There is a 5.13 gear set available for the 8.8 axle and that will produce most power but fuel milage will suck so you're better off selecting something that produces a balance of power and economy which is 3.55. If you have any plans to put bigger tires on the truck however step the ratio up a notch for each jump in tire size, so 3.73 for 31s, 4.10 for 33", etc.

 

It really depends on your truck, tranny, and terrain.

I live in hilly Western PA.

My original F150 had a 3 on the tree and 2.47 gears. It was a dog and had poor mileage to boot.

I swapped on a 4bbl, header, intake, and 3.54 gears. It ran awesome, and the mileage was better. It swapping in a 3 speed manual with overdrive, and it was better. The motor still ran out of steam over 4000 rpms. It turns out that Ford put a lower lift cam in the 2.47 geared trucks.

My '85 4x4 had 3.08 gears with a granny low. It was pretty dang near perfect for what I did. I blew the rear and swapped in the 9" from my '84 (3.54 gears), and it had more power. However, the mileage wasn't as good on the highway (no od).

3.55 + OD on stock tires is my pick. It is even good with an E4OD since it has a lower first gear than a AOD or C6.

 

Ignore everyone that is knocking 3.55's. That is the exact same combo that mine was before I swapped in 3.55's and an LS. Power is good all around, and your MPG will improve. I gained 4 MPG in both town and highway after the swap. You will not regret it. Good luck.

 

Yeah, Ive never had problems towing with 2.73s Ive towed cars and trailers and almost pulled a guys truck that he backed into a 4 foot deep river but the ramp was went and my tires were *****. I havent had any problems on thick trails in the woods even being a 4x2 Ive only been stuck once and it was in a wet sand pit. (unfortunately pulled out by a chevy(only cause it was a 4x4)) It's not bad but it could be better. I'm not sure if i'm going to regear though. Any real downsides about swappin to 3.55s and did they put 3.55s stock in any 4.9s?

 

Most of the 4x4 4.9s i have seen had factory 3.55s.

 

95 4x2 M5OD, 2.73

I make my living towing a boat with this truck. Average 20 mpg, drive all winter in Maine, including boat ramps right through the winter. It's a great setup.

 

I've had 3.55s and 3.08s and the gas mileage has been about the same. My complaint is with the high ratios in the Mazda box. My 95 has no problem hauling my 4500 lb rv once its moving with the 3.08s.

 

yup jeff, got the same but its a 96. Im not too good with boat ramps but i am good at burnin clutch on them

 

That's what I have and I haven't even considered re-gearing. If I need more gear, I just down-shift. I haven't pulled any stumps, so a stump-puller 1st isn't a requirement.

 

My '89 F150 straight 6, has 2.73's with the C6, and it's a great setup to have a bullet proof auto tranny without OD, but still pull some decent mpg, but it isn't the greatest towing setup.


I pulled my old storage trailer from one spot to a new spot closer to home, a 48 mile trip on back roads, and the trailer weighs around 4500lbs, loaded full of parts and man toys.

Was pretty sluggish off the line, but did good holding 55mph on back roads.


And for an F150, pulling a trailer of that weight, the brakes are awesome, and the trailer didn't have working brakes, it does have serge brakes, but they seized ages ago.

 

Hello everyone, my first posting on this site. My current daily driver is a 89 F250 LD 4X4 3.55 gears ZF5 speed and stock tires (245/75-16) 215/85-16 is stock according to the door sticker. I use my truck to haul firewood, 1 cord at a time, and the 300 handles it but not very fast. Which is fine by me cuz I didnt want a fast truck anyway. It pulls the mtns here in southern oregon at 45 mph in 3rd gear fully loaded. I'd say 12% grade. My mpg's have been 10 loaded and 11 emty, but my wood racks are 5' tall so Im sure they catch alot of wind. There is NO power in 5th gear driving emty. The only time I use 5th is going 65 on the interstate on flat ground. I'm planning on swapping in 4.10 gears so I have more use out of 5th gear and mabye start pulling 4th up the mtns.

I forgot to mention the pickup gets 14 mpg w/out the racks. And idk about miles but guessing over 250k. Either way it was a good deal for $700. Ive made 4x that in firewood sales so far this year.

 

4.10 gears will definitely help you in the mountains. You should be turning 2100rpm at 65mph with a .70:1 over drive.

My old truck had a 300-6, 28" tires, 3.50 gears, and overdrive. It ran well in over drive.

It sounds like your motor is a little tired.

 

Mine is a 300 with 33 in tires and an E4OD and has 3.55 factory rear end, it is more than good for what i do hauling wise and mileage wise, 3.73 may be a little better off the line but no complaint with the 3.55

 

when i trashed the rear in my 94 f150 4.9 w/ 5spd i swapped to a 9" rear with 3.50 gears. i was never sorry that i did. HUGE improvement in all of the types of driving i ever did with her.

 

OK I am going to go against the prevailing winds here. My F150, when it was new, had an E4OD trans and 3.55 gears and running 31" tires. When I converted to a ZF5, it seemed the engine was howling in 4th gear by the time I got to 40mph. So I swapped to 3.08 gears and the engine seemed to like those better. It made 4th gear more useable around town where you are running 35-45mph. It didn't seem to make any difference in towing, mileage went up about 1mpg, and I always had the granny low to get a big load moving.

The 300 is a tractor motor and protests if you turn it over about 2500 RPM. I thought it liked the 3.08s better than the 3.55s.