Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Ford vs. Ram vs. GM Diesel HP/TQ Ratings
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 > Ford vs. Ram vs. GM Diesel HP/TQ Ratings

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FishOnOne

The Great State of Texas

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Posted: 07/15/22 08:22pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I believe the Ram's exhaust brake performs a bit better than the Ford and probably the GM as well, but they're still acceptable by all means. In the area's I tow it's hard to compare exhaust brakes because they're really not needed. Maybe why my transmission has never been on the shop floor. [emoticon]


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Me Again

AZ - Summer in NW WA

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Posted: 07/15/22 09:53pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

IdaD wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

PLEASE tell me what benefit an 8 speed would give me towing West Coast with my AISIN/CUMMINS 385/865 at 35k combined. I can tell you dropping a gear manually does NOTHING as it knows what gear to be in.

Don't keep giving me MORE IS BETTER "Barbra Streisand".



If you were to hook your unit up behind a new F350 you’d be amazed at the difference a few years, 4 gears and 100 hp make.


It's incredible how blindly brand loyal some folks are. I like my Ram, at the time I bought it I thought it was the best diesel truck for my needs. Had I thought that about the Ford or GM, I'd have bought one of them instead. I'll do the same evaluation next time.

There's no question that my Ram with a 8 or 10 speed, or even a better quality 6 speed like the previous generation Ford or GM transmission, would be a better truck.


3500's have better quality 6 speeds available in the Aisin optional tranny. Loved mine with 3:42 gears. 1750 RPM's at 80 MPH.


2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021


Turtle n Peeps

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Posted: 07/15/22 10:32pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Me Again wrote:

1750 RPM's at 80 MPH.
[emoticon][emoticon][emoticon]


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4x4ord

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Posted: 07/16/22 07:17am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Cummins12V98 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:

Ron,

8 so has a 4.3 first gear, 10 in the 4.5 relm, compared to your 3.5ish first gear. Better starting gearing. Less pedal easier starts especially on steep grades.
I have not compared as closely on mid to top gears, possibly spaced closer, so assuming your like me, if I can't pull in OF, but in direct I could go redline, but back off to 2800 or so with past diesels, a taller ratio in trans will allow to go faster up a hill.
No one is saying per say your combo is BAD. But from past experience going from 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 and a 7 sp, when the gears are closer together, yet over all splits are wider, even with the sam motor up front, performance, mpg etc is better.
Think about how much better your current rig is vs last one with the 4 sp auto.

Marty


Marty you should set behind my wheel and tell me my truck does not launch flawlessly WITHOUT shudder. I towed my Son's 15 AISIN 3.42 at 28k combined starting on some steep grades without issue and took off flawlessly. I tow in 6th most of the time until getting into the hills. It's just not going to make a hill if beans difference.

Throw the HO 22 Cummins in my truck I am sure it would get to the top faster but by how much. Don't think I would be wishing for more gears.


You’re right that more gears are not going to make much difference in the time it takes for the Ram to get to the top of the hill. With 4.10 gears the Cummins can be kept in the 2100 to 2800 rpm range using just 3rd and 4th gear from 36 mph in 3rd all the way to 65 mph in 4th. The new Cummins is capable of making about 395 hp at 2100 rpm. So using just 3rd and 4th gears the Cummins can deliver 395 to 420 hp at all times. Another way of saying this is that from 36 to 65 mph the Cummins can be kept within 94% of its peak HP output.

Compare that to the Duramax:
The Duramax has very little torque rise meaning the power drops off much more significantly with the loss of engine rpm. To keep the Duramax running within 94% of its peak Hp rating you would need to run it above 2600 rpm …. hence the need for more gears.

So you’re right Ron more gears aren’t required to get the Cummins to perform but if you ever get the opportunity to pull your unit with a new F350 Platinum do it.

* This post was edited 07/16/22 08:02am by 4x4ord *


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Bionic Man

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Posted: 07/16/22 12:05pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

More gears isn’t all about getting to the top of a hill (that most people will never traverse anyway) faster. It’s the driving experience. I really don’t understand why that is hard for some people to acknowledge.

In addition, aside from the marketing aspect, moving to a better transmission with more gears would allow RAM to run one tranny instead of two, and one engine output level, and be competitive power wise in the 2500 again. Pretty silly for them to hold onto the current strategy.


