Hedgehog

I am looking to order a 2005 Ram3500 with the Cummins diesel and the 48RE automatic. I tow a 11,500# fifth wheel camper approx. 1,500 miles a year, other than that, the truck will be towing very light if anything at all. Should I get the 3.73's or the 4.10's? Should I get rear anti-spin diff? Should I get SRW or DRW? Also, I see that the moonroof option comes and goes, is there a problem with it? should I get one? As of right now, I know I want the premium cloth seats in a SLT crewcab. Any advice would be appreciated.

thejeepdude

I would say 3.73. I was on the fence and just towed about 400 miles in my new truck with no probs. Did it downshift on a few hills? Yup, but so what? When unloaded it will pull the steepest grades without losing OD, and therefore keeping my MPG up as much as possible. I also don't think a DRW is neccessary if you're only towing 1500 miles a year. Yes get the antispin, and yes get the sunroof.

Mcmopar

Your trailer is light enough to stay with 3.73's, unless you go out and put 315's on the truck, if you are gonna do that you need to get the 4.10's. The Anti spin is a must, sunroof is great, I wish I had the option when I bought my 98.

burlhall

I just bought a new 2005 Ram 3500 with 373 gears and auto transmission. Today, I pulled my 5th Wheel Camper (12,500 pounds) with the new truck for the first time. Everything was fine except for the transmission. I'm not sure how the auto trans works in the 05 model. You cannot lock it out of overdrive by pushing the tow/haul button unless you are driving less than approx. 45 MPH. If you are driving faster than 45 mph the trans will automatically shift back into overdrive. If you are driving over approx. 60 mph you can shift the gear shift lever to "2" and the transmission will shift out of overdrive down to 3rd gear. If you are going slower than approx 60 then if you shift the gear shift lever to "2" then the transmission will shift to second gear. If you are driving between 45 and 60 mph your choices are downshift to "2" (with rpm's around 3,000, which is too high) or leave it in overdrive and lug the engine. To make a long story short, I don't care for this transmission. If I had it to do over again, I would get the manual 6 speed so I could run in the gear that "I" chose.

moterhead

Whether or not to get a sunroof is purely your choice. Personally, I'd pay extra to NOT have a hole in my roof. I'd much rather have an optional power sliding rear window. JOIBO!

jelag

If your going to pull that load over some grades I consider the 4:10... I have the 4:10 in my 04 and 05 and my son has the 3:73 in his 04.5...... he's pulled my 5th wheel at about 12K... and for him its slow on the grades.....

Just my thoughts... BTW they all have 6 speeds....

NJMurvin

I pull about a 10500lb fiver about as much as you do. I struggled with the same decision regarding the rear end ratio. I settled on 3.73 and don't regret it for a moment. I have had it on some pretty nasty climbs. The trans shifts down when it needs to - maybe a little sooner than the 4.10 would, but who cares? The other 50 weeks a year I don't pay for it at the pump. Regarding the sunroof, go for it if you think you'll use it. Otherwise, it's just something else to break or leak.

Neil

thejeepdude

One thing I noticed is everyone keeps giving sunroofs a bad rap about leaking. I would like to know how it's supposed to leak? The gasket isn't designed to stop the water completely. There's a drain channel to remove the water that does leak through. The only sunroofs I've heard of leaking into the cabin are those with these channels installed incorrectly or were obstructed or damaged in some way (easy enough to prevent). All I know is I'm grinning from ear to ear every time I look upward and see the sky, and with a push of a button I can get some fresh air without being being blasted by the window. Worth every penny.

Hairy1

burlhall

You should read your manual.........mine says Do Not Shift Into 2nd Above 45 mph......if my OD is off... the trans does not shift back to OD above 45 mph on it's own? What you describe is what mine does when the OD is on! I don't mean the light either.

Planetcat

I'd get the 4.10's unless you want to drive your truck at over 70 mph. Certainly not with the 5th wheel, but maybe unloaded. If you get larger tires (I think any larger size), I'd get the 4.10's. It'll make it easier on the tranny, too. Get the rear anti-spin - it doesn't hurt. I think the SRW 11.5" axle is plenty strong for your towing needs, but maybe if you plan on keeping the truck for many, many years, duallies will last longer under towing stress.