I have been checking out all the 09's in the area and all of them have the 3.55-1 gearing.

When I build a truck on the Ford site I have to add the Chrome package and Max towing to get the 3.73 gearing in the rear.

I asked the salesman why all the 3.55's and he said that's what everyone wants here. I think it's more like Ford is saying here's what you get.

Has anyone seen an 09 with the 3.73 gears/ max tow on a lot yet?

What's the real difference in the gearing?

 

The