I have a 97 ram 1500 extended cab long bed with a 5.9, auto trans ,4x4 all stock and 194.000 miles and it runs great.I got it with a 3'' body lift and I put 35'' tires on it with stock gears,yeah it sucks.But I now have a set of 456 gears for it and plan on using it to tow my car trailer with a k5 blazer on it.Now for my question,did I choose wisely ? the gear calculator I used said a 430 gear so I figured I would go up a little in stead of down.Thats if I used the calculator right. thanks :D

I went 4.56 with my 6.7L 3500. It is 67 RPM over stock at 70 mph. I am running a 36.5" big rig tire. I think once I do a Smarty box and exhaust I might wish I had gone 4.10's.

But right now the 4.56's make it seem like Im empty when Im pulling 10,000lbs. It pulls hills in overdrive. It is really nice to do that without the tranny hunting and dropping down.

Go to Randy Ring and Pinion site and use those calculators, it was spot on for me.

I was able to input my tranny final drive ration as well as gear ratio, speed, and tire size. It was nice to be able to input my old tire size, get those figures, then do 4.10, and 4.56 gears with the new tires size and make comparisons off those.

I will only be towing heavier in the future, up to CDL weights, so i figure more gear and less speed would be a good combination, so I went 4.56.

I would definitely do the 4.56's. I put 4.10's in mine, (98 1500 with 5.9) and I run a small 265/70/17. In my opinion it made a truck out of it. It tows 100% better than it did with the 3.55's.

Mine came stock with 4.10s. Still would barely pull OD on I-80 headed west. With stock 275s, and 35"s it was never too deep, could have used more in fact.

I believe 4.56s were the deepest gears you can get for the 9 1/4" so that is what I would go with. 4.88s would be ok if you can get them now.

I went to 5.13s when I swapped axles, with 37"s it finally felt right. Now with 42"s its under geared again on the highway, but doesn't matter much.

4.88's are available if you can find some. I run 4.56's in my 97 1500 and they were great until I went with heavy ass tires/wheels, 10" lift and no bed. Talk about driving a brick.....

Thanks for the input guys,I think I made a good choice.Im not gonna go bigger than the 35s it looks perfect with that size tire.I am also gonna put a 2'' add a leaf on the rear to give the springs a little boost.any suggestions on on a economical rear disc swap.I havent had any luck with my searching ? thanks AL:smokin:

Im not gonna go bigger than the 35s

you say that now... :flipoff2:

I've been through stock 31's, then 3" and 33's, then 3" and 35's, then 6" and another set of 35's, then 9" and 35's, 9" and 37's, 13" and 37's , not back to 10" and 37's.

[QUOTE=Pavemen;9849745]you say that now... :flipoff2:

haha ya I think we all start that way :shaking:

Thanks for the input guys,I think I made a good choice.Im not gonna go bigger than the 35s it looks perfect with that size tire.I am also gonna put a 2'' add a leaf on the rear to give the springs a little boost.any suggestions on on a economical rear disc swap.I havent had any luck with my searching ? thanks AL:smokin:

I ran the ssbc kit on my '98 1500. I was running 35"s with 4.10 gears. It towed my scout fine, but I wouldn't run it in overdrive. Try this link to ssbc. It stopped alot better with the discs on the back. http://www.ssbrakes.com/commerce/detail/index.cfm?nPID=8914 Also look at tsmmfg, might be cheeper. http://www.tsmmfg.com/2551_94.htm

thanks rkscout

I'd check the tow rating on that dodge, I bet with a K5 on a trailer you will be overloaded.

Stock is around 7k lb if i remember correctly.

The problem I had with mine (6400 lb GVWR) was it was over the GVWR when a 7 k trailer was hooked up with resonable tonque weight (1000 lb, plus driver and passenger, nothing else in the truck was 300 lb+ overloaded and the rear springs were sagged out).


