Hi, I am looking to purchase a new 2012/2013 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab with the 6.2L gas engine. This will be used as a daily driver, around town and on the highway. Hauling will be relatively light. I am considering getting the 4.30 rear axle for more pep. I've seen the very helpful posts discussing the differences between the 3.73 and 4.30 axles in terms of fuel mileage, hauling and accommodating bigger tires and the fact that the 4.30 has to be ordered. My question is this: given my uses above and assuming stock tires, will the 4.30 limit top speed or how the truck rides at high speed? Also, does anyone recommend what I should do given this? Thanks. - NDP
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1949 F5
1979 F-250
1996 Bronco

 

I wouldn't be too concerned with high speeds. The 4.30's will have a bit more pep like you said. You may consider 3.73's since you wont be working the truck. If you do end up towing, the 4.30 setup would be more desireable IMO.

 

I look at it this way. You sound like you use your truck as I do. Towing heavy loads is not primary. When I tow now, its under 10lbs. I have only towed over that once. My 5.4L with 3.73's did fine for me.

More important to me, is cruising down the highway on trips. I am either truck only, or a lightly loaded trailer with toys. Maybe 3k lbs. I usuually cruise around 75mph. I love the 3.73's for that.

Myself, the only reason I would get 4.30's was if I was certain to put much bigger tires on it. I have 260hp, 3.73's and a 4 spd trans. The new truck is 380hp, 3.73's, and 6 spd trans. More power and better trans will do the trick just fine for me! But then again, I am not buying now. Have to wait a few more years.

My .02 cents.

 

Top speed will be limited to around 95 MPH electronically, regardless of the differential gearing.

 

Towing, hauling, or empty (the majority of my driving), I wouldn't have anything other than 4.30's.

I haven't read where someone with 4.30's was complaining that they should've gotten the 3.73's, but there are some that got the 3.73's that wish they had gotten the 4.30's.

I can comfortably cruise down the highway at just about any speed, the truck isn't loud.

 

How fast are you talking about? I can't imagine anyone driving a F-250 fast enough to be worrying about the rear-end gearing. I had 4.30's in my 2003 5.4L and used it as a daily driver with no issues. If you want the pep, go for it. This is your truck and your chance to build it like you want it. Don't do something (or not do something) you will regret later.

 

I have a 2012 F250 with the 4.30's as a work truck, so I'm not exactly easy on it. It's a very good puller, but I hate the 6 speed transmission! I get about 14-15mpg running 70 down the highway. The lower gears will give you a little more jump off the line, but the transmission also seems to have a very low first gear so it shifts fairly quickly.

 

I have a '12 F250 with the gas engine and the 3.73 gears. Unloaded, at 60 mph my engine is turning 1600 rpms and gets 14 mpg. Unloaded at 75 mph my engine is turning 2000 rpms and gets 13 mpg. Around town it looks like my average mpg is down to 12 now, but we've had snow recently and I've been in 4wd about half the time now. I'm running stock tire size also.

As was said, the trans first gear is pretty low. Soft footing it from a stop light, it shifts into second gear as I cross the cross walk stripes into the intersection. I doubt I would have any problems getting a load moving up to the truck's max gcvw.

If you lived in steep hill terrain, or were going to continuously tow/haul max weights like some on here do, then I would say go with the 4.30 gears for sure.

 

I had a 2008 Dodge 2500 Megacab 4x4 Hemi with 3.73's and the crappy 5 speed auto with the 3.00 1st gear and pulled our 8500 lb travel trailer over 12,000 miles through Canada and the US and never had any issues. So now that I have my F250 with 3.73's and a vastly superior 6 speed with very good gear spacing and if memory serves a 3.95 1st gear, I am really looking forward to how it will pull when we go to Tennessee next summer. Now if your towing 10 or 12 thousand lbs I would for sure recommend the 4.30's.

 

If you're torn between two ratios, go for the lower (4.30) of the two. Matt summed it up pretty well when he talked about having one and wishing for the other. Many years ago I was doing a lift & bigger tires on a truck and couldn't decide between 4.10 and 4.56. I spent a lot of time with a calculator trying to figure which was best. It was my Dad who finally pushed me towards the 4.56 and in retrospect I'm glad he did.

 

Thanks everyone for your very helpful responses. I am taking away that the 3.73 is enough for me but at the same time the only downside to the 4.30 is gas mileage and that speed is not a concern. Will the truck ride worse because of higher engine rpm unloaded with the 4.30, particularly at higher speeds or is there any other downside to the 4.30? Thank you again.

 

Actually, there is (or at least there was) very little difference in gas mileage for me. Again, mine was the 5.4L, not the new 6.2L. But if there was even 1mpg difference, I never really saw it. The increase in RPMs does nothing for (or against) the ride. You're only talking about a couple of hundred RPM. I actually saw no downside to my change to the 4.30.

 

I got the 3.73 and the only time I wish I had the 4.30 is when I am towing the TT with a golf cart in the bed. All the other times the 3.73 is just fine. I have gotten 16-17 mpg on the highway before but usually get about 15-16 highway. The city for me is around 12 but I only drive 4 miles to work and hit about 6 lights each way. On longer trips is up around 13. Those numbers are all unloaded too. I do have a tuner which makes it fun if you need more get up and go. If I did it again for my situation I would get the 4.30.

 

Have you driven both? That may help you decide...maybe the difference is obvious to you, or not.

I got the 3.73 gears for better mileage. Turns out the city mpg between the gears is about the same. The highway mileage is where there is a difference. I have trips where I get 17 or just under if I keep her near 70 mph.

 

Thank you everyone for the great input. I ended up purchasing, off of my Ford dealer's lot, a 2013 F-250 crew cab with the gas engne and standard 3.73 gears. I am very happy with the truck and find that when I need more pep, putting it into "tow/haul" mode does the trick. I don't plan to put bigger tires on it at this time so am satisfied with this set-up. Thanks again.