First trip out with the new truck

[jlb27537]

Just so you know, the max tow only comes in 4.10 gears. If you were looking at your sticker that was in the window when you bought the truck, in the left column it does say 3.73 and the right column under options it says Max tow 4.10.

That's what it said on mine. At first I thought I had 3.73 too, but Max tow only comes with 4.10.

Scott

Sorry Scott, that is not correct for '12's Max Tow is a second trans oil cooler and a finned rear diff cover. In '12 you could get EITHER a 3.73 or 4.10 gears with the Max Tow option.

Now in 2010 that very well may be correct that Max Tow was only available with the 4.10 gears.

My '12 DRW, 3.73 gets about 9 at lower altitudes. Once above 4,000' or so it will be closer to 10mpg. In Texas I usually have to manually downshift to 5th to keep it from lugging on some 2 lanes. I turn about 1650rpm's @ 65.

Jim

[Montana Sky]

I spoke with my dealer this morning and they have confirmed what I said previously is correct. My 2012 Ram 3500HD does have the 3.73 rear end AND has the max tow package verified through Ram by my trucks VIN. Max towing capacity of my truck as it sits on the ground is 18,200 lbs per the dealers link verified through Ram.

[scott-pati]

quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

I spoke with my dealer this morning and they have confirmed what I said previously is correct. My 2012 Ram 3500HD does have the 3.73 rear end AND has the max tow package verified through Ram by my trucks VIN. Max towing capacity of my truck as it sits on the ground is 18,200 lbs per the dealers link verified through Ram.

Wow, that's weird. Do you have the finned rear diff cover? That cover came with the max tow.

[bigred715]

I didn't realize the newer trucks had that kind of towing capacity. 18,200 lbs seems really heavy. Of course, we always believe what the dealers say, right.

[steelpony5555]

18K lbs heavy?????? The new ones are rated for 30,000 lbs towing and GCWR of 37,600 lbs .....When they run right, unlike my truck right now lol lol lol, yeah it will tow that weight. You'll know it's back there but it will tow it.

[jlb27537]

I have the 30 page pdf of the tow capacities of the '12 model year. If you could provide a better description of your truck, I could match it up to my listing. The 18K tow rating does not match any of my 3.73 axle ratings.

3500 DRW is not enough info. 4x4, trim level, series code, # of doors, bed length, etc.

Most '12 4x4 crew cab,3.73, 8'box will be in the 16,5K range in the tow rating box with the max tow option. Based on a D2 8R92 DRW 3.73 is rated @ 16.5K 4.10 @ 19.1K with Longhorn trim.

Realize this is Ram's suggestion. Don't tell the hot shot drivers they can not gross 40K across the scales cause they do it every day.

[mhs4771]

I don't know, but our Chevy has a 21300 fifthwheel tow and 29200 combined, per the 2011 Chevy Chart I have.

[Montana Sky]

quote:Originally posted by scott-pati

Wow, that's weird. Do you have the finned rear diff cover? That cover came with the max tow.

Yes, it has the finned rear diff cover, the additional coolers, and something else that I forget off the top of my head. When I was buying this truck, we ended up dealer trading over 2,000 miles as I was insistent on the 3.73 rear end with the max tow package. That combo was one that a dealer had to order specifically as the standard package was either the 3.73 or the 4.10 with max tow package. Finding a 3.73 with Max Tow Package in the Longhorn edition was tough to say the least. It was worth the hassle as I love being able to set the cruise at 80MPH and turn 1,900RPM's.

[scott-pati]

Ok, so it was a special order. I wish you had told me that in the beginning, I would have had a better nights sleep. lol.

I turn 1900RPM's at 70MPH. UGHHH...........

I had a hard time finding the 4.10 max tow in the Longhorn in black or the molten red. Ended up getting the black. You had a lot to choose from if you wanted white. And all the max tows I saw had 4.10's.

[Montana Sky]

Well Scott the good news is: looking at your photo, we have the same truck. I can just drive faster at lower RPM's while you pull the grades faster than I do.

