wrk24wheel,
Currently I have an 11' slide-in camper that weighs 3872# fully loaded. When I put that on my rig, the overloads touch the frame pads, but the truck sits level. I had air bags on my old 2500 gasser with the same camper and no overloads; they worked well. When I got my 3500, I put the bags on it thinking that it would ride the same....wrong. I took them off after two trips because it would sway and bounce too much without the overloads in use.
The 3500 has 4.10's with the 6spd, the 2500 was 3.54's with auto. I vote for the 4.10's, but would try your current setup before making any changes.
btw, 37' Forest River Sandpiper toy hauler in the near future, and an exhaust brake.
Good luck & enjoy your new house on wheels !

 

I am up in the air on the gearing too, I have a 02 2500 ctd that I pull a 36 ft pace with, the truck has 4.10 gears a power puck and 4 inch ex. I use the truck and trailer when I go sledding out west only. But I have had the trailer on 25,000 out of the 50,00 miles I have on the truck. I am looking at a 04 3500 dual rears, 3.73 gears. I usally drive the truck on the interstate 75-80 mph loaded with no problems on any hills. My ?? is how much am I going to loose out west in the hills with the 3.73 instead of the 4.10? With the 4.10 I am at 2500 rpm's at 80 mph and with 3.73 i would be at 2250. Do the 600 motors have a nice spot at 23-2600 like my o2. I am thinking I need the 4.10. ????????????

 

Rear axle gearing is a function of the amount of power you have to pull the weight of the truck and load. Mine does great with 32 inch tires, 354 gears, and runs 70 at 2000. This is with gross weight at 28,000 or better.

Ideally, you pick the rpm's that you want to run, tires and gears set to produce that and the power must be there to make it work without the pedal on the floor to maintain the speed.

If your pedal in on the floor most of the time to maintain speed, you will get lousy mileage and shorter engine life reguardless of other factors.

Sort of like being in the right gear to pull a long hill. You downgear until you do not have to keep it floored to pull the hill. The heat will be less, the economy will be better and the engine will love you for it. Same thing applies on the flats running 75.

 

Just want to verify my understanding... you were running a 3872# camper on a SRW vehicle with load range E tires (I am assuming that last part, maybe not correct...) and everything worked out OK? I'm definitely not trying to be the weight police, just wondering.

 

I carried over 5000 hitch weight on mine with single G-159 tires on mine with no problems at all for 150,000 miles. His would have a little more top heavy circumstance but is well within the capacity of the truck. He would have to watch the tire capacity. Mine with the heavy tires was.

 

That's right. E tires & air bags; everything else was stock. It didn't feel unsafe, but that V10 was a pig, there was not enough room in that standard cab, plus I had always wanted a dually with the CTD. Now I almost forget the camper is there sometimes. I'll have to dig up some pics.

 

Well everyone. I have a '96 CTD with a 3.54 rear end and no mods. I tow very easy in OD on the flat ~ 70MPH at 1950 rpm. On the hills I usually have to get out of OD - unless I have had a super run at the hill - and get up to 2500 RPM around 55-60 MPH. On very long hills - 6 degrees or better - I usuall get down to 35-40 MPH at 2000 RPM and just "grind" up the hill. I sure would love to have an EB but with the 47RE and 12 valve. However, I understand that the valve springs would need changing and there is no gaurentee that the tranny will survive.

I have a 2004.5 with a 48RE on order and all DC will say is that DC, Jocobs and Cummings are working on a "DC" exhust brake you can order. I further understand they had to beef up the 48RE and that the EB kit may be available in August ??

Cheers MR B.

 

FrankB,

Do you have any transmission Mods? And what does your trailer weigh? I have decided to not upgrade to 4:10's. I have decide to bomb my truck a little more and watch the tranny explode into tiny pieces. At that point I will purchase an ATS tranny to replace it.

 

OK, gotcha. But still, when I do the math I come up with two load range E tires @ 3150# each for 6300# total capacity. With about 3000# on the rear axle with an empty truck (but with passengers, fuel, etc.) that leaves 3300# for payload (ignoring the truck's GVWR of course, and using the tire rating to determine the real maximum load). With a 3872# camper that would seem to leave you almost 600# over the tire ratings. The 3000# empty weight I quoted above is for a SRW CTD and not a V10 so the V10 would probably be a bit lighter, but still... doesn't seem to work out even with a V10. Am I missing something here? Would like to fully understand...

 

The rear axle weight on my '99 2500 was 2250. My tires were rated for 3750 each.

 

HI well talking about the towing with 4;10 or 3:55,, i have a 98 12 valve 5 speed 3/4, had 4:10 i went to 3:55 after i looked at all the towing weights, every thing i found on the net and in the books the 98 will tow 14,300# with 3:55,3;73,3:92,4;10,,with a 5 speed, i have a 5th at about 8,000# empty and you know how it get full on trips, the truck pulls great , i realy dont see any faster starts , the hills i go are not all the big, so i realy dont understand what is the difference is between the two . jman

 

I got scared when I read he was pulling 36 foot trailer @ 80 mph. I'm keep my distance from that. Must have to call ahead and make reservations to stop.

Most if not all interstates I've driven call for 55 mph with trailers. Of course nobody drives 55, but 75-80 is 20+ mph OVER the limit and could constitute a wreckless driving ticket. Slow the F down...you're on vacation.

 

OK, thanks. I wasn't aware that you could get load range E tires with that high a rating nor that the gas truck would be that much lighter than the diesel. Thanks for the info.

 

I have to agree. I see it all the time though. People driving way to fast for the load they are pulling. I could drive my tanker truck full of gas at 75mph to, but stopping it in an emergency don't think so.

 

No you can't get load range E at that capacity, they are load range G and are 14 ply rated and carry 110 pounds pressure.