I think a DRW is in order for this trailer. If not now soon.

The 3.73 gearing is the one thing I am glad for.

17" tires that come with it are a little smaller then I'd like but it seems to be the right combo for now.

 

I have a 4.10 LS rearend in my chassis cab, and absolutely love it. I only use the truck for towing the 5th wheel. However when we are in California(like now for example) I do drive it every day from our rv park to our daughters house 50 miles away. It gets 19.5 to 20.1 mpg every day. I don't drive over 60 mph, no need I'm in no hurry.

Good luck with your decisions........

Jim

 

Holy Cow! I hope I can get19-20 with my new 14DRW......so far it's getting 14 with 300 miles on the ticker!

 

I don't drive over 60 either but I'm not getting anywhere close to that mileage. RU hand calculating or relying on the computer? I'm just going by the computer and it's like 15 or so. The 4WD shouldn't make that much difference plus I have a 3.73.

 

I can achieve 16 to 16.5 running at 60-65 empty on mine.

Don't have the pcm reflashed unless you absolutely have too. That is when there is a big drop.

Not sure why but that is what everyone reports. Mine is still on the original factory programing.

 

in 13,000 miles on my 12 DRW, I've seen 1 tank hand calculated mileage above 17 (17.08).

my running average (hand calculated) is just around 14 (13.92) including towing.

my 2012 250 (3.31 rear) was at 15.45 over ts 13,000 mile time with me. and regularly saw highway tanks at 16.5-17.5

 

Public Service Announcement
None of these trucks have 17" tires, nor do they have 18" tires, as several people have posted. Those are your rims, often may be called wheels, but they are NOT tires!

Tires are those black things that often come with tread, and are best found touching the road or off-road if so desired.

NOTE:
A 17" (which I didn't think was even an option on the new 2011 & up trucks) rim, an 18" rim and a 20" rim can all have the same diameter tire; therefore have the exact amount of revolutions per given distance. Meaning it will have no affect on gas mileage or power gains/loss.

If you need further assistance please drive to the nearest automotive center.

 

Maybe they can, but as optioned by Ford, 18" & 20" tire heights are different.
Also there is more to a tire's effect on fuel (yes this is a diesel forum, not gas) mileage than simple revs per mile. The 20" tires typical have a lot more rotational mass than an the 18" tire. A heavier tire of the same diameter will affect fuel economy, perceived power and braking efficiency. It will also have an adverse effect on ride quality.

P.S. - Don't be so ****! If you have 18" wheels, it stands to reason that they will have 18" tires. Either way you state it, people understand what you are talking about

 

Why did you resurrect a 3 month old dead thread to clarify a mistake with wording???? **** much??

 

There is a very good reason, please let me explain ...... with a logical open mind.

I've been part of FTE for a while, it's my first place to go to usually for info. I almost always do a search for the topic I'm looking for, which is most often the fastest way to get needed info. If i startd a new thread I would have to wait for replies when generally I'm probably working on it right then.

If I search and find info, and I assume what is written is correct, then great. But if I find info that is wrong, and nobody had voiced their knowledge to correct the wrong info I would be lead astray.

Consider this then please, a few months old info isn't that old really; there may be many other people that search first (as FTE asks us to do) and rely on that info. If it were a longer term, maybe a year or maybe three, I guess the best way I would consider it old would be answered by this question, "is the info still relevant and or crucial to problems/issues people are still facing".

I didn't read my reply again, but I don't think there was wrong info or rude and out of line (aka being a smart@@@), but just stating facts.

As to your other question, yes!
I'm an engineer, I deal in truths & facts, or well researched theories to base my decisions. Okay, to be honest I'm an engineering manager or OEM machinery and our R&D lab. my life revolves around reliable information.

 

P.S. what? Why not? If more people strived for perfection (as you say it ****), there would be many less mistakes in the world. In the context of this discussion people were stating 17",18" and 20" as if you could gain power or lose power; obviously they were talking as if it was the tire's outside diameter.

There are several posts here that clearly show that some people don't understand, I'm not going to point them out but it's there. And yes, if you have an 18" wheel you have an 18" inside diameter tire. But I can mix and match 18" wheels and 20" wheels and have the exact same effect on power and/or mileage.
They make tires for each size wheel that will have 33" height ( or diameter if you prefer), the same is true for a 35" tire.

Many people don't understand this and it was my goal to help them. Please read my post right before this one and you may understand why, no need to state it again here.


So, can you please answer one question for me?
Why do you think a 20" tire has more rotational mass than an 18" tire?

I'm not calling you out but would like to understand your reasoning.

 

Hey Stanley


Sorry I took so long to answer your question, I just go by the readout on the info screen. I thought it was pretty close, but if it isn't then so be it. I use Power Service in every gallon and have since driving it home from the dealer. I have 40K on the truck, only used to tow 5th wheel. I love the truck just the way it was built, wouldn't change a thing. (Except make them less expensive)


Jim

 

It isn't my reasoning, it is proven real world experience. Have you ever put the different size tire/wheel combinations on the scale? I have. There are plenty of articles out there relating to this issue. Since you are an engineer and have stated your love for research, start by simply looking up the OEM tires in the different available sizes and see the weight difference of the tire alone then do the same with the wheels.

You still haven't acknowledged that as available from Ford, there are differences in the diameter of the different tires offered on 17, 18 or 20" wheels. Your argument was based on tires of equal height which is not the case with what is available from the OEM. When people discuss the differences, they are talking about what is on the truck when they purchase it, not tires specified to be of equal height in the different wheel sizes.

 

I could be wrong, I'm not a scientist...but isn't metal heavier than air and rubber?