2018 Ram 4500 4.10 vs 4.44 Gearing?

Well: I’ll preface by saying I’m not pulling a trailer w mine.
I bought a Chevy 3500Hd dually few months back. Duramax/Allison 6 speed w 3.73 bc that’s what they spec from the factory.
It’s too fast.
I would have thought it was fine; but I based my rpm on 1500-1750 rpm cruise speed. It likes 1950 cruise, which in 6th is ~80mph.

Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator | Spicer Parts


You can use this to determine what speed at a given rpm. You’ll want to find out the sweet spot for the Cummins. Idk what it is myself.

 

Depends how fast you want to be able to go, if never over 65 is fine with you the 4.44s shoukd work pretty decent. I have an 05 5.9 that I think has 3.73s and the crappy automatic and you have to be careful pulling with it or you'll melt pistons.

 

If you have the opportunity to drive both I would. The 4.44 will give you several thousand more pounds of pulling power but at the cost of a little mpg loss. Even if you are going to be pulling heavy 1/4 of the time, I think you would be better off with the lower gears. My brother in law hot shots but the lady he works for pretty much keeps them in the 5-8,000 pound freight range. If I knew I was going to be in that range most of the time I would run the 4.10's. I think that set up you are referring to is Rams heaviest tow package at like 31,000 gross pounds.

 

31000 wants the highest ratio you can put in back there. It is truly heavy against a little pickup. (No offense) never with a gas engine, you want a diesel and a manual if at all possible.

Long ago I have been full up 80000 and road towed by a variety of older pickups for upwards of 10 to 15 miles several time by chain on the frame with me providing braking for both. Once with a 110K container, a ford 9000 tractor and a Ford 150 of the late 80's vintage near Joppa to the shop there. The mechanic told me it will either make it or not. We will see. (It did, 8 miles on that one) Im not sure they make trucks that well anymore.

 

The F550 I currently drive runs about 2,100 - 2,200 at 100km/h (about 62mph). I think its got 4.88's in it and it weighs around 18k lbs. I think I'm averaging around 8 mpg with about 40ish% idle time. Its a slug to be honest. I couldn't imagine trying to run it with 4.10's. Our speed limits here are 100km/h so its not like I could drive faster anyways but your situation is different.

 

With 4.10’s or 4.44’s you’ll be averaging 10mpg.

 

I appreciate your knowledge in this forum. I've gone back and read/re-read the majority of your posts.