Power or Speed

Always take the tall gears. You spend much more time cruising on the highway than you do getting up to speed. You can always shift down to get up the mountains.

 

Big power and steep gears. I can always run slow in the flats.
Tall gears get raped in the hills, they barely make up for the loss in the flatland.

I'd go for power. Take it easy in the flats and keep momentum in the hills.

 

If u running out west im taking power and steep gears. Yeah u can downshift to get up the mountain but out west we got big mountains when u get off the big road u might be pulling it in 4th gear . its much easier to run up in them idaho monatana utah colorado and washington mountains with the right set up

 

EPA10 and younger engine?
Or pre ELD ?

 

As many horsies I can pack under that hood and as many gears steep I can fit.

Never mind that crappy tall gears. If you had a big enough transmission and can shamble along at 85 before hitting red line then alls well.

The first 4 years was nothing but company issued tall gears which fall down 4 gears or dip into top of low range on a little hump in the Midwest or PA. Sick of it. Never again. I tasted my first true western truck later in the 90's with the right amount of horse and steep gears. Climb anything out west provided its not too steep at close to speed limit.

One of my older road cars was a mountain car, the axle was a bit over 4 something back there with a second aux OD box behind the trans. Get across 40 in Tennessee at 70 without having to struggle loaded to the east coast and back. Its not fast. Thats the key. Just shamble along. Add fuel as needed.

What the modern trucks take away is the ability to have gauges on the side dash following each of the axles and transmission temperatures, pyro, engine temperature oil and so forth. That additional information helps you make sure shes doing well and not running too hot. Its really important.

 

A 525 hp, Cummins 1,850 pounds-feet of torque, and 3.73 rear axle ratio 18 speed will anything you want, then some.

 

Except pass a fuel station...

 

My truck has been turned to 575 cummins, 13 speed, 3.55 gears and it gets 5.5-6 mpg loaded or empty, depending on wind 65/70 mph

 

I prefer both. Power and speed.