I want to buy a new 3500. Auto, 4X4,drw,LB ?

Dodge says I should get the 4:10 to tow a 15500lb 5th wheel.

My question is the 4:10's and 3:73's have the same brakes and such the only difference is the grears and how easy it will be to get the truck and trailer going? right ? Would it be safe to pull that trailer with 3:73 if the pin weight is within the truck cap ? It seems the Stockton Ca. area dealers don't have any 4:10's and I can make a really good deal on a 2010, with 3:73 gears. The hitch weight is 2870 max and I will never tow it that heavy ( Tow Hauler ) with just one Quad. The ramp is so my wife can get into the trailer by driving up it ( she has MS and is on a scooter ). So we will only be have one quad in the garage. The pin weigth is a fully maxed trailer. Do I really need to get 4:10's ? The truck will be used 5 or 6 times a year to tow with and otherwise just a grocery getting.

 

running a stick i say no problem with 3:73's, not sure with an auto all tho all duramax's run 3:73's and have no issues. Personally i would never own one with 4:10's and all i ever do is tow

 

As Rich stated, you should be just fine with the 3.73's. I pull similar and heavier loads with my 3.73 with an auto. If pulling in the mountains frequently then I would maybe consider the 4.10.

 

If you were towing alot I would say you would be happier in the long run due to the wind drag these things have. A few trips a year, epecially if not supper long the 3.73 would be fine. Put the auto in tow haul and set the cruise at a speed you are comfortable with and let the computer due the work. Don't get in a hurry taking off from a stop and your drive line will thank you.

 

Wwith the new 6 spd auto, I would think the 3.73 would be a good choice.

 

I fully agree with the previous posts....

 

You will be ok with the 373 gears and get better fuel mileage too. I have almost 500,000 miles on mine and pull heavy a lot.

 

The only reason the 4:10 gears are rated to pull a heavier load is they will allow easier starting of the load from a standing stop. This is because of the lower gear ratio with the 6SPD auto low gear and the 4:10 gear ratio. This will eliminate the the stress that is placed on the powertrain components when starting this load. Remember the engineering staff and the service engineers will always be conservative in their ratings on any product. This is why Doge recommends the 4:10 gears.
Will your truck with the 3:73 gear set work, yes. But the Powertrain may see more stress over the life of the components with this heavier load. An the service life of these components may be shorter then if you had a 4:10 gears set.
Jim

 

I would be interested to know what vehicle you have. 500,000 mi is quite an accomplishment. How about filling out your proifle so we know what rig you are talking about.

 

Since you plan to use it to tow heavy only a few times a year, the higher ratio seems to make the most sense to me. But what do I know, I've only been doing this stuff about fifty years.....

 

HERE YA GO

 

The service life is a moot point, to me. As stated, he will only tow part of the year, not all the time. The extra RPM's, and the extra revolutions of the drive train because it is geared lower, will shorten the service life. As a grocery getter, and part time tow machine, he will not wear that truck out. Age will do more damage than the stress difference of 3:73's vs. 4:10's.
If it were me, I would go for the 3:73's, be mindful of hard take off's, and enjoy the slightly better fuel economy.

 

I have to concur. I have 4.10s in my truck and tow a 17K trailer with it but only maybe 4-6 times a year. For those 4-6times I enjoy the 4.10s, my last truck(now my dad's truck in my sig) had 3.55s and I always thought that 3.55s were to high for towing. Haven't had 3.73s yet but I think they would be a good compromise for something that doesn't tow heavy everyday. I'm ok with the 4.10s though and I think the clutch in the 6spd wouldn't like the take offs with 3.73s. Autos are a bit more forgiving in that regard.

I'm hoping my next truck will be 3.73s with a built up auto.

 

The clutch can handle it but the stock DM flywheel failed for me at 143,000 mile. Changed out to a SM flywheel and a clutch pack rated at 475 HP from South Bend, end of problems

 

I too put in a SB clutch due to the extra HP is was running. It went in even before the performance mods went on. I find it can be a bit grabby though if I haven't given it a good workout in a awhile. The OP is looking at an auto though so he won't have to worry about that.