An Engineer's Ultimate Guide To 3.21 VS 3.92 Axle Ratio

[6of36]

Dodge put a 4.0L v6 in mini vans, Nitros and Journeys, what a that engine was. It never would have lasted in a Ram. The current v6 Ram has is a much better engine, just a little underpowered for a heavy truck imo.

1 of my Rams had the 6. Towed my 5,000 lb pontoon just fine. The only issue was going north on I75 over the Zilwaukee bridge, near Saginaw, Mi. It is pretty steep, and it downshifted about 3 gears, screaming up the hill. It did it just fine, but the RPMs were up there. I've seen many vehicles slow going up it. Other than that one hill, it towed 5,000 lbs like nothing. Even with the 6, it was quicker than my girlfriends 94 Mustang GT, with an automatic.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I don’t think mine was 5k, I think I would remember that. If I had to guess I’d say it may have been 47-48-ish.

5k and that's not counting all options.

 

[Dewey]

I find it fun t when people say a 300hp V6 is underpowered for a full size truck. 80s through mid 2000s full size trucks would tend to disagree.

My 99 Ram Sport with the 360 had something like 245 hp. Heavy truck and although no Hemi it did just fine for everyday driving and towing. Amazing what can be done with gear ratios.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My 99 Ram Sport with the 360 had something like 245 hp. Heavy truck and although no Hemi it did just fine for everyday driving and towing. Amazing what can be done with gear ratios.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying

 

[HemiDude]

5k and that's not counting all options. View attachment 167425

Hmm, I would not have guessed that. That 5.2 moved the Ram pretty well. That was a good truck, first brand new vehicle I ever bought

 

[RVTRKN]

I once owned a 2016 Toyota Tacoma with a V-6, I know apples to oranges, and towed a 5K lb boat, it towed it just fine until you had to climb with it. So when I started looking into trading my 3500 for a 1500, I wasn't going any less than a V8, and the 5.7 Hemi was a good choice. I owned a 92 Dakota with the 318, and a 94 2500 Ram with a 360, the 5.7 out performs them and I'm very happy with it. Do I like the mpg, not so much, but with the HP towing my Tritoon its just right. My 2019 3500 CTD SRW HO was the best I've ever towed with, but after selling the 5ver, I had no need of the expense of the CTD.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Hmm, I would not have guessed that. That 5.2 moved the Ram pretty well. That was a good truck, first brand new vehicle I ever bought

When Dodge did the remodel of the Rams to the gen 2 rounded style, my Dad bought one with the 5.9l. The same year my uncle bought one with the 5.2. He got the 5.2 because he thought it would get better fuel mileage and didn't need the "big" engine. My dad's 5.9 got better gas mileage than my uncle 5.2, and it frustrated my uncle. He complained about it anytime we had family get togethers.

 

[6of36]

When Dodge did the remodel of the Rams to the gen 2 rounded style, my Dad bought one with the 5.9l. The same year my uncle bought one with the 5.2. He got the 5.2 because he thought it would get better fuel mileage and didn't need the "big" engine. My dad's 5.9 got better gas mileage than my uncle 5.2, and it frustrated my uncle. He complained about it anytime we had family get togethers.

I forget which of my Rams had the 5.9, but I remember how bad the mileage was. Hemi gets way better mileage, with 100 more horsepower.

 

[RVTRKN]

My 1994 2500 360 HD 2X4, (That Model Year, there was a difference in HD and a standard duty 2500) it got horrible milage, but that MY was a lot better than the earlier Carburetor versions. So getting what we get now on the average across the US with Hemi and better HP is a heck of a lot better than the last MY's.

 

[theblet]

I had an 89 f150 with a 5.0. I don’t know what the fuel mileage was because the gauges didn’t work in that POS.

 

[Wirerat]

When Dodge did the remodel of the Rams to the gen 2 rounded style, my Dad bought one with the 5.9l. The same year my uncle bought one with the 5.2. He got the 5.2 because he thought it would get better fuel mileage and didn't need the "big" engine. My dad's 5.9 got better gas mileage than my uncle 5.2, and it frustrated my uncle.

Sounds like the 3rd/4th Gen 1500 with the 4.7 V8 vs the Hemi.

I went from a '05 1500 rcsb hemi 2wd to a 04 WJ 4.7 after my son was born. That jeep was thirsty af it's whole life. 4.7L is worse than penistar in every way except a little more torque. I'm sure the 8 speed helps make up for that.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Sounds like the 3rd/4th Gen 1500 with the 4.7 V8 vs the Hemi.

I went from a '05 1500 rcsb hemi 2wd to a 04 WJ 4.7 after my son was born. That jeep was thirsty af it's whole life. 4.7L is worse than penistar in every way except a little more torque. I'm sure the 8 speed helps make up for that.

The 4.7 was a horrible Mercedes designed engine.

 

[Mountain Whiskey]

I forget which of my Rams had the 5.9, but I remember how bad the mileage was. Hemi gets way better mileage, with 100 more horsepower.

I had a '77 with a 318 ci motor. 8 miles to the gallon baby!

 

[RVTRKN]

Ya, I don't remember the exact year, I believe it was a 1975 318 A100 I bought in Washington State that was a logging Co truck before I bought it. I had to replace the timing chain, and I ran it all over Mt St Hellen before they closed off the entire mountain after the eruption. Loved that truck, it was a 2X4 that 4X4rd all over the mountain. I didn't care what the milage was, it got me where I needed to go, but I'm sure it was not very good.

 

[spyder]

I had a '77 with a 318 ci motor. 8 miles to the gallon baby!

I've had a 59 with a 4 speed poly 318, a '60 with a 383, and a 71 with a 440. I'd have been happy with 8mpg in any of them.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I've had a 59 with a 4 speed poly 318, a '60 with a 383, and a 71 with a 440. I'd have been happy with 8mpg in any of them.

My 66 D100 with 318 poly and np435 gets over 10mpg.

 

[Ramfancy]

I had a 96 standard with the small v8. I loved that truck…until I totaled it. It was my first new vehicle. Was wonderful with the standard transmission. I towed like crazy with it and never had a problem for 150 plus miles. It got decent mileage on the highway for the times…

 

[Willwork4truck]

My 99 Ram Sport with the 360 had something like 245 hp. Heavy truck and although no Hemi it did just fine for everyday driving and towing. Amazing what can be done with gear ratios.

I had my dads dog of a C20 1973 350 automatic (no idea what gears) rebuilt to stock in 1982 as a gift to him. Installed cost for the engine and tranny was about $2300. I believe the specs are:

LS9​

350/V 8​

175​

275​

K10,K20​

73-86​

That‘s a whoppin’ 175 hp and 275 ft pounds of torque in a 3/4 truck…. About all you got back then. It could haul 2500-3000 of concrete cores or green firewood though. Did it many times.

 

[Willwork4truck]

The TRX doesn't have 3.92s does it?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1698524763994378240

Next stop the car wash with about $100 worth of quarters…

 

[N8Mash]

I searched but couldn't find an answer - with the 3.92, the final drive ratio for first and reverse is higher, so my assumption is that when maneuvering a trailer in reverse, the 3.9 geared vehicle would be be slower at idle speed, as well as have more torque. This would be helpful if backing up a trailer on an incline correct?