Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Tow Vehicles -> 3.43 vs 3.73 ?
Post Info TOPIC: 3.43 vs 3.73 ?
DebbieM


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 420
Date:
3.43 vs 3.73 ?
Permalink  

There seems to be many more 3.43 differentials out there than the 3.73.  Those of you more in the know, is one much better than the other to pull a 12.5K (empty) 5th wheel?

Thanks for the help!



__________________

Debbie & Steve McCormack...and Hurley too!

Our Blog: Down the Road

2013 Montana 3582RL

2013 Dodge 3500HD Laramie Longhorn Dually

Fulltime since June 2014
Lonney Wade


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 194
Date:
Permalink  

The 3.73 will pull a little more weight with ease, more acceleration especial on the big hills.
The gears will allow the exhaust brake to work a little better because of the lower gears.
With the higher gear 3.43 with a heavy load the truck will be a little doggy with power, just a little.
Now when you go to the 4500 series trucks and up they put 4.88 gears in the trucks, that's what allows the trucks to pull so much more weight, if they put 3.43 or 3.73 gears in the 4500 series trucks they would be a dog again with very little pulling power when pulling the weight they were design for.
Just things I have learned in my younger days, boy do I miss the younger me.


Lonney

 



__________________

Lonney & Angel and our fur kid a Sheltie (Wyatt)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax    

2010 Keystone Everest 345S 37' 5th wheel
50 gal. Aux Fuel Tank

Rear 5000 pound Air Ride

25K Air Safe Hitch
Powerupdiesel tuner or EZTurner

  

 
lindy


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 116
Date:
Permalink  

The reason for more 3.43 gears is easy - Fuel Economy, with veh makers having to meet newer CAFE standards on way is with higher gear ratios.

__________________

2012 Winnebago "Journey To Insanity" 40U

2008 Dakota 4x4

2004 Subaru Baja -DW's

2005 Honda Shadow Aero - TOAD for now.
Bill and Linda


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2074
Date:
Permalink  

DebbieM wrote:

There seems to be many more 3.43 differentials out there than the 3.73.  Those of you more in the know, is one much better than the other to pull a 12.5K (empty) 5th wheel?

Thanks for the help!

 

As a simple answer: 3.73 for towing. Hard to imagine a 3.43 for towing unless the truck is only used occasionally for towing a very light utility trailer.  However, you naturally need to review all the specifications of the truck in addition to the rear end ratio.  If the trailer is 12.5K empty, then what will it be loaded? I’ll bet it could scare 15K fully loaded. Naturally that is what matters in addition to the fully loaded pin weight.  I’d sure consider a diesel if that is not already your thought.



__________________

Bill & Linda
VanMar


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 253
Date:
Permalink  

I guess the trucks you're looking at are Fords because with Chevys, all you can get in a diesel dually is a 3:73.  Are all of the trucks you're looking at diesels with DRWs?  I think with SRWs you can get the higher speed gears...at least in a GM.  I think you decided to go with DRWs, didn't you?  If you have a choice, go with a 3:73...just my two cents.



__________________

Vance and Marla

2010 Mobile Suites 36 TK3

2013 Silverado 3500 Duramax Dually 4X4 

Full Timing launch date 8-25-2014
HighwayRanger


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 149
Date:
Permalink  

How big of a difference will 4.10 rear end make? We looked at a 2014 Ram 3500 DRW with the Cummins/Aisin combo. We were told they are available with 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 ratios. Your choice. Would the 3.73 be the best middle ground for torque and decent mileage? We intend to pull a fiver with a max gvwr of 18500 lbs.

Thanks,

Roy

__________________

Let's Roll, America!

Fulltimer Class of Late 2015, with my beautiful bride, Lori.

2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3 Hitch

2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS, MorRyde Pin Box

 
Lonney Wade


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 194
Date:
Permalink  

Roy, 3.73 is a very good gear, the 4.10 will give you more pulling power on the hills but your RPMs will go up as well and your gas mileage will go down.
I'm pulling a 5 wheel at about close to 15000 pounds loaded and have plenty of power with the 3.73 gears, I get 10, 12, one time 14 MPG on a flat road, 63mph at 1700rpms with a Chevy diesel.
3.73 would be the best middle ground for torque and decent mileage.

Lonney



-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:44:44 AM



-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 12th of April 2014 11:46:19 AM

__________________

Lonney & Angel and our fur kid a Sheltie (Wyatt)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax    

2010 Keystone Everest 345S 37' 5th wheel
50 gal. Aux Fuel Tank

Rear 5000 pound Air Ride

25K Air Safe Hitch
Powerupdiesel tuner or EZTurner

  

 
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Tow Vehicles -> 3.43 vs 3.73 ?
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us