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Old 02-03-2022, 04:51 PM   #71
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Originally Posted by DoneWorkin View Post
Due to this I bought a 2021 F-250 7.3L with the 3.73 rear end and it pulled my 11K trailer up the mountains out west just fine last summer.
...another observation; maybe 2021 was different but using the online configurator for a 2022 F-250, I can only choose the 3.73 gears with a 6.2; the 7.3 is only 3.55 or 4.30's. F-350 can be had with the 7.3 and either 3.73 or 4.30's only.


Dave
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Old 02-03-2022, 05:03 PM   #72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Pelletier View Post
...another observation; maybe 2021 was different but using the online configurator for a 2022 F-250, I can only choose the 3.73 gears with a 6.2; the 7.3 is only 3.55 or 4.30's. F-350 can be had with the 7.3 and either 3.73 or 4.30's only.


Dave
Arggg - you are correct - I have the 3.55 rear end.
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Old 02-03-2022, 05:08 PM   #73
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Originally Posted by Dave Pelletier View Post
You are correct that with the 10 spd, the rear axle ratio is less important than it has been in the past.....but as the other posters in that thread pointed out, you can look at it two ways;

- guy #1 says that since you have a 10 speed you no longer need low gearing as you can just drop down a gear

- guy #2 says that since you have a 10 speed you no longer need high gearing because you have three OD gears.

Or to put it another way, the axle ratio only matters in 1st AND 10th.... it comes down to whether or not you'd benefit more from having that lower 1st or that higher 10th. I am going to order the 4:30's because I think I'll benefit more from that lower 1st gear and because the 4.30 axle is a Dana and the 3.73 is a Sterling and I'd rather have the Dana. Either truck would work just fine though.


2 cents,
Dave
Well - I did not know that the rear ends where made by different people! I guess I failed on front.
I have heard good things about the Dana components - so that makes a lot of sense (oops - too late for me )
I also agree that a 4:30 would work fine (And if you want bigger tires then it is advantageous) and in the end these trucks are really expensive - so you should always get what ever you want
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Old 02-03-2022, 05:14 PM   #74
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I have a 2018 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with a 5.7 Hemi in it. SRW. Gas job with coil springs in the rear Tow a 30ft. TT with it. Loaded 8500lbs. went to Alaska with it, towed thru the mountains in BC. Didn't have an issue was careful in some pretty step grades going up or down. Roads to Alaska wow didn't go fast. I seen a guy having troubles with a new GMC coming out of Osoyoos, BC. going east looked like he had a 35 ft TT. That's a wicked climb on Highway 3 out of Osoyoos,BC east bound from what I saw it was a 3/4 ton SRW. He was in the pull off half way up the hill. What motor he had don't know, but hood up him on the phone to get a tow truck to get help. Felt sorry for the guy. I kept mine slow and steady on that road. So newer 3/4 tons with the 6.4 i feel will do your job, but if you want to feel more better go with the 1 ton 6.4 hemi or stay with diesel. Your choice.
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Old 02-03-2022, 07:23 PM   #75
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We loved our 2015 RAM 2500 diesel (not that we towed anything with it... it was my daily driver).

When we bought our 5th wheel and looked at the towing specs, the top weight of the trailer was getting awfully close to the max capacity of the truck. We opted for a Ram 3500 HO Cummins diesel that has more than enough stopping power for what we tow now (and any upgrades we might do the future.

My biggest concern (for us and others on the road) was going down a hill with a red light at the bottom and unable to stop. My Dad always said buy an engine over-engineered for what you need now. Has worked well for us during the last 35 years.

Your mileage may vary.
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Old 02-03-2022, 09:08 PM   #76
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In addition to these comments, I would like to add this: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...itial-quality/

With my Ram 2020 2500 CTD I carefully pull two trailers, an older 34' fifth Nuwa 5th wheel with an ATV trailer behind that, it's 64' from front to rear all fully loaded with water, food, tools, gear and gas and weighs in at 16-17k. Average mpg is 12 on the road, no more that 65 mph. The nice this about a gas engine is no DEF.

But the Ford with a 7.3 is an intriguing option! Especially if the engine is E20+ compatible as there is a lot of talk about increasing the ethanol mix in gas.
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Old 02-05-2022, 11:26 AM   #77
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I suspect I will be quickly shouted down here - but if you are having trouble with availability on the 4.30 rear end on the Ford you might want to look at the actual gear ratios and speed comparison between the 3.73 and 4.30 rear end. It might be best to just buy the 3.73 and move on (I know it is on your "must have" list - but I can't really see why). The old rules of rear ends for towing matters so much less with a 10 speed transmission - the gears are now super close together and you have lots of them.

With a 10 speed transmission - the rear end only matters for first gear - and I don't know about you - but I don't normally spend a lot of time in first.

This person explains all the numbers and details way better than I can
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...explained.html

Due to this I bought a 2021 F-250 7.3L with the 3.73 rear end and it pulled my 11K trailer up the mountains out west just fine last summer.

Off the line it is slower and there was one time going up a really steep hill into a campground where I actually did drop into first gear. That was the only time the 4.30 would have helped - but I had no issues once it dropped into first. And if first gear didn't do it - then I always have 4 Low . . .

