2000 Dakota 4x4 SLT towing / general performance
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2000 Dakota 4x4 SLT towing / general performance
Hi all,
I am looking for an overall suggestion for upgrades related to performance for my 2000 Dakota SLT Quad Cab 4.7L 4x4 with Corp 9 axle/3.55 gears and 31 x 10.5 x R15 LT tires, tranny cooler and 102k miles.
Primarily I want to increase my towing efficiency, but also general, non-towing highway.
I run about 2,000 rpm at 60mph on nearly flat highway. I generally run 2,500+ out of overdrive on flat ground towing my 4200lb trailer (20ft).
This is worse than it used to be by some amount to be sure.
So my questions are;
1) are any of the performance <computer chip> packages viable options, especially for towing.
2) How difficult and expensive is it to change out to a different gear ratio (from 3.55 to 4.10 etc.)
3) or, would you stick with the 3.55 for torque considering a 4000lb towing weight (i generally have a lot of hills in my trips)
What do you guys get in general on highway, in overdrive for mph / rpm's ?
Mine seems ridiculous!
I am looking for an overall suggestion for upgrades related to performance for my 2000 Dakota SLT Quad Cab 4.7L 4x4 with Corp 9 axle/3.55 gears and 31 x 10.5 x R15 LT tires, tranny cooler and 102k miles.
Primarily I want to increase my towing efficiency, but also general, non-towing highway.
I run about 2,000 rpm at 60mph on nearly flat highway. I generally run 2,500+ out of overdrive on flat ground towing my 4200lb trailer (20ft).
This is worse than it used to be by some amount to be sure.
So my questions are;
1) are any of the performance <computer chip> packages viable options, especially for towing.
2) How difficult and expensive is it to change out to a different gear ratio (from 3.55 to 4.10 etc.)
3) or, would you stick with the 3.55 for torque considering a 4000lb towing weight (i generally have a lot of hills in my trips)
What do you guys get in general on highway, in overdrive for mph / rpm's ?
Mine seems ridiculous!
I had a sct tuner from hemifeaver on my 5.2 a loved it. What is weird is 3.55's should put you at 2k at 70mph not 60. I run 4.10's in my truck and im at 2k at 60 but its diesel so different story. Going with 4.10's is gonna bring up higher rpms at 60.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Yeah like ram guy said, that RPM sounds high. I turn around 1500 at 60-65 with the same truck as you except i am running 285s. 3.55s will not help with torque as you stated. The higher (numerically) the gears are, the lower the gear ratio and the higher your rpms will turn.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: MA
4.10's will definitely increase your RPM's. I tend run just over 2000 at 65, same tires, but it's a 5 speed.
Changing gears though, you'll need to do both front/rear so you're looking at double the cost and it probably won't be DIY. You really need to know how to set up the clearances in a differential or it will be noisy and not last long.
Changing gears though, you'll need to do both front/rear so you're looking at double the cost and it probably won't be DIY. You really need to know how to set up the clearances in a differential or it will be noisy and not last long.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Live: Silverdale, WA; Work: WA, CA, VA, GA, FL; From: WV
Would having the 45RFE transmission make any difference? I have close to the same rig and I am getting almost identical RPM's (2k @ 60MPH and 2650 @ 60MPH with O/D off). If not, what should I be looking at as the problem?
The early 4.7's came with a 45rfe which were only 4 speeds and 03 and up had 545rfe's which were 5 speeds so there will be a difference. It does depend on your gears too.
