Hey Guys, I got a 01 Ram 1500 5.9, has a Skyjacker 6" suspension lift with 37" tires, basic bolt-ons CAI, Headers, Magnaflow Exhaust with testpipe. My problem is when I go camping which is up in the mountains ( I travel up and down some huge hills) it seems very sluggish, now before the lift I had no problems, I could pull that same trailer up and down those mountains with no sweat. Now its a different story I feel like the truck is struggling and I'm working it way harder than it should be worked.

Now to alleviate this problem I have done some work. First I purchased a Superchips programmer whitch has the "Tow" tune on it and allows me to adjust for tire size. Then I got desperate and ordered a throttle body spacer, that seemed to do absolutly nothing.... Then I got serious and did a Dana 60 front and rear axle swap from a 98 2500 with 4:10 gears, full tune up, the truck runs great, Long arms, 6" skyjacker leaf srpings in the rear to get rid of the blocks, and a air bag suspension in the rear. Now when the trailer goes on the truck it barely budges but still I feel its struggles more than it should going up those hills.

So.....I'm just looking for some advise. Right now I see 3 options, 1 I could put on some smaller stock sized tires just for towing, this may help but its going to look ridiculous and I feel I will be off balanced with the truck being so high and the wheels so thin. 2 would be getting a higher gear ratio like 4.56's which is a lot of money, or 3 just give up on this truck towing all together.

 

With those 37's you'd probably need 4.56. 37's probably a good strain on the transmission too. Are you pulling with overdrive off?

Have you checked the plenum? Throttle body spacer will in fact do absolutely nothing on these trucks.

Smaller tires when towing would probably help greatly.

Honestly, if you want a truck with a lift, big tires, and good towing capabilities it's probably time to go Diesel.

 

I actually ordered a plenum gasket just as a pre caution because I've heard of so many going bad, just havn't gotten around to installing it. That will be done soon before my next trip. I will be taking the throttle body spacer off at that time I think its actually robbing me of power if anything. I'd like to do the 4.56 gears but i'm just tring to weigh out my options. I only tow with this truck maybe 4 - 6 times a year, if I could get the same result from some smaller tires than that may be the way i'm going to go. I've done absolutely everything to my truck but I hear these gears should be done by an expert so I feel a little weird about letting someone else work on it.

And yes I am actually semi looking for a diesel truck right now, next great deal I see I may be jumping on it. I've just put so much time and money into this truck I'd hate to see it go.

 

yea your on the right track now man. take the tb spacer off... fix the plenum, and the biggest thing thats causing probs is prob the 4:10s, its better than 3:55s or 3:93s but i think for 37s and towing its still to small, go with like 4:88s and make sure you towing with the O/D off. as long as its running right and you have the gears for it, it should do just fine man.

 

Yeah, I would go 4.88's with 37's...... That IS the problem.

 

As HeyYou said 4.88 gears or even 5.13's with 37" tires. With a 5-6" lift and 37" tires you've added a lot of rolling resistance to your truck. You figure it now sits higher so catches more wind plus a tire that is 12.5 to 15.5" wide it takes a lot more to make that truck roll.

Look at a gear ratio/rpm chart and figure out where you were when stock. Then go to the 37" tires and see what ratio it is going to take to get you back there. If you want added power drop down one gear ratio. The good thing about going to the D60 axles also got you larger brakes for stopping those big tires.


http://www.superlift.com/library/gears.asp



You want a ratio in the black area for good power or if you want great power then pick a ratio in the blue. So with 37" tires as I suggested you want 4.88 or 5.13 gears. I'd do the 5.13's if it was mine.

 

Great chart!

 

Yeah for what your doing with your rig either going Diesel is the way to go. But going to a 4.88 gear will be better off for your gas truck. Switch to all synthetic lubes and oil and make sure your tune up is up to date.

 

Sure a diesel truck is the shizzle but he owns this gas truck already. Regearing will give you the most bang for your buck. But I have to disagree with those that say to use 4.88 gears. If it was my truck I'd get 5.13 gears. I have 5.13 gears in my Jeep with 38" tires.
I have no issues turning those tires so I can speak from experience.

 

^^^ I agree 100% 5.13 is the gear ratio of choice.