I bought my Ram about a month ago, it's a 5.7L SLT Crew Cab LoneStar Edition 4x2 with 20" wheels. I've been reading a bunch on this forum and unfortunately I didn't do as much homework before this purchase as I should have and it's been a long time since I owned truck.

This one came with the 3.21 gear ratio and my only question is WHY? Why did Dodge do this? Was it only for the fuel efficiency? I was on a bit of a budget, so I opted for certain options and passed on the 4x4 and some other "nice to haves". I don't use the truck for work, just my daily commuter. Right now I'm not towing or hauling anything on a regular basis. I live in central Texas so I'm not worried about snow. Despite all of that, from what I can tell after a bit of research, the gearing option is just the wrong choice for the stock set-up with the 20" wheels and tires. Maybe based on the way I plan to use it I'll never know the difference and maybe it's no big deal. I'm just wondering why they even pushed that 3.21 as the standard option for 4x2 LoneStar Edition, why not just leave the 3.55?

Since i have nothing to compare it to, can anyone shed a little insight as to whether or not changing the gears is worthwhile for just driving the thing 99% of the time without a load? Is this really going to be handicapped driving through the Texas Hill Country?

 

I've got the same exact set up. In the same area too (NW of AUS). I've been wondering the same thing. I haven't had any issues driving through the hills but still would like a bit more "go" from the start.

 

I have no idea why other than a fraction of fuel mileage that Dodge would do this. 20 inch wheels and 3.21 really hurts the take off and gives lower mileage in town. I drove a 3.92 and a 3.21 back to back and it was like a different world. FYI, Dodge required 4.10s with factory 20s in 02 when the 3rd gen Ram came out. I guess CAFE rules and the higher HP of the 09 hemi made them change their minds. I was really surprised at how many trucks were equiped with 3.21s when I was shopping for my 09.

 

I went to 3 different dealer before i got my truck and drove all 3 different rearends 3.21 3.55 3.92 and me are the saleman could tell any difference we got one with a 3.21 and 3.92 and run them in short race the 3.92 pulled 1 link off the line and the 3.21 ended up 1/2 link ahead at 80 mph its like the dealer told me the 3.92 put more torque to wheels and tows more put it is no faster

 

get 4.10's or 4.56's

those are the 2 i am going to choose from when the time comes

 

Scranch5,
I really don't know what to say??? How about this...there is no way in hell that a 3.21 is going to beat a 3.92 to 80 mph.

 

Unloaded, the 3.21 is probably decent in a race, due to the torque converter stall and the engine having enough nutt to pull the taller gearing. I can imagine that it would shift 1-2 at about 55mph WOT and then hold 2nd to 80mph+. Towing is another matter, I couldn't even imagine it...

It is absolutely ridiculous to put 3.21s in a truck with 20's and an engine that likes a little more RPM than the old generation of engines. Previously, the only time they offered 3.21's was in the basic 2WD, V6-5speed trucks and small tires. I had that setup in a '94, with 30.5" tires. It got phenomenal fuel mileage if you drove like a poke ***, but had no nutt at all. It would run 80mph at less than 2000 rpm.

Now, with 33" tires, you are likely turning around 1500 rpm at 80 mph. Under normal driving, you wouldn't even use 3rd gear; you'd be 1st, 2nd to 50mph quick in 3rd and then into the O/Ds. I had that shifting pattern with 3.92s and hated it, so I went with 4.56s; I can't even imagine how the 3.21's are.

 

Thanks for the responses, from what i can tell it was just for CAFE standards and their assumption that anyone buying the 4x2 won't use it very hard, which i guess i fit that for most of my driving.

Under normal driving and acceleration it likes to shift around 2,000 to 2,500 rpms tops. That's at about 20 mph from 1st to 2nd, 33-35mph 2nd to 3rd, maybe 45-50 3rd to 4th. At 65 in 5th it will sit at 1600 rpms, at 80 its at about 2100, but any touch on the gas pedal will drop it back to 4th. It seems to like 4th gear on the hwy--but i guess that's what I would expect.
Under heavy accleration it will shift up around 3500, but I havent seen it get much more than that unless I limit the tranny gear.

It's pretty much a dog off the line and always has to drop a gear or 2 for rolling acceleration--which is kind of delayed then jerks pretty rough when it decides on the gear. I'm going to drive a buddy's tomorrow that has the 3.92s in it and decide what I am going to do. Just need to find a good shop in the Austin area if i decide to do it.

 

wow.
3.21's
how sucky! i hate my 3.55's,i couldnt imagine 3.21's. i thought chrysler would have done some reasearch into what customers want. not what they what us to want

 

The forums are loaded with people wanting to go from 3.21's or 3.55's to the 3.92's but I have yet to see one single post where anyone wanted to go from 3.92's to 3.55's or 3.21's. I would suggest there is a reason for this.