Community Forums

carwash2 · 01-03-2019, 04:56 PM

I'm looking at buying a 2019 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 with 5.7 Hemi with a 3.21 axle and the 8 speed trans. Tow rating for it is 8230 lbs. I will only be towing 5-10% of the time and it will be the wife and I. I have two things I will be towing, the first is a 16' 2 axle trailer with a side by side on it. Were talking less than 5000 lbs. Right now I travel 210 miles one way with it, have a good bit of hills on the trip. The second is our 25' tt loaded it is less than 6000 lbs. Most of the towing with the camper will be in flat area and under 100 miles round trip. The Ram will be driven daily and I will keep it for a long time. What are your thoughts on going with the 3.21 vs 3.92 axle?

tuffr2 · 01-03-2019, 05:00 PM

Do you have an option for a gear ratio in the middle? Maybe a 3.55? Seems 3.92 is too much and 3.21 is to little IMHO.

That 2019 Ram 1500 is really a nice truck.

Since you will be towing 6,000lbs on occasion I think I would look for a 3.55 gear set.

rte1985 · 01-03-2019, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Do you have an option for a gear ratio in the middle? Maybe a 3.55? Seems 3.92 is too much and 3.21 is to little IMHO.

That 2019 Ram 1500 is really a nice truck.

Since you will be towing 6,000lbs on occasion I think I would look for a 3.55 gear set.

I agree. 3.21 is not a towing gear. Manufacturers like throwing those road gears in since it is all about the mpgs. I would highly opt for the 3.55 but if you ever think about upsizing trailers then 3.92 would be my choice.

Bamaman · 01-03-2019, 07:43 PM

It's very easy to find 3.55 gear ratios on the 2019 Ram 1/2 ton trucks. Anyone towing trailers would be best suited with either limited slip or locking rear ends.

If anyone has any doubts about towing trailers, ask to take the truck home overnight for a demo. Hook up your trailer and see how the vehicle handles the weight.

marks146 · 01-03-2019, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwash2

I'm looking at buying a 2019 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 with 5.7 Hemi with a 3.21 axle and the 8 speed trans. Tow rating for it is 8230 lbs. I will only be towing 5-10% of the time and it will be the wife and I. I have two things I will be towing, the first is a 16' 2 axle trailer with a side by side on it. Were talking less than 5000 lbs. Right now I travel 210 miles one way with it, have a good bit of hills on the trip. The second is our 25' tt loaded it is less than 6000 lbs. Most of the towing with the camper will be in flat area and under 100 miles round trip. The Ram will be driven daily and I will keep it for a long time. What are your thoughts on going with the 3.21 vs 3.92 axle?

I had the same situation you're proposing. I ended up trading in my 1500 for a 2500 after a few months. The truck will pull it but you have to consider how it will handle . I always felt like the trailer was pushing the truck around. It never felt surefooted, and I kept back to give myself plenty of room to stop. I enjoyed the gas mileage, but when it came time to tow I was never comfortable putting my family in this situation. I even put air bags on it to help level out the ride. They don't increase your load capacity. Bags just help level things out. If you can see through it, a 2500 is the way to go in every respect. Then if you do upgrade you'll have enough truck to handle a much bigger TT.

carwash2 · 01-03-2019, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamaman

It's very easy to find 3.55 gear ratios on the 2019 Ram 1/2 ton trucks. Anyone towing trailers would be best suited with either limited slip or locking rear ends.

If anyone has any doubts about towing trailers, ask to take the truck home overnight for a demo. Hook up your trailer and see how the vehicle handles the weight.

On Build a Ram web site the 3.55 axle is for the v6 engine only.

bneukam · 01-03-2019, 10:55 PM

Air suspension, and the 3.92’s are two things I love on my 2017. 18 to 19 mpg traveling at 80 mph out in the NW......11 to 12 mpg towing a 5,200 lb TT at 65 mph.
Don’t think I would be happy with 3:21 while towing.

Cumminsfan · 01-03-2019, 11:27 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. The 8sp trans will get you going and even though you won't be using the top couple gears your rpms will be close as if you had 3.92 gears. Just find the right gear and lock out the other top gears. My 18 2500 6.4 4.10 never see's 6th when towing 9300 lbs unless I'm hitting 65+ mph. It purrs right along in 5th at 60-65. Same in the mtns 3rd, 4th and 5th.
This isn't the 70's when all you had were 4 spds and needed 4.10's or lower to tow.

twinboat · 01-04-2019, 05:07 AM

Like Cumminsfan said, in most cases, while towing, you will not get up to the top gears anyway.
Running in a lower gear, less then direct drive, effectively gives you the higher final ratio. The transmission will not let you lug down the engine.

I have the 9 speed trans in my Jeep and it doesn't use the upper OD gears until cruising at highway speeds. Any slight hill and it drops back down a gear or two.

carwash2 · 01-04-2019, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I wouldn't worry about it. The 8sp trans will get you going and even though you won't be using the top couple gears your rpms will be close as if you had 3.92 gears. Just find the right gear and lock out the other top gears. My 18 2500 6.4 4.10 never see's 6th when towing 9300 lbs unless I'm hitting 65+ mph. It purrs right along in 5th at 60-65. Same in the mtns 3rd, 4th and 5th.
This isn't the 70's when all you had were 4 spds and needed 4.10's or lower to tow.

Well, like I said, I'm only going to be towing 5-10% of the time. The 85-90% of the time I will be just driving the truck, I would like to be getting the best gas mileage I can. I've heard mpg for both the 3.21 and 3.92 all over the place. I know it has a lot to do with the driver on how good your mileage is. I guess since I've heard some low numbers with the 3.92 it has me shying away from it. I have a Dodge 1500 5.9, with the 3.55 now and it pulls both with no problem at all. Without towing, at a highway speed of 70, I'm lucky to get 11 mpg. Towing at 60 mph, I'm looking at 8-9 mpg. With me buying a new truck I would like to see 18-20 on the highway without towing of course. I don't think I'm going to get that with a 3.92.

shane_the_ee · 01-04-2019, 12:38 PM

Is there a difference in payload between the two rear axles?

carwash2 · 01-04-2019, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane_the_ee

Is there a difference in payload between the two rear axles?

No, but the tow weight goes up 3100 lbs. Not sure how they come up with the difference with nothing else changing on the truck other than the axle gear.

bneukam · 01-04-2019, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carwash2

No, but the tow weight goes up 3100 lbs. Not sure how they come up with the difference with nothing else changing on the truck other than the axle gear.

Transmission operating temp. The 8 speed ZF tranny is not designed to run much over 200 degrees.

You will get 1 mpg better with the 3:21, but the extra work load on the tranny will not save you anything in the future.

A 6,000 lb TT is a heavy load for a 1/2 ton truck. Understand your only planning on towing 5 to 10% of the time, but why limit yourself.

ttavasc · 01-05-2019, 11:34 PM

I would agree with Cumminsfan given your stated weights and usage - the 3.21 with the 8-speed should be fine. My '14 1500 has that combination and I'm towing close to 4k travel trailer about 45% of the time plus it's my DD, though my commute is only 5 miles one way. I run a good quality full synthetic oil and follow the severe maintenance schedule. Currently have 52K on the truck with 23K of that towing - a good bit of that is in the mountains. Towing on the flats is ~1700 rpm in 7th gear at 62 and will maintain that up 5-6% grades in 4th at ~3400 rpm. Getting close to 14 on the daily commute and close to 12 towing. Best empty highway tank was just over 19.