OK, I have been dreaming of a Cummins w/ 6spd, 4x4, 4.1 rear end for a year and a half. Would have bought an o5, but couldn't really afford one, and I found a 95psd W/ 50k on it, super truck for the $$$. Now a year later, I have a much better job, more $$$, and I am once again hoping to step up to the cummins. First of all, I had to get over the new front end and cloth on the SLT interrior. OK, really hate burning my legs on leather in the summer, but I won't have to look at the Nissan looking cloth interrior (Just my personal taste) and since I don't have to look at the new front end while I am driving, I can deal wtih that too. (why can't they leave well enough alone?)
Now, I went to the web site, to build a few different trucks with different options, to compare the $$$, and the 4.10 rear end is not available with the 6spd and the cummins. I drove an early 06 with the 6speed, and I loved the transmission, I have just never liked an auto for towing.
Guys, what should I do here? I personally prefer the 6spd, but one of the reasons I want to upgrade is for the higher towing rating, plus the extra fuel mileage. I only use this truck towing horses, and right now my trailer is not heavy, about 8000, but I hope to upgrade one day to the one with the mid tack and slide out, that will put me at 13,000. Since I don't like to push the towing rating on anything, I want the 15,000 rating. I see the auto is rated for 15,000+ and you can get the 4.10. Has Dodge upgraded this auto so that it is no longer the "weak link"? Since I don't drive this truck daily, I am going to keep it for a long time, probably in the 15 year range. Worst case, I can keep my Ford, BUT I would really like to have the Cummins. Also, how is the auto about the "gear wandering" that I hve wtih my Ford, does it have enough power to pull a hill in overdrive??
I don't want to wait till next year, I work in the heavy truck industry and I know all the extra emissions that are getting ready to hit the big trucks, and I want a new truck before that happens with the pick ups too.
Can any one tell me about their experiences with the auto or the 6spd? with the 4.10s, what is the RPMs at 70MPH?, also what lind of MPG are you getting towing under 10,000?
Right now, I am turning about 2500 RPM and getting 10-11 MPG with my Ford, it is so hard to find a decent mechanic to work on the powerstroke, at least with the Cummins, it is just a smaller version of the diesels my guys are used to working on every day. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!!

 

If the only thing that is stopping you is that you cant get the 4.10 ratio with the 6-speed, the get the 3.73 or 3.54 depending on the year, you'll get better mileage with those gears anyway, with the same towing capacity (i am not sure about the towing capacity with the 3rd gen.) personally I prefer the higher gears.

 

You are wise to look at your future needs in determining how to build your truck. I got on the Dodge website and it is obviously messed up as the truck I built per the info you gave shows a towing capacity of 1,300 pounds. That right, one thousand three hundred. So much for their website.

Given the next trailer you are planning to buy along with the configuration and weight you estimated, you will need a dually and I wouldn't hesitate to pull 15,000 with the 6 speed and 3.73 gears since it shows the shortbox single wheel with the six speed with 3.73 as being capable of pulling 15,700. The pin weight of that new trailer will be quite high, therefore you will be looking at the dually.

I am not sure why the 4.10 axle is not available but to answer your questions regarding the 4.10 axle, I pull a 17,000 pound fiver with my six speed with the 4.10 and get 11.5 mpg at around 65 mph. I get 19 to 20 solo. Now I understand that the new trucks are not as good on fuel as the 2003 models but I think unless you have your foot to the floor all the time, you need not be too concerned about the fuel economy. At 70 mph my rpm's are around 2400 rpm and my top speed is 105 before I hit the governor.

If all you can get is the 3.73 gears and you want the 6 speed, then go for it. You will find it will tow that new trailer just fine. Hope that helps.

Casey

 

ive drove a truck with a six speed and 4:10 gears in the rear end. it came like that from the factory too. it was a 01.5

 

She is looking for a new truck.

 

I thought that the 4.10 is available in 06. I can look it up if you like. My 06 has the 6spd. with 3.73's. The final drive of the 6spd is a .75 compared to the auto of.63. The 6spd. needs another gear. For highway running I can't picture you wanting the 4.10's. I took a new 06 auto home for one night and hooked it to my trailer and hated it. Always in the wrong gear. Never wanted to shift into overdrive. I like the ability to be able to put the trans in the gear I want it in. Jim

 

I agree with Casey (boy, I hate to do that). The six speed with the 4.10 is great for towing. However, the new 6 speed tranny has a lower 6th gear ratio. This means that sixth gear in a 3.73 in the new truck is almost equal to sixth gear in the 4.10 in my 03. The rpms at speed are almost the same, just slightly lower. So, it looks like the 3.73 would be the one to get in the 6 speed. I have not looked, but read somewhere the 4.10 was not available with the six speed in the 06's.

