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

[HSKR R/T]

Copied and pasted from another post on a related thread:

I got this from another older thread on this forum. Basically the results of MotorTrend's pickup of the year for 2019 where they had 2 Ram 1500 hemi's with e-torque. One was a Rebel which comes with the 3.92's and a Longhorn with 3.21's. Seems the Longhorn with the 3.21 rear was quicker 0-60 and also quicker in the 1/4 mile. The Rebel with the 3.92 rear was only slightly quicker when pulling a 7500lb load. And by slightly quicker when towing, I mean barely a noticeable difference in the 1/4 mile while pulling 7500lbs. 3.21 also had better gas mileage. Based on these numbers, I'll take the 3.21 rear for the win.

Source: TruckTrend's 2019 Pickup Truck of the Year contest
Article: TruckTrend's "Running The Gauntlet" 2019 March/April Issue
3.92- 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,534 lbs
• Tires: LT275/70R18
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 33.2 in

3.21- 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,652 lbs
• Tires: P275/55R20
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 31.9 in

STATS (Winner highlighted in Green)

• Accel 0-60 MPH 3.92- 6.94 secs; 3.21- 6.44 secs
• 1/4 Mile 3.92- 15.93 secs @ 91.13 MPH; 3.21- 15.71 secs @ 92.97 MP
• Accel 0-60 (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 14.28 secs; 3.21- 14.48 secs
• 1/4 Mile (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 20.23 secs @ 72.57 MPH; 3.21- 20.30 secs @ 72.95 MPH
• Tested Fuel Econ (Average/Best) 3.92- 14.50/17.96; 3.21- 15.73/19.07

Tire size/weight difference, ride height difference. Might as well be comparing different brands. Just too many differences to be a fair comparison. The real comparison would be two trucks with the same options and trim level, with only difference being the gears.

 

[Mountain Whiskey]

Copied and pasted from another post on a related thread:

I got this from another older thread on this forum. Basically the results of MotorTrend's pickup of the year for 2019 where they had 2 Ram 1500 hemi's with e-torque. One was a Rebel which comes with the 3.92's and a Longhorn with 3.21's. Seems the Longhorn with the 3.21 rear was quicker 0-60 and also quicker in the 1/4 mile. The Rebel with the 3.92 rear was only slightly quicker when pulling a 7500lb load. And by slightly quicker when towing, I mean barely a noticeable difference in the 1/4 mile while pulling 7500lbs. 3.21 also had better gas mileage. Based on these numbers, I'll take the 3.21 rear for the win.

Source: TruckTrend's 2019 Pickup Truck of the Year contest
Article: TruckTrend's "Running The Gauntlet" 2019 March/April Issue
3.92- 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,534 lbs
• Tires: LT275/70R18
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 33.2 in

3.21- 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,652 lbs
• Tires: P275/55R20
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 31.9 in

STATS (Winner highlighted in Green)

• Accel 0-60 MPH 3.92- 6.94 secs; 3.21- 6.44 secs
• 1/4 Mile 3.92- 15.93 secs @ 91.13 MPH; 3.21- 15.71 secs @ 92.97 MP
• Accel 0-60 (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 14.28 secs; 3.21- 14.48 secs
• 1/4 Mile (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 20.23 secs @ 72.57 MPH; 3.21- 20.30 secs @ 72.95 MPH
• Tested Fuel Econ (Average/Best) 3.92- 14.50/17.96; 3.21- 15.73/19.07

Fake News!

 

[HSKR R/T]

Nah. 3.21 real men can make their women drive for them when they’re drinking. We are manly men and the wives know that they must do what we say.

3.92 boys are kinda weak. So their wives make them do dishes, and buy tampons for them.

Also, it seems you 3.21 guys are abusive womanizers. Glad I'm not into that crowd.

 

[RedFred]

Tire size/weight difference, ride height difference. Might as well be comparing different brands. Just too many differences to be a fair comparison. The real comparison would be two trucks with the same options and trim level, with only difference being the gears.

Well, really the whole comparison is a joke to begin with. But I guess in the "must have 3.92's" world, the Rebel is now a girls truck since it couldn't out perform a Longhorn with 3.21's.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Well, really the whole comparison is a joke to begin with. But I guess in the "must have 3.92's" world, the Rebel is now a girls truck since it couldn't out perform a Longhorn with 3.21's.

The Rebel would outperform the Longhorn in the environment it was designed to be in. Off road. I suppose a 3500 HD RAM is a girls truck because it isn't as fast as a 1500 Longhorn?

 

[theblet]

At least the 3.92 guys are buying the tampons for thier wives and not themselves!

What you do on your own time is your business. Although they could be useful to dry up 3.92 tears after 3.21s beat them in the 1/4 mile.

