The tow limit on the 3.21 trucks are lowered because of the torque potential that the Hemi 8 speed is capable of producing. It is to protect the differential from being over stressed and not because of lack of power. They are a towing monster... an example of having too much available power for the job.
3.21
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Capricious
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I guess my main beef is that dealers (regardless of brand) stock trucks intended for suburban commuters making fashion statements, and it's difficult to find a simple, basic truck with heavy-hauling capability sitting on a dealer's lot.
I am sure that is because they make more money that way.
I am sure that is because they make more money that way.
Copperhead
Veteran Member
That's for sure. Most of those folks want a pickup for the macho effect, but they want mpg like their car. Not necessarily a bad thing, as I am all for consumer choice. But the dealers forget that some of us actually do need a pickup for more serious pursuits. I had to scour the internet of various dealer inventories to find what I wanted. Ended up going to a dealer that was 60+ miles away to purchase (didn't care for dealers near me). One can also have their preferred dealer get them the pickup they want. They can do the looking around for you and find what you want at another dealer and have it brought to their lot. I did that with the two previous purchases before this present one.
Diamondpilot
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Diamondpilot
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Capricious
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The problem with ordering is that one doesn't get as good of a deal as one would get buying out of stock, assuming identical vehicles.
But if I want to avoid options I don't want, and don't want to pay for, then ordering is about the only option.
Of the (6) or so new vehicles I have bought, I ordered one and bought the rest out of stock.
It's the ring and pinion. Heavy trucks have discovered the same problem, as the trend over the last decade was to put low numerical gears in the diffs and use the tranny reduction and huge torque numbers to move the load. Then they started having premature pinion failures.
Think of having a 3 foot breaker bar on a half inch drive.... you know what's going to fail first.
Diamondpilot
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I understand that. Just put heavier better made running gear under it and problems solved.
Chris
Diamondpilot
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I always get a very competitive deal ordering as compared to pricing vehicles on the lot unless buying a model year older.
Chris
Copperhead
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I would have to disagree with that contention. I am running a 500 hp 1750 torque Detroit in front of an Eaton 18 speed tied to 2.64 ratio drives. I just turned over 400K miles with this setup and it is doing great. Granted, I only pull up to a gross of 80K lb, but it does quite well. I primarily run in direct drive (16th) at regular cruise speeds. Transmission stays cooler and there is less parasitic loss related to the overdrives. Average mpg over that 400K miles has been 7.83 mpg, which is a little over 2 mpg better than the OTR trucking average. If there are problems with the taller ratios, it is usually the lack of competence by the driver.
