2013 ram 1500 4x4 w/ 3.55 gears.

I tow a 6k travel trailer routinely and the 3.55 gears have bugged me since I bought the truck new in 2013. I have a BAD roaring sound in my rear diff and am told it's bad rear pinion bearings...I guess we'll see once we open it up, but figured since this is the first time I've opened up the pumpkin and have to remove the gears anyways...should I just take the plunge?

Anybody have experience with this? Should I go 4.10 or 3.92? Still need to do some highway driving, but towing assistance would be great. What else do I need? I already have a 3845 flashpaq and think there's an option to program 3.92 or 4.10 gears?

 

You will need to install one new pinion bearing anyways if you are putting in new gears...so you might as well do both new.
Being 4 wheel drive you will need to change gears in front differential as well, or remove front drives shaft and not use 4x4.
Changing gears isn't for the backyard type guy. Really need to know what your doing...just an fyi

 

What size tires do you want to run?

Since you have to remove everything anyway, and you don't know what other carnage you are going to find in there, this would indeed be a good time to change the gears.

 

I'm currently running a very modest "lift" with the adjustable bilstein 5100's in the front (I think they're set to 2.25") and 275/65/20 BFG ATs. I'm more concerned with the pulling power since it seems even with a slight wind or grade my truck struggles to maintain speed on the highways...or at least it feels like there's nothing left in the gas pedal unless I make it downshift but I don't like revving at 4k RPM's. I always felt that if the gears were better it'd just be so much more comfortable with a few hundred RPMs above my current setup.

I have the parts on order w/ my local 4wp...plan on having them do the install, too. Now to consider if I want to throw in that posi rear or locker while I'm at it.... oh man...

 

No better time than the present. And you really don't want to pay labor twice do you?

 

4.10 gears with a Detroit Truetrac in the rear.

 

UPDATE! I ended up calling my local 4wheelparts and they were doing the work. Unfortunately, they said they can't get a 4.10 setup in the front without an extreme cost (need a whole new pumpkin). I guess they couldn't get a new case due to backorder or something? dunno...

Anyways...they installed 4.10's in the rear for right now since I needed the truck back but swapping everything out for 3.91's (or 3.92 or 3.88 idk yet). Goes back in the shop in about a week. It's a bummer but I need 4x4 back and it's at least slightly better than the 3.55's.

But...the 4.10's in the rear are a noticeable difference from my old 3.55's. I used to NEVER be able to burn out from zero (unless there was slick roads or something). Now I do it on accident. Even highway driving is much smoother and more punchy.

 

I briefly had a 2014 with the 5.7 and 3.91s. it was an excellent truck I never felt like I was lacking power.

 

UPDATE! Got the truck back with factory 3.92's. It doesn't quite have that punch the 4.10's had but still a fantastic improvement over 3.55's. If I'm honest with myself I wouldn't find it "worth it" to just do the swap due to cost on a 4x4 but since I had to replace a pinion bearing anyways I am happy with the results!

 

If you are happy with it, that is all that matters.