Salesman calls and he's reading the window sticker "Truck has the 3.42 that you wanted." I went to see truck, sticker did say (under optional equipment)
6 speed manual transmission
3.42 Axle ratio
Mini floor console
When I arrived, he pointed to these lines and again said, "has the 3.42"
Later under optional, it does say
3.73 ratio
I bought the truck because I wanted the 3.42. I'm on the highway. Tow very little - have other Cummins.
Revs didn't seem right - had a build sheet printed for me. Yup - it's 3.73
I called dealer. Am going to meet with them. Any thoughts on how to approach this issue? They probably don't want the truck back.
(I've had truck for 3 weeks and have over 3000 miles on it.)
Thanks

 

Is it really all that bad with 3.73's? What is your mileage like? I am not a proponent of lower RPM for mileage, it doesn't work that way.

 

I have a 3.73 with manual trans and I get pretty good mileage on the highway. The motor doesn't feel stressed or wound up. Still, it sounds like the dealer lied. Maybe negotiate for a bunch of free maintenance servicings.

 

How do you figure the dealer lied? As it was mentioned the window sticker says 3:42 under the standard equipment and then it says 3:73 in the options category of the window sticker. The dealer didn't lie about anything. The truck was ordered and delivered with 3:73's.
The salesman might be a little quilty of telling the customer what he wants to hear, they all do that. But I think it comes down to the consumer in this case of not looking closer at the window sticker let alone doing a little more investigating to make sure he is getting what he wanted.

Jeff

 

Is that a 2500? I thought the standard for 2500's was 3.73 unless listed otherwise in options? So your sticker had two different ratio's both listed under optional? Weird.

 

I would consider you lucky, and here is why. Probably 70% of all the members on here put larger tires on their trucks anyway. When you install a larger size tire even if it is only 2 inches taller it has the same effect as raising(numerically lowering) your axle ratio.

For example, your stock 265/70R/17 tires are about 31.5" tall. Say you decide to go up to a 305/70R/17 tire which is about 34" tall. That would have the same effect as having 3.42 gears. Here is why:

(stock tire size/new tire size) X gear ratio = effective gear ratio

(31.5/34) X 3.73 = 3.43

So, by upsizing your tires, you have effectively changed your final gear ratio to 3.43.

This is the way I would approach it. If you do not plan on ever going to a larger tire size, you could take Dale K's advice and either see if you can get the dealer to change it or possibly obtain some concessions from the dealer to accept the vehicle as it is.

I feel that even though the salesman may not have outright lied to you, he may have intentionally deceived you by telling you what he though you wanted to hear.

Personally, I think the 305/70R/17 tires are the way to go. Bigger tires will make your truck look better, that tire size will fit on your 17x8 wheels, and it will give you the final gear ratio that you are looking for.

 

Thanks for the replies. To clarify. Both ratio's were listed under optional equipment. No axle ratio was listed in the standard equipment section of window sticker.
The 6 speed manual is an option. I had another dealer look at the sheet. THe 3.42 ratio and mini floor console were on indented lines under the manual tranny. He said that the indented lines are part of the package. SInce I got the manual and the mini floor console, he said I should have the 3.42.
Later in the options 3.73 is listed.
I don't think the dealer lied - maybe an honest mistake. In any case, I want the 3.42. Already up to 4000 miles.

 

What's the RPM's running 70 mph in OD?

MikeyB

 

339K, simple enough to verify, have your salesman run a VIP summary of your truck. No questions after getting that printout.

 

You're not going to get anything solid out of the dlr like a new truck or axle swap, so I'd play the hand you've been dealt and see what kind of freebies you can get for the mixup (whether it's on the sticker or not, he said it was 3.42's). Maybe a spray in liner and some free oil changes or something.
3.42's would be nice, wish I had 'em. Even thought the mileage doesn't go down with my engine spinning a couple hundred more rrr's wit 265 tires, the 285's I had on in the winter were nice just to hear it spinning a little lower.

Get what you can from the dealer and by the miles you're putting on it, just buy some 285/75s in a couple months when you need tires. They'll look better anyway compared to teh "donuts."

 

Sorry man I believe you on your own, it's a buyer beware world you worried about a axle ratio, look at my situation when I bought my truck in 07 I had the choice of a new 5.9L or the 6.7L I had no Idea that there was this emmisions crap on the exhaust of the 6.7, the build sheet only said Bluetec and at the time I didn't know what a Particulate filter was, and I did not see the window sticker until I found it in the glove box when I got the truck home, and read the owners manual. At times I which i had a 5.9 sitting in the yard, but my 6.7l has been a good truck so far.
IMO the 3.73 is perfect for towing and just running around, you have the manual tranny so you don't have the torque of the 6 speed auto 610 ft lbs compared to the auto 650 ft lbs

 

Hey folks,
Took awhile, but being persistent and not (too) agressive did the trick. Dealer is going to convert the 3.73 to 3.42. No cost to me. Parts are in and I drop the truck off next Tuesday pm (the 8th). Let you know how it goes.
Hope the guy knows how to set backlash!
On my other trucks, when I opened up the diff's to change the fluids. I drew a sketch of the wear patterns of the teeth on the ring and pinion. I'll change the fluids in the diffs when I get to 20K. (Now at 6K) Hopefully the wear pattern will be correct.
Cheers, Jim in CO

 

Im with dodge35000, Id throw a set of 35 inchers on that thing and never look back.

 

Why not both? I have 35" tires AND 3.42 gears and absolutely love my gearing. Hauled 20K behind the truck and nary a problem (aside from the clutch slipping at 61K miles).

Keep in mind folks, there is a significant gearing change between the 68RFE and G56. For those of your with the 68RFE saying that 3.73's are just right, your truck with 3.73's and 68RFE has right about the same final drive as a G56 truck with 3.42's. That's why 339K is wanting them. At 63mph in 6th gear, I am sitting at 1600RPM and 25RPM for every 1mph above/below that. I can't say enough good about the gearing, especially after riding in my father's '05 G56/3.73 where 60mph is 2000RPM. That gets annoying after a few hundred miles on the highway.

339K--Glad your dealer is working it out. I figured they might do that. When my father initially bought his '05, the dealer said if he wasn't happy with the 3.73's within the first 10K miles, they would swap them to 4.10's for free (2wd though). After seeing how the RPM's are in final drive with 3.73's, I couldn't imagine how that truck would howl at cruising speed with 4.10's.

 

Hwy driving I get 20-21 if I keep the rpm @ 2100 / 65 MPH, I like the 3.73's for pulling myself.

Dodge needs to offer a 3 spd (overdrive) transfer case this along with lock out hubs would make a big difference on fuel millage and component wear..