Community Forums

FamilyKamper · 09-18-2011, 07:37 PM

Any dodge owners hauling a 5 er. In the market for a truck but keep second guessing and not quite sure what to do. Have a tt now but will possibly upgrade to the 5th in a couple of years. Just want to know what is currently working. Truck will be commuter for 10 miles to work but for traveling in the summer months. Thanks for any advice.
Fk

RustyJC · 09-18-2011, 07:43 PM

If you're going to get the 68RFE 6-speed automatic, I'd go for the 4.10s. The 68RFE is a double overdrive transmission (i.e., 4th is direct 1:1, 5th and 6th gear are both overdrives); therefore, 60 MPH in 6th gear with the 4.10s is only 1612 RPM versus 1466 RPM with the 3.73s. With the 3500 duallies, GCWR and resultant trailer capacity is substantially greater with the 4.10 axle ratio.

Rusty

FamilyKamper · 09-18-2011, 08:50 PM

Thanks Rusty. What about the 2500? Or would you stick with the 3500.

RustyJC · 09-19-2011, 06:31 AM

It depends on the weight of the 5th wheel you're considering. Most SRW trucks, especially 2500s, towing heavier 5th wheels are running over their limited GVWR rating and perhaps even over their rear GAWR. This is because of the ~20% or more of its loaded weight that a 5th wheel will transfer to the truck as pin weight. There are a LOT of weight discussions on this forum that will go into more detail.

If you must get a SRW truck, go with the 3500 SRW as you get more GVWR for very little more money. If you're looking at a heavier 5th wheel such as ours, it's a no brainer - go with the dually.

Rusty

jmtandem · 09-19-2011, 08:34 AM

It depends on how heavy the fifth will be. I have a 3500 with 3.73 gears and would probably look for the 4.10's for towing over 13-14,000 pounds. I can't find any data that supports much fuel mileage difference between the two ratios especially when not towing.

Billieg · 09-19-2011, 08:35 AM

Get the 410's and a dually. The difference in fuel usage is not that much and you will have better pulling power and load capacity. The dually will handle better with the 5th and you won't have to worry so much about the weight. You will see a lot of people on here and other forums who are using a 250 to pull a large 5th and they are having major problems... wonder why....

FamilyKamper · 09-19-2011, 01:25 PM

Thank you all so much for the info. It has helped. Fk

CD · 09-19-2011, 09:41 PM

We have had 2 01 Dodge duallies. The first (wrecked @ 5 months) had the 354 rear end. I didn't like it because when you started up a hill you had to shift. The present one (410) does not do that. The first year we made the same trip from Wa. to Ca. with our TT (it weighs 9K). The fuel milage was about 1/2MPG difference. As for daily driver, I use an older low milage car that gets good milage instead of putting a lot miles on a $40K truck. After 10 1/2 years I have 86K on the truck. Before I retired I was driving a 70's model Datsun B210 that I was putting about 800 miles a week on. When I retired I sold it for almost as much as I paid for it.

tnd2 · 09-20-2011, 03:07 PM

We're running the 3.73's in a 04, so we have the std 5.9L not the 5.9L HO. Pulling on the flats interstate speeds the 3.73's do ok because we are in the torque curve and not above it, the TH is 16,720#setup for the weekend but no toys. Local speeds 50-60mph and the 4.10's would probably be a better choice. If you add some East Coast mountains(hills to the Central guys) the 4.10 would be the way to go. But as im typing this i'm dreaming about the day we step to a 4500 chassis/cab with the 6.7 and then your stuck with a choice of 4.44 or 4.88, just wish it had a pickup bed option...

Back on subject:
2004 Cummins 4x4 auto Quad cab 8' bed w/ 3.73 gears
Local for a 16min commute to work at 55mph avg - truck only - 17mpg
Interstate 95 bringing the TH home, so it was 15,250# roughly, running the posted speeds up to 70mph - 10mpg was the best tank full, probably 9.8mpg over the 650+ mile trip. Hope this helps. But personally pulling other trailers up to 12,000# I would stick to the 3.73 option if most of its life will be commuting.

wingnut60 · 09-20-2011, 04:02 PM

" just wish it had a pickup bed option..."

Just get the 4500 C/C and take it to an aftermarket upfitter--they can put a pickup bed on it, only takes money.

Joe

RustyJC · 09-20-2011, 04:38 PM

All of you folks running 5.9L Cummins may be missing a very important point I made in post #2. With the double overdrive 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission used with the 6.7L Cummins, you're looking at a 6th (top) gear ratio of 0.62:1. Conversely, with a 48RE single overdrive 4-speed automatic transmission used with the 5.9L Cummins, 4th (top) gear is 0.69:1; with the NV5600 6-speed manual, 6th gear is 0.73:1.

My 2011 with the 68RFE is turning 1612 RPM @ 60 MPH in 6th gear. Compare that with my 2002 with the NV5600 that turned 2000 RPM @ 60 MPH in 6th gear with a 4.10 rear axle; the 48RE would be slightly less.

That's why the 4.10 is highly recommended with the 68RFE. With the 3.73s, you'd seldom if ever see 6th gear when towing; with the 4.10s, you have 6 usable ratios when towing and still have relaxed cruising and good fuel economy in 6th gear.

If you're not running the 68RFE (or the Aisin used in the C&C), you really can't compare the older drivetrains to the current one. 3.73s may work fine for you - it's a different story for those of us with the 6.7L and 68RFE.

Rusty

CD · 09-20-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC

All of you folks running 5.9L Cummins may be missing a very important point I made in post #2. With the double overdrive 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission used with the 6.7L Cummins, you're looking at a 6th (top) gear ratio of 0.62:1. Conversely, with a 48RE single overdrive 4-speed automatic transmission used with the 5.9L Cummins, 4th (top) gear is 0.69:1; with the NV5600 6-speed manual, 6th gear is 0.73:1.

My 2011 with the 68RFE is turning 1612 RPM @ 60 MPH in 6th gear. Compare that with my 2002 with the NV5600 that turned 2000 RPM @ 60 MPH in 6th gear; the 48RE would be slightly less.

That's why the 4.10 is highly recommended with the 68RFE. With the 3.73s, you'd seldom if ever see 6th gear when towing; with the 4.10s, you have 6 usable ratios when towing and still have relaxed cruising and good fuel economy in 6th gear.

If you're not running the 68RFE (or the Aisin used in the C&C), you really can't compare the older drivetrains to the current one. 3.73s may work fine for you - it's a different story for those of us with the 6.7L and 68RFE.

Rusty

I like my 6 speed man & 410. If I were to do it again I would sure look at what you are saying. It makes a lot a sense.

RustyJC · 09-20-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

I like my 6 speed man & 410. If I were to do it again I would sure look at what you are saying. It makes a lot a sense.

I liked my NV5600 6-speed and 4.10s in my 2002 as well. It's a great towing combination. It was a little "revvy" when cruising empty on the freeway, though - 2350 RPM @ 70 MPH. The double overdrive 68RFE takes care of that with the 4.10s in the 2011.

Rusty

450Donn · 09-20-2011, 05:27 PM

Sorry to disagree with you Rusty. But IMHO unless you are towing over 14,000 get the 3.73 RE. At freeway speeds, 65-70 I am running about 1700 RPM empty. While I can pull any highway hill loaded at 50+ I do suffer about 1MPG loss with my 4.10's. That is the nice thing about the 68RFE automatic with the double OD you have choices of what gear to use 4,5 or 6. The only real nice positive benefit is I can also tow with the cruise control on and set and the truck will maintain that speed with ease.