I am thinking about purchasing a new F-250 or F-350 and I was wondering if anyone out there with one of these trucks can help me out?

My question is: with the 3:73's what is the tach reading? Say for example at 70 mph in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears??

I'm also wondering what it would be with the 4:30's as well

also when the trans is in manual mode is it like a regular manual trans? for example say you are in 5th gear and you push the gas pedal to the floor, Does it down shift??

the one I'm looking to get into is gonna have the 6.2L V-8, 18" rims with the 275/70 series tires on them

Thanks, Tim

 

What are you pulling and what's the terrain like where you do the majority of your pulling? I have the 4.30's, no regrets, plenty of get up and go.

RPM's @ 70mph are at 1950-2000 in 6th on my truck (4.30's). I don't have readings in other gears.

Also, when you're in manual mode, the only time it'll shift on its own (that I've found) is when you're coming to a stop. If you're in 5th and come to a stop, it'll drop to 2nd. You can start from a stop in gears 1-3, and no matter how hard you step on the gas, it won't shift.

 

I have 3.73's and I think it runs around 1700 or so in 6th at 70. I just came from a Ram 2500 Megacab 4x4 hemi with 3.73's and this thing is light years ahead as the tranny has almost perfect ratios. I pull a 34 1/2' travel trailer that weighs abt 8500lbs as well. If I was pulling 10k or more I would have 4.30's in a heartbeat though.

 

JohnnyThunder, your towing situation is pretty similar to what mine will be. I just got my truck and have not towed with it yet. Was wondering what kind of fuel mileage you're seeing towing and overall performance of the truck with that kind of load? Thanks in advance. Sorry to hijack the thread!

Dave

 

I just looked at mine on Saturday to see where the RPM's were while on the highway. At 80 mph, I was at or just barely above 2000. I tow a 35' TT with mine and have no problems, but I would get the 4.30 next time just for the towing. The shift points in the city are about: 3-20, 4-30, 50-40, and 6-45. If you are in 6th and hit the gas the truck will downshift to which ever gear is the best to get the truck going. I have seen it go from 6th down the 3rd. Just a slight push of the gas pedal will bring it down to 5th. Now these are while in the auto mode too. I have no regret of getting the 3.73 as most of my driving is without towing. MPG's while towing, 7-9 mpg, with out trailer 10-13.

 

I haven't pulled my TT yet as we never got the truck till late sept but I do haul my flat deck with a water tank and it weighs abt 8000 loaded. I get around 12 to 13 pulling it but there is no wind resistance to deal with. I will say this truck pulls the flat deck far better than my hemi powered 2500 Megacab 4x4 Dodge with 3.73's ever did as the Dodge always seemed to struggle abit doing rolling starts up the hill I have to pull up and the SD does not even act like there is a trailer behind me.

 

Wind resistance will be a big part of the low MPG's, not the weight.

 

My f250 xtracab runs 1800 rpm at 65 mph and get 16mpg empty, canadian gallons.

 

Thats with 430 gears and stock tires like yours.

 

I have a 2012 F-250 with the standard 17" wheels, 4:30 rear end 6.2 motor. At 60 mph I'm doing about 1800 rpm, 70 is about 2100 rpm. I pull a 13,000 lb 5th wheel. On level pavement or slight upgrades it stays in 6th gear with out much head wind. windy, it likes to drop to 5th gear or hills most of which I can take in 5th or sometimes 4th gear. I get 13-15 mph in the winter (Minnesota) and 14 - 16 summer running empty - that is mostly due to the difference in gas up here between winter and summer blends. Pulling I get 7-9 depending on wind and how many hills on the road. Overall I wouldn't trade the 4:30 for anythng else. If you have the 18" tires your rpm will be about 200rpm less in 6th gear. So if your pulling anything around 10,000 you will not regret having the 4:30 rear end.

 

If your going to tow anything get the 4.30's and don't look back. Had them in my previous F250 and oh how I miss them now. Don't forget the camper package. Oh how I miss the camper package. I miss it so much that I'm having to put air bags in the back. This motor has no low end power so you need the gears to get to the power band. Reminds me of how my old two stroke bikes were. I have the 3.73's because I bought off the lot and didn't order. Oh how I wish I had ordered but wouldn't have gotten all of the rebate money and zero financing.

 

I wish I had the 4:30s........

 

Here's 6th gear at 70. I have the 3.73's with 275 tires on 18" wheels.
The lie-o-meter displays 16mpg!! Makes me smile. That's about 80 miles into my 200 mile round trip with a little tail wind. By the time I pulled in my driveway it said 15.4mpg. I was averaging 75 mph. As you can see I only have 4K on it and the more miles I rack up the better the mpg's get.

 

The seemingly lack of low end power has more to do with Ford's tuning than actual power band. The engine won't go to WOT until higher in the RPM range regardless of pedal position (others will know the actual RPM). Tuners such as Five Star make a considerable difference for the lower end power.

 

No low end power? My tires started spinning at the start at the last Ohio meet with 16,500 behind it (pointed uphill no less). This was when it was stock.

+1 to 8iron's comment, the stock tuning has alot of wiggle room to work with. I'm anxious to see how it'll do on the 93 tune at the next Ohio whenever the next one is planned.