 

[RedFred]

The Rebel would outperform the Longhorn in the environment it was designed to be in. Off road. I suppose a 3500 HD RAM is a girls truck because it isn't as fast as a 1500 Longhorn?

I'm not bashing any of the trucks. Read through the thread and you decide who is making all the childish claims here. I've had the 3.92's and a truck with the 3.21's. Nothing wrong with either. But with the 8 speed transmission, you have enough gears where having 3.92's is not the advantage it once was. The transmission has enough choices to give you the right combo of gear ratio to make the difference negligible for the most part. Except when highway cruising. At that point there is no where else for the transmission to go. For myself, I prefer to have 3.21's for that reason, so I can be at a lower RPM in 8th at highway speeds.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I'm not bashing any of the trucks. Read through the thread and you decide who is making all the childish claims here. I've had the 3.92's and a truck with the 3.21's. Nothing wrong with either. But with the 8 speed transmission, you have enough gears where having 3.92's is not the advantage it once was. The transmission has enough choices to give you the right combo of gear ratio to make the difference negligible for the most part. Except when highway cruising. At that point there is no where else for the transmission to go. For myself, I prefer to have 3.21's for that reason, so I can be at a lower RPM in 8th at highway speeds.

It's all fun and games anymore. I could really care less. Just playing devil's advocate with the 3.21 guys. I have 3.92 in my truck, it's what I wanted. Even with 3.21, these trucks aren't going to get any fuel mileage worth bragging about.

 

[Bigzway]

The 3.21 gears do just fine for me in the Rocky Mountains and out hunting and fishing or driving around the farm. I do wish I had the 3.92s again so I don’t drive 80-90 with the engine rpm’s below 2000, that way I can hear the engine screaming. Just enjoy the laughter, excuses and justifications of the 3.92 guys.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Seems the 3.21 guys are trying harder to justify their gear set choice.

 

[Idahoktm]

Copied and pasted from another post on a related thread:

I got this from another older thread on this forum. Basically the results of MotorTrend's pickup of the year for 2019 where they had 2 Ram 1500 hemi's with e-torque. One was a Rebel which comes with the 3.92's and a Longhorn with 3.21's. Seems the Longhorn with the 3.21 rear was quicker 0-60 and also quicker in the 1/4 mile. The Rebel with the 3.92 rear was only slightly quicker when pulling a 7500lb load. And by slightly quicker when towing, I mean barely a noticeable difference in the 1/4 mile while pulling 7500lbs. 3.21 also had better gas mileage. Based on these numbers, I'll take the 3.21 rear for the win.

Source: TruckTrend's 2019 Pickup Truck of the Year contest
Article: TruckTrend's "Running The Gauntlet" 2019 March/April Issue
3.92- 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,534 lbs
• Tires: LT275/70R18
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 33.2 in

3.21- 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4

• Engine: 5.7L V8 w/ eTorque
• Weight: 5,652 lbs
• Tires: P275/55R20
• Fuel Capacity: 33 GAL
• Tire Diameter (via online calculator): 31.9 in

STATS (Winner highlighted in Green)

• Accel 0-60 MPH 3.92- 6.94 secs; 3.21- 6.44 secs
• 1/4 Mile 3.92- 15.93 secs @ 91.13 MPH; 3.21- 15.71 secs @ 92.97 MP
• Accel 0-60 (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 14.28 secs; 3.21- 14.48 secs
• 1/4 Mile (Towing 7,500 lb weight) 3.92- 20.23 secs @ 72.57 MPH; 3.21- 20.30 secs @ 72.95 MPH
• Tested Fuel Econ (Average/Best) 3.92- 14.50/17.96; 3.21- 15.73/19.07

Good gawd those trucks are slow.

 

[Bigzway]

Seems the 3.92 guys have the most post. I didn’t buy the truck to go fast and if I need to go fast I drive the Mercedes

 

[Rick3478]

I got this from another older thread on this forum. Basically the results of MotorTrend's pickup of the year for 2019 where they had 2 Ram 1500 hemi's with e-torque. One was a Rebel which comes with the 3.92's and a Longhorn with 3.21's. Seems the Longhorn with the 3.21 rear was quicker 0-60 and also quicker in the 1/4 mile. The Rebel with the 3.92 rear was only slightly quicker when pulling a 7500lb load. And by slightly quicker when towing, I mean barely a noticeable difference in the 1/4 mile while pulling 7500lbs. 3.21 also had better gas mileage. Based on these numbers, I'll take the 3.21 rear for the win.

I didn't buy my truck to do 0-60 or 1/4 mile. If that's your thing, enjoy!

I might be interested in data from sustained towing, steep uphill, u-joint and transmission wear, long term load survival. I took 3.92 to get 'r done.