2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

Huntindog

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Posted: 07/16/22 01:50pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

TIC TOK TIC TOK TIC TOC TIC TOK TIC TOK
It is the sound of more gears coming for the RAM. Resistance is futile. It will happen, and you will love it.[emoticon]



Huntindog
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Grit dog

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Posted: 07/16/22 02:31pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Huntindog wrote:

TIC TOK TIC TOK TIC TOC TIC TOK TIC TOK
It is the sound of more gears coming for the RAM. Resistance is futile. It will happen, and you will love it.[emoticon]


Man I hope you’re right, but might need to be a perpetual motion clock or it won’t be working by the time Stellantis figures it out.
Heck, my buddy was testing the Powerline trans in 4th gens back in 2017-18?
Idfk what the deal is. He don’t either, but he works in different division now.
I thought about this thread as I pulled the camper over here last night. And how the 68 Is reliable even under geared and too big of tires, with a tune.
But I drive “around” the trans so much it’s not even funny as a 21st century joke!
Upside, it works. And actually works better towing than empty, but Cmon, Ford and GM have had better shifting transmissions for 20 years now!


2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
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Cummins12V98

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Posted: 07/16/22 03:02pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

4x4ord wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:

Ron,

8 so has a 4.3 first gear, 10 in the 4.5 relm, compared to your 3.5ish first gear. Better starting gearing. Less pedal easier starts especially on steep grades.
I have not compared as closely on mid to top gears, possibly spaced closer, so assuming your like me, if I can't pull in OF, but in direct I could go redline, but back off to 2800 or so with past diesels, a taller ratio in trans will allow to go faster up a hill.
No one is saying per say your combo is BAD. But from past experience going from 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 and a 7 sp, when the gears are closer together, yet over all splits are wider, even with the sam motor up front, performance, mpg etc is better.
Think about how much better your current rig is vs last one with the 4 sp auto.

Marty


Marty you should set behind my wheel and tell me my truck does not launch flawlessly WITHOUT shudder. I towed my Son's 15 AISIN 3.42 at 28k combined starting on some steep grades without issue and took off flawlessly. I tow in 6th most of the time until getting into the hills. It's just not going to make a hill if beans difference.

Throw the HO 22 Cummins in my truck I am sure it would get to the top faster but by how much. Don't think I would be wishing for more gears.


You’re right that more gears are not going to make much difference in the time it takes for the Ram to get to the top of the hill. With 4.10 gears the Cummins can be kept in the 2100 to 2800 rpm range using just 3rd and 4th gear from 36 mph in 3rd all the way to 65 mph in 4th. The new Cummins is capable of making about 395 hp at 2100 rpm. So using just 3rd and 4th gears the Cummins can deliver 395 to 420 hp at all times. Another way of saying this is that from 36 to 65 mph the Cummins can be kept within 94% of its peak HP output.

Compare that to the Duramax:
The Duramax has very little torque rise meaning the power drops off much more significantly with the loss of engine rpm. To keep the Duramax running within 94% of its peak Hp rating you would need to run it above 2600 rpm …. hence the need for more gears.

So you’re right Ron more gears aren’t required to get the Cummins to perform but if you ever get the opportunity to pull your unit with a new F350 Platinum do it.


PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!! Nice you get it and back it up with FACTS instead of just saying the other guys have more gears so Cummins/RAM should also.

Thank you!!!

* This post was edited 07/16/22 03:22pm by Cummins12V98 *


2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

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FishOnOne

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Posted: 07/16/22 03:02pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Bionic Man wrote:

More gears isn’t all about getting to the top of a hill (that most people will never traverse anyway) faster. It’s the driving experience. I really don’t understand why that is hard for some people to acknowledge.

In addition, aside from the marketing aspect, moving to a better transmission with more gears would allow RAM to run one tranny instead of two, and one engine output level, and be competitive power wise in the 2500 again. Pretty silly for them to hold onto the current strategy.


The problem is I don't think Stelantis has transmission engineers so that means Ram will again have to outsource the transmission and if that transmission is only used in Ram HD trucks it will be extremely expensive.

* This post was edited 07/16/22 04:36pm by FishOnOne *

Cummins12V98

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Posted: 07/16/22 03:19pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

" It’s the driving experience. I really don’t understand why that is hard for some people to acknowledge." Please explain.

Two trans and two power outputs have been very successful.

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