The ext cab might be better, I think they had a higher GVWR (7200 lb maybe?) and likely stiffer springs.

Stock is around 7k lb if i remember correctly.

The problem I had with mine (6400 lb GVWR) was it was over the GVWR when a 7 k trailer was hooked up with resonable tonque weight (1000 lb, plus driver and passenger, nothing else in the truck was 300 lb+ overloaded and the rear springs were sagged out).


The ext cab might be better, I think they had a higher GVWR (7200 lb maybe?) and likely stiffer springs.

I believe the GVW was dependent on the axle ratio, not sure though. All the 7200lb trucks I have seen are 3.90 ratios. I have a '97 Ext Cab, short bed, 5.9, 4x4, 3.55 rear and a 6400 lb GVW.

I believe the GVW was dependent on the axle ratio, not sure though. All the 7200lb trucks I have seen are 3.90 ratios. I have a '97 Ext Cab, short bed, 5.9, 4x4, 3.55 rear and a 6400 lb GVW.

Mine had 410s and a 6400 lb gvwr, reg cab short bed. I know that was the only GVWR you could get for it. Just was unfortunate that 5.9 Auto 4x4s weighed over 5300 lb delivered.

you say that now... :flipoff2:

I've been through stock 31's, then 3" and 33's, then 3" and 35's, then 6" and another set of 35's, then 9" and 35's, 9" and 37's, 13" and 37's , not back to 10" and 37's.
Couldn't agree more man. You never stay with one size always going bigger.:smokin:

Mine had 410s and a 6400 lb gvwr, reg cab short bed. I know that was the only GVWR you could get for it. Just was unfortunate that 5.9 Auto 4x4s weighed over 5300 lb delivered.

Interesting. I know mine weighed 5600 empty with just a small toolbox in the bed. Definitely a pig in the weight department. I had to add two AAL's (one long, one short) just to get the factory rake back. The stock springs fatigued pretty quick.

Towed with mine yesterday. 01 5.9 4:10s. with 35s, manually shifting it and no overdrive. 97k mile trans wasn't taking chances. 55mph through the back roads. Could have used a little more power but with my baby on back i was being very carefull. I also tow a 24ft travel trailer with a wd hitch. I'll be swaping in 4:56s when i rebuild the trans.

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/44930/2825870360089880515S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2825870360089880515QfvHct)

yes its a heavy truck,and the springs are really weak in the back,and ya its probably gonna be over weight. But its all I got for now,just have to be careful when towing,but the 456 gears and the add a leaf will help,its gonna have to do.I've done worse than that ,and im sure that most of you have as well :shaking: oh and my gears came today,be putting them in sunday...:D

The frame is stout and the 9 1/4" was in the ld 3/4 tons so that is positive.

I was just disappointed in the 5.9/46re until I had it programmed and rebuilt.

The brakes suck too. (but rear disc should solve)

yes its a heavy truck,and the springs are really weak in the back,and ya its probably gonna be over weight. But its all I got for now,just have to be careful when towing,but the 456 gears and the add a leaf will help,its gonna have to do.I've done worse than that ,and im sure that most of you have as well :shaking: oh and my gears came today,be putting them in sunday...:D

I honestly have never had an issue with mine towing since I put the AAL's in. She's no race car while towing but she pulls the mountains through PA just fine for me. I've rolled across the scales at a scrap yard at 13500lb between the truck and trailer and was honestly surprised because it towed that load just fine.

Ok,the gears are in and:D wow,it runs down the road like a new truck.Im not done with everything yet,but dam it runs good now. :grinpimp:

Good deal, with an o/d I wouldn't think twice about going 4.56.
Travis..

Good to hear. Like I mentioned above adding gears to these things makes a truck out of them.

ok guys i towed with it today.I towed my k5 down the highway at 65mph in od,no problem whats so ever.It did not bogg down or hunt for gears anymore,456 gears are :grinpimp: oh ,at 65mph the tach was at 2100 rpm...........