Good luck with whatever you choose!
The reason for wanting the lower gearing is the better tow ratings if we do decide to go to a 5th wheel.....I don't swap vehicles every couple years like many people do.... And like posted further down the thread having ten gears makes wanting the 4.30s an even better idea as that means more OD's..... 😬
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Old 02-05-2022, 12:27 PM   #78
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The 3.73’s in my 6.4 let it run down the highway at somewhat reasonable rpm’s, when towing it stays in 6th and 7th for the most part. You might stay in a higher gear towing the the 4.10 but my guess is its spinning more rpm’s empty at highway speed. Try to drive the 2 difs back to back and see what rpm is at the same highway speed.
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Old 02-05-2022, 01:36 PM   #79
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There will be 250 rpm diff between 3.73 and 4.10
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Old 02-10-2022, 05:54 AM   #80
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I don't know why so many people hate the Ram 2500's coils? I guess they are associating coils with a car? If coil springs were poor strength wise, they wouldn't put them on trains. I am getting ready to switch from a 2500 to a 3500 & I am worried I am going to hate how it rides. I have heard the rear air suspension helps this greatly so I ordered that on this new one. I absolutely love the coils on my 2500. They support the truck greatly without the horrible ride. I have put a 2,400 pound skid of parts in it before & it basically just leveled it. My 13.5k 5th wheel just levels it while towing too. It is by far the best spring system I have had on a truck. I feel it rides as good if not better than any of the 1500's that I test drove.
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Old 02-10-2022, 06:42 AM   #81
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I don't know why so many people hate the Ram 2500's coils? I guess they are associating coils with a car? If coil springs were poor strength wise, they wouldn't put them on trains. I am getting ready to switch from a 2500 to a 3500 & I am worried I am going to hate how it rides. I have heard the rear air suspension helps this greatly so I ordered that on this new one. I absolutely love the coils on my 2500. They support the truck greatly without the horrible ride. I have put a 2,400 pound skid of parts in it before & it basically just leveled it. My 13.5k 5th wheel just levels it while towing too. It is by far the best spring system I have had on a truck. I feel it rides as good if not better than any of the 1500's that I test drove.
A train rides on smooth rails. Not too many potholes nor speed bumps on the tracks. Certainly no offroading, or it will end badly.

Find me a list of heavy duty trucks with coil springs so we can evaluate them. Leaf springs are just so much easier to calibrate once a load hits a certain weight. A 2 stage coil spring design would take serious engineering.
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Old 02-10-2022, 07:24 AM   #82
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Why bother with a 3/4 ton? I just built an F-250 and F-350 XLT 4x4 CC LB with the 7.3L engine and every option that I would want for a tow beast and the F-250 was $63,945 and the F-350 was $64,400. That extra $455 gets you 1,600 lbs more payload. No brainer.


Just looked at Ram 2500 vs 3500. $1595 gets you 1400 lbs of GVWR. Exact same configuration.
Same for me. I just bought a F350 diesel and it was only about $500 more than the F250.
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Old 02-10-2022, 09:22 AM   #83
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I don't know why so many people hate the Ram 2500's coils? I guess they are associating coils with a car? If coil springs were poor strength wise, they wouldn't put them on trains. I am getting ready to switch from a 2500 to a 3500 & I am worried I am going to hate how it rides. I have heard the rear air suspension helps this greatly so I ordered that on this new one. I absolutely love the coils on my 2500. They support the truck greatly without the horrible ride. I have put a 2,400 pound skid of parts in it before & it basically just leveled it. My 13.5k 5th wheel just levels it while towing too. It is by far the best spring system I have had on a truck. I feel it rides as good if not better than any of the 1500's that I test drove.
I don't hate coils; I much prefer coil sprung front ends as I had in my 1979 F150 and 2002 Wrangler and all my late model Rams vs. the leaf springs on the front of my 1996 F250 and 2001 F350 but there is a reason why RAM sticks with leafs on the 3500 and why all Superduty's and GM/Chevy HD's have rear leafs; they are a heavier duty setup more suited to heavy loads. Front end weights vary little compared to rear axle weights. I see the Ram 2500 rear coils as a concession for ride quality over load carrying ability and I don't need/want it just like I don't like dual mass flywheels in an attempt to reduce NVH at the expense of robustness..... but that's just my opinion, I can see how some would like it as long as the coils are adequate and ride is a primary concern. I think going with the 3500 or leaf springs in general gives you more flexibility if/when your needs change.

2 cents,
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Old 02-10-2022, 09:48 AM   #84
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2500 Cummins Ram

I have a 2002 2500 Cummins ram with 180,000 miles on it. I have towed a 22,000 pound fifth wheel over the continental divide three times, once with no trailer brakes. It is a camper special with heavy duty springs.
I wintered in Las Cruces New Mexico where a lot of Canadians would spend their winter. They all drove 2500 Cummins towing fifth wheels. When I would ask them what they thought of their trucks they would say things like “it’s a terrible truck it burns quart of oil every 5000 miles“. When I would push them further, they would complain that they only had 400,000 miles on the truck.
That’s a pretty good endorsement of that incredible engine.
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