I tow 16,000 pounds with problems. I am running about 1000 pounds over my GCWR and she handles it great. Just make sure you have good brakes on the trailer and a good controller, like a Jordan. (hee hee, gotcha Casey).

Bob

 

- 2006 RAM 3500 SLT QUAD CAB 4X2 LWB G Pkg. $32,020.00


modify
- Primary: Patriot Blue Pearl Coat Included
- Secondary: No Secondary Paint Included
- Interior: Khaki Included


modify
- 5.7-Liter HEMI® V8 Engine Included
- 11.50 Axle for Dual-Rear-Wheel Vehicles Included
- 4.10 Axle Ratio $50.00
- 6-Speed Manual Transmission Included


modify
- LT235/80R17E BSW All Season Tires Included
- 17" x 6.0" Steel Wheels Included


modify
- 4 Speakers Included
- AM/FM Stereo with CD Player Included
- Cloth 40/20/40 Split Bench Seat Included
- Air Conditioning Included


modify
- Anti-Spin Differential Axle $285.00
- Clearance Lamps Included
- Bright Grille Included
- Carpet Floor Covering Included
- Speed Control Included

Shows available at Dodge.com

 

Then again it kicked me back to a hemi..hmm

 

Looks like 4.10 on a 4x4 only.

 

I drove an 06 6 speed, and the bottom gear did seem a little deep, not as low as a grany gear, but I wouldn't want to start in 2nd unless I was down hill. I do want the 4x4, won't ever use it, but when i don't have 4x4 is when I get stuck.
According to the brochure that I have on the 06 models, it doesn't even list a towing rating for the 6spd in a 3500. in the 2500, it's 12,800. I called the factory #, and put in a question about the towing rating on the 3500 dually with the cummins, 6 spd and 3.73. If they discontinued the 4.1 with the new 6spd since first is already low enough, hey that's fine with me, but why don't they publish the rating wtih the 3.73? If you look through the brochure, there is no mention of the new 6spd, they are really pushing that auto, and only mention the 6spd as being standard with the cummins. I wish they would let me take an 06 auto and hook it to my trailer to see how it pulls, but I have a gooseneck and no tag a long near that weight. I have that old school mentality , if you want to PULL!! get a straight drive. If you want to put around, go to the store and pull a little every once in a while, then autos are great. Not to mention all the trouble that I have heard about the autos.

 

2006 Ram 3500 3500 SLT, QUAD CAB, 2WD, 6.25 FT Bed, 6-Speed Manual Transmission, 5.9-Liter HO Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine:

With 3.73 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 16150 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9900 lbs
Payload [i] = 3197 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 6703 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 3940 lbs/3940 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 4750 lbs/6200 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 23000 lbs



With 3.73 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 16150 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9900 lbs
Payload [i] = 3197 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 6703 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 3940 lbs/3940 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 4750 lbs/6200 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 23000 lbs

 

well i have an 2005 qc 3500 4x4 laramie and pull a 38ft fifth wheel camper with no problem oh mines an auto with 410s i get about 11/14 mph loaded doing 70 rpms are about 2100 but its all about what you like i hate shifting my 35ft work truck is 2002 freightliner fl70 8.3 cummins with allison auto and exhaust brake

 

I just tried to run it as an SLT, I tried the Laramie first, and now it shows a 15,700 towing rating for the same truck, in the SLT trim. It's a draw between the SLT and the Laramie (other than the SLT being cheaper) I don't like the cloth seats, but I like the front end better on the SLT. I love my husband's Tundra, but don't want to confuse the two in the driveway! I really liked the 05 front end much better, but I couldn't afford one then, so oh well.
Or maybe some one fixed the site after my call to Dodge!
Maybe this is my sign to just get the SLT, I added back in most of the options such as the power seat and pedals, Sirius radio, and it's still $3,000 cheaper. Didn't really want the electronic 4x4 or dual climate control anyhow. Since I am going to keep this truck long past the warranty expiration date, maybe I should get the SLT and keep it easier to work on!

 

Did you price both Larmies? Only 1300 diff between mine and an slt. The slt was pretty loaded though. Jim