 

[Ramroo]

I'm not bashing any of the trucks. Read through the thread and you decide who is making all the childish claims here. I've had the 3.92's and a truck with the 3.21's. Nothing wrong with either. But with the 8 speed transmission, you have enough gears where having 3.92's is not the advantage it once was. The transmission has enough choices to give you the right combo of gear ratio to make the difference negligible for the most part. Except when highway cruising. At that point there is no where else for the transmission to go. For myself, I prefer to have 3.21's for that reason, so I can be at a lower RPM in 8th at highway speeds.

I’ve had both and like the 3.21 for that reason also.

I’ve had mostly HD trucks in my past and deciding I would try a 1/2 ton due to a truck issue and with Rona, supply chain, etc etc.

I do like the way the 1/2 tons drive. Responsive, comfortable, fast.
However, the majority of 1/2 tons can only do very light truck stuff - hauling, towing. So there is a big trade off.

It is nice to have two trucks now, 1/2 and 3/4 ton, and looking for the 1 ton replacement. Will prob always have a kid truck (1/2 ton) to do daily stuff and kid stuff comfortably and fast. If you are doing big boy stuff in your 1/2 ton, you prob should not be. Yes, 3.92 is a kid truck and nothing more.

I do laugh and enjoy the axle thread back and forth. Some funny folks out there. Some, well…

Some say “girly gears” etc etc. I’ve seen some women do more than THEY probably would ever attempt. Funny.

 

[c3k]

Yeah, it's all meant, and taken, in a light-hearted manner. I'm glad there's a choice.

 

[CalvinC]

Sort of funny that in a thread about which axle makes a better truck, it turns out regardless of which axle you choose, you're still in the slowest, least efficient half ton on the market (now that Titan is dead), and which is battling Tundra for lowest payload & towing ratings.

The above is completely factual on-paper, but also entirely irrelevant in the real world - just like most of this thread!

(ready to duck tomatoes)

 

[Ramroo]

Yeah, it's all meant, and taken, in a light-hearted manner. I'm glad there's a choice.

Yea I agree for the most part.

Prior to my previous post, I have to admit I was a little fed up with the “ girly, girl, real man,” blah blah” from all sides.

I personally can take criticism and jokes about me and my stuff. Bring it, No prob, heard a lot. All good.

But, when some are criticizing or embellishing something and using terms like girly, girl, real man etc. I thought I would say something. It’s ironic, because a ” real man” would never use “ girly” when describing something they think is lesser. Putting the physically weaker sex down is what the weak and cowardly do, NOT ” real men”.

Some descriptions of what a real man is and does is way, way off too.

3.21. 3.92, 3.55, comments, good, bring ‘em.

“Girly”, ”girl truck”, ”man”, etc etc. comments.... OK, but it is a self reflection of yourself and we might be laughing at you, not with you.

 

[Oldphart]

OK, I'll play.....who here has experimented with different sized pulleys on their ETorque in order to get a quicker launch when you take your foot off the brake?

Seriously guys, 95% of us could not tell the difference between either gearing if the tach and gear indicator was covered. This kind of reminds me of the THD discussions of stereo amps in the 70's 80's.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Yea I agree for the most part.

Prior to my previous post, I have to admit I was a little fed up with the “ girly, girl, real man,” blah blah” from all sides.

I personally can take criticism and jokes about me and my stuff. Bring it, No prob, heard a lot. All good.

But, when some are criticizing or embellishing something and using terms like girly, girl, real man etc. I thought I would say something. It’s ironic, because a ” real man” would never use “ girly” when describing something they think is lesser. Putting the physically weaker sex down is what the weak and cowardly do, NOT ” real men”.

Some descriptions of what a real man is and does is way, way off too.

3.21. 3.92, 3.55, comments, good, bring ‘em.

“Girly”, ”girl truck”, ”man”, etc etc. comments.... OK, but it is a self reflection of yourself and we might be laughing at you, not with you.

The fact those arguments bother you so much is why people say them. Most of my replies, once the thread went off rails, are no indication of how I actually think. It's just to get a response.

 

[Ramroo]

The fact those arguments bother you so much is why people say them. Most of my replies, once the thread went off rails, are no indication of how I actually think. It's just to get a response.

I will try to put my viewpoint another way.

You are not one that my comments were directed to. You usually don’t go there I
think. I love the rude and crude.

For example, when you turned my comments into liking it dry while receiving etc. Good Stuff, hilarious!

I like turning peoples comments into something rude and crude, and you do to. Funny stuff.

With your background, along with mine in the military, most of us are programmed to protect and fight for the weak and vulnerable. Not trying to project me as a superhero, just comment it reflects SO much WEAKNESS on people that degrade women. You probably know from your background, that if someone starts telling you how great, smart,tough, what they have done, and how much of a man they are…. they are the opposite, and full of $hit 100% of the time.

I was just trying to point out that when people use women or girls to describe something in a belittling sense, it shows that THEY are in fact LESS THAN, and shows what they are made of,
weakness and insecurities.