I have a 4H with Weekender LQ. I've got a 07 3500 4x2 Dodge Quad Cab with the 5.9L and a 3.73 axle ratio. This thing grunts and struggles and blows black smoke going uphill on an interstate and *will pull* up steep inclines, but it CRAWLS and you wonder if you are gonna make it. No chips. Only a KN air filter.

I used to have a '00 Dodge 2500 5.9L V8 with a 4.10. I don't recall it ever having any issues.

I've decided to upgrade to a 4x4 with more muscle. So I'm about to go look (and was prepared to buy, honestly) a 2011 3500 Laramie Crew Cab with the 6.7L diesel. But much to my horror, it has a 3.42??

Give it to me straight...run? Don't worry about it?
My gut tells me NO...?

The new trucks have so much more power and the gearing in the tranmission has been revised to work with the lower rear end ratios.

My 2011 Ford came with a 3:55 rear end and many folks are getting the 3.31 rear end and doing fine towing. Although the 3.31 comes with 18" rims and the 3.55 comes with 20" wheels, So ultimately there isn't much difference in the final drive after adjusting for the tire difference. You can only get a 3.73 axle with the dually trucks.

I would not be worried about the Dodge ratios unless you are seriously pushing the weight limits the truck is rated to tow.

Thank you for your quick response! Can you tell I was a bit panicky? That makes sense!

Much to my relief, I just heard from the dealership and the "standard" was the 3.42 and that was was incorrectly listed online, but the truck DOES have the 3.73 so I don't need to be all freaked out - even if it wasn't necessary! He just sent me the Options Report for the truck.

The 2012 Longhorns have the 4.10 and offer an optional Max Tow package. Not sure if the 4.10 is part of that or if they are standard on them...but either way, you can't hardly find that on a Laramie. I hear the mpg on the 4.10 will kill ya anyways. :)

The   new Ram 6 speed automatic is really a towing marvel.  There are two overdrives both 5th and 6th.  Both the 3:73 and the 4:10 will work well for you.   If you are at the upper edge of towing weight the 4:10 is the way to go...  While towing heavy I would use the Tow-Haul button and just drive it.    When coming down hill or exiting the freeway you can manually downshift all the way to first gear and get maximum use out of the AWESOME exhaust brake.      If you dont have a huge smile on your face while towing with this rig something is seriously wrong with you..     

          Happy trails...

I have a huge smile on my face JUST READING THIS!!!!

I just went and saw and drove the truck and am going to have to wait until tomorrow. It pulls HARD to the right so they are sending it to service tomorrow to see if it's an alignment issue or something else. I'm hoping for a simple alignment issue since the truck is awesome and exactly what I want (notice I didn't say NEED... Lol).

SO  ???   Did you buy the truck??    Keep us posted please, the suspense is killing me..

 Ram suggest that the max. trailer weight on a 2012 3500HD crew cab dually pickup, auto trans, 4x4, with a 3.42 gear not exceed 8900#, 3.73 gear 12900# and the 4.10 gear 19100#... I don't really think I would want a 3.42 gear truck for towing much of anything.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/pdf/RAM.2500.3500.Towing.Specs.pdf

Wow,  Why would you ever order any ratio other than the 4:10 in a dually if you were limited to those smaller weight limits?  If I'm going to put up with the rough ride, the over width clearance issues, wearing out 6 instead of 4 tires, I want to be able to pull or carry a load.  A 8000lb trailer limit is something a 1/2 ton truck can pull, I'd sure be upset to order a dually and find out I was stuck with such a low number.

I hope the dealers out there don't bring many in with that ratio for stock inventory.

GM offers only one gear in the 2500 and 3500 Duramax/Allison trucks.... 3.73, been that way since the beginning of the Duramax with the 2001 model. Ford is offering a 3.31, 3.55, 3.73, in the 250 and 350 diesel trucks and a 4.30 in the 450 pickup, which is really a "Tow Boss" version of the 350.