Options on a New Tow Vehicle

[bganso]

I'm close to buying a new RAM 2500 and came up with two questions. FYI this is for towing a '94 30' Classic

1) Axle ratio 3.73 vs. 4.10 (pros and cons)

2) Alternator 100 amp or 220 amp (pros and cons)

Thanks for your input.

[SeeMore]

I have a Ram diesel with the 3.73 rear gearing and it is way more than sufficient for all grades from my driveway to the Rockies. The engine is rated at 400 ft lbs of torque. Check your stats if equipped with the gas engine.

As for the alternator, my choice was between 180 and 220. The pricing was a $100 difference. I ended up with the 180 amp unit and it has been quite satisfactory.

[bganso]

Thanks, I meant to say 180 amps not 100. You answers were what I wanted to hear.

[pteck]

How much solo driving vs towing will you be doing?

The 4.10 will surely give some more grunt at the wheels. Rarely talked about, but it will also give the engine more leverage when engine braking down a hill.

[Isuzusweet]

Gas or diesel?
New 2018 or 2019 as they may have different transmissions with different ratios, (gas and diesel at least have different transmissions)
Optional tire size?

In future, in order to recieve the most accurate answers please specify as much information about your TV as possible.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[Dexterpix]

Diesel option provides 3.42 ratio as standard. Never had an issue with power. Lower the ratio better the fuel mileage. We average 16.5mpg towing (65mph) 21-22 no problem without the trailer. It is my wife's daily driver. She gets about 16 around town.

We have a 2017 RAM 2500 Cummins, duel 220Amp alternators. I have added additional led lighting and an onboard compressor. We also use the onboard inverter (150w) to recharge items while driving down the road.

Joe D

[DBinSD]

Originally Posted by bganso

I'm close to buying a new RAM 2500 and came up with two questions. FYI this is for towing a '94 30' Classic

1) Axle ratio 3.73 vs. 4.10 (pros and cons)

2) Alternator 100 amp or 220 amp (pros and cons)

Thanks for your input.

We have a 2017 Ram 2500 w/ 3.42 rear end. Tows our 28’ effortlessly.

The gearing is perfect and keeps the fuel milage manageable at around 17 mpg average towing.

[bganso]

Looking at a 2018 gas 6.4L with 275/70-18 tires. Solo driving averages <40 miles/day mostly stop/go freeway. Towing the A/S about 5k/year

[Tyvekcat]

Originally Posted by bganso

I'm close to buying a new RAM 2500 and came up with two questions. FYI this is for towing a '94 30' Classic

1) Axle ratio 3.73 vs. 4.10 (pros and cons)

2) Alternator 100 amp or 220 amp (pros and cons)

Thanks for your input.

Great choice I might add. I have the 4.10 gears, and 220 amp.
It will absolutely pull your house off its foundation with the 4.10s.

It is awesome here in Virginia, ( and NC & W.VA) where we have some pretty good sized hills. Nothing like the mountains you have in California.

The 4.10 lowers top speed. That's okay for me, I don't run 75-80, even when I don't have the AS. Roads are not that straight around here anyhow. If I want to go fast, I take the Lexus IS 350. ( Hmmmm maybe that could tow the AS? Rear wheel drive ) Ummm, Nah,,,,,

I tow at about 63 MPH, and that is 1900 RPM. From what I have read, supposedly it is a little high compared to what others have posted on the Dodge forum with 3.73.
Right about 60-63 miles per hour is a 'sweet spot' and the truck will run all day ( and night) pulling our 28' AS. No strain on any hill. No constantly shifting gears. I always disliked that 4 grand rpm thing in the gas engine truck I had before. Undue stress isn't good.

Now if I can keep my foot out of the throttle, and limit myself to 57mph, I have achieved 16 mpg, with AS on the twisties in W.VA.
You cant do 57mph on the interstate though. Slower is better with a 4.10, but you can't always do that.

4.10 is great here in the mountains of Virginia. I think if you drove a 4.10 you would say 'Holy Cow' on how easy it accelerates, even with your classic ! If you are running across the flat lands, go 3.73.
Great choice,
Have a good one!