[scott-pati]

quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

Well Scott the good news is: looking at your photo, we have the same truck. I can just drive faster at lower RPM's while you pull the grades faster than I do.

Ok, that made me feel better. LOL

Scott

[steelpony5555]

Ok a trip to the Dodge dealer and nothing is solved lol lol go figure lol lol. They checked everything from motor to turbo to tranny and it all checked out great, no problems at all?? The only thing they came up with is my tires are 2 sizes over size, they are 285/70/17.... Now the old Dodges they could go in and change the parameters. The new trucks there is no way to do that. I have on fairly new Nito Grapplers which are very good tires so I really do not wanna change them at this time. The truck looks very nice with them on. So I am still checking to see what can be done. The tranny shop says they can get a shift kit for it for about $450 so might end up doing that. Would not care if I just drove it out to the lake and back but cant put up with it cross country.....

[Artemus Gordon]

Dumb question? Did you take out service manager and make truck do it's thing, so he see for himself?. Or perhaps they recreated the problem without you? Question is. "Can u recreate the problem at will"?

[steelpony5555]

Not yet, it does run great when empty so told him I will hook up to the trailer and bring it down. He said that would be fine so once we get some warmer weather gonna do that....

[mhs4771]

OK, I have a question: Since you say the tires are two sizes over OEM, did you put spacer plates between the wheels?? Many Duallys are limited on tire size changes and still keep the proper space between the tires.
Now this is out in Left Field, but is it possible that with the pin weight of the Monty the tires are bulging out and you're actually getting some sidewall contact between the tires??

[jlb27537]

Dave, Just a thought. If I remember you have a 3.73? On the net there are several gear ratio calculators. List your OEM tire sizes with a 3.73 and then have a re-cal done with 2 sizes larger and see what your effective ratio is.

Back in the 90's I was a SM at a Toyota dealership. We would sell a truck and the guys would go put different tires on and come in complaining they could not pull their bass boat up a hill.

The Toyota trucks had 4.88 gears back then and when they re-tired them some were in the 3.xx range. Dugh. I just gave then a sheet with tire sizes and effective ratios, told them to go back to stock, come back with the boat and we would go for a drive.

Never had a return customer......

Quick research shows the 285/70/17 is 3.5% oversize in dia and rev's per mile which makes your 3.73 a 3.60 axle ratio. It also makes your speedo read 65 when you are really going 67.3mph. You might be on the edge of lugging and the tranny is just down shifting like it should.

My 3.73 sometimes feels like it is lugging on the Texas 2 lanes and I drop to 5th. When you deviate from stock there is a result you have to live with. My truck really does not feel right till I am close to 70 and even better @75. Why I put tires on the trailer with a speed rating of 101mph.

Jim

[steelpony5555]

mhs4771---the tires were on it when I bought the truck but yes it does have spacers...

jlb----thanks...with that kind of info it does look like the tires may be the problem. Mine seemed to be better at 75 mph too. It does seem like I am underpowered and that's why it downshifts. Definitely don't have the power on the hills like the old truck. Just hate to change out tires cause I like them the truck looks good with them and they are a dang good tire. Decisions, decisions..........

[Artemus Gordon]

A Dodge that will actually make it to 75 MPH! Your complaining ? Lol. Sorry ! Still think if you just "wash the truck" it will run better! Lol

[jlb27537]

What gears and tire size did the '07 have? Was it a 5.9 stock or a 6.7?

What RPM did you turn @ 70 on the old truck?

You Ford guys with 4.30's only wish you could cruise @ 80......

Jim

[steelpony5555]

lol lol Jim it was a 6.7 dually 2wd and it too had 3.73 gears with the stock tires. I think the rpms usually stayed around 18k at 70 mph.... That truck rarely shifted unless it was a steep hill. May just have to get used to setting the transmission in 5th since they tell me that 5 and 6 are both overdrive gears, wont do much for my fuel mileage, but then 75 mph wont either lol lol....
Mike,...the weight police get all spastic when I blow by them doing 55 mph and I'm doin the speed limit of 75....feel bad cause your state as I understand don't want y'all movin fast either lol, no wonder Austin full of Californians lol lol