much better my 04' Cummins/48R will handle the mountain than my 02' PSD/Auto. <br><br>A couple of days ago I was pulling my Gooseneck <br>(weight 4000#) with a load (#8000) up the mountain and had a difficult time on the 4 x 4 grade (maybe 7% or 8%). I think the PSD has about 300 lb of torque but it was very tough going. While I was in 4 x 4 hi I had to stop three times to cool down the tranny temp which was in the yellow. Pretty disappointing.<br><br>[/quote]<br><br>Ahhh just another reason to have a clutch and hand shaking device in a truck.... ;D ;D

Vittorio

Well, I looked over those new 48R inards and they look pretty stout so I'm going to give one a try. As you say there Spots, an ol' trusty gear jammer is usually lined out dependable.