[tjdonahoe]

17 ram 4x4..6.7....3:42... 20-21 empty...14..pulling our 13 31’ Classic...does good...if a 392 hemi..go with 3:73

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by bganso

I'm close to buying a new RAM 2500 and came up with two questions. FYI this is for towing a '94 30' Classic

1) Axle ratio 3.73 vs. 4.10 (pros and cons)

2) Alternator 100 amp or 220 amp (pros and cons)

Thanks for your input.

4:10 for farm trucks...3:73. If hemi.....3:54 if 6.7 cummins.....100 amp is minimum

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by bganso

Looking at a 2018 gas 6.4L with 275/70-18 tires. Solo driving averages <40 miles/day mostly stop/go freeway. Towing the A/S about 5k/year

That's not very much towing in a year.

I would go with the 3.73 axle ratio for gas mileage.

As the alternator I don't see why you would need much more than standard.

I would also consider the Ford F250. If you check out the power capability of the Ford F250 and the Ram 2500 there is a real difference. The Ram 2500 gas does the gauntlet test in about 9 minutes. The F250 gas in 8 minutes.

If you were going with the diesel then the Ram 2500 is the most reliable with the cummins. It also gets better gas mileage than the F250 diesel.

I drove a Ram 2500 diesel because that's my next pickup when I retire. Nice truck. Wouldn't want it for a daily driver for what I do.

How much does your AS Classic weigh? Why not a beefed up F150 with Ecoboost? I get 22.5 to 23 mpg on daily driving as an appraiser. The ride is great. And I tow a 28' with no problem. But I can see if you have a payload issue for going with the 3/4 ton and your AS weighs over 9,000 lbs.

Big decision. Happy Camping.

[pteck]

Originally Posted by bganso

Looking at a 2018 gas 6.4L with 275/70-18 tires. Solo driving averages <40 miles/day mostly stop/go freeway. Towing the A/S about 5k/year

Doesn't look like you'll be doing much driving under tow. I'd only opt for the 4.10 if you were laden or towing heavily majority of the time.

Thought there are other considerations if they apply.

1) What type of equipment and "stuff" if any are you going to fit to your truck? If mostly empty, go for the standard ratio.
2) Will you ever upsize your tires (i.e. larger diameter). May be a reason to go for those 4.10
3) While the 30' is big, they were far lighter in '94. Will you ever get a newer heavier trailer? Though at only 5k miles per year, still would get the 3.73.

Yes to the big alternator for capacity on future electronics and upgrades.

[turk123]

Talking about alternators - I went through Ford's fleet program. Find a dealer that has someone that deals with company purchases. My fleet dealer had me buy the larger alternator as part of Ford's snow plowing package. The cost was $80 more.

That qualified me for a $1000 snow plow credit for up to anything I buy for the bed. It paid for half my cap and they took it off the price of the vehicle.

Just sayin, maybe Chrysler has a similar program.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The most the trailer is likely to pull is 30A before the fuse blows. Normally you will max out around 7 to 10A due to loss in the wiring. That's true of pretty much any truck.

The alternator output is rated at a fairly high RPM. At normal cruse you might only see 1/3 of the max rating. Yes they get smarter about this stuff as time goes on. You might have some sort of voodoo that helps that out a bit.

Bottom line - you aren't going to get a lot of use out of the bigger alternator.

Bob

[Rgentum]

I'd like to make a pitch for RamBoxes --- very convenient, especially for towing.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Rgentum

I'd like to make a pitch for RamBoxes --- very convenient, especially for towing.

Ditto on the RamBoxes!

[PatLee]

I agree with Dacquenzer regarding at least looking at a “beefed up” F150. I went with gas-powered Lariat trim line for the options and rated towing capacity at 11,200 pounds. My payload is 1374 which has been plenty for me as a single person. Very comfortable, great gas mileage and love the 37 gal tank. Drive it with 25’ AS from DC to Salem and handled everything (including the dreadful twisty, steep switcbackey Route 36 in northern CA) with no strain, even aplomb! The 10 speed transmission is a godsend for mountain driving.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by bganso

Looking at a 2018 gas 6.4L with 275/70-18 tires. Solo driving averages <40 miles/day mostly stop/go freeway. Towing the A/S about 5k/year

3.73. Ratio ..good all around...

[Life is a Highway]

The F-150 feedback is encouraging. Ours is equipped
Like yours have not towed the 25 yet. I wanted the 250 diesel wife and salesman talked me into the max tow 150. If the ecoboost turns into a ecopuke in the hills it will get traded. So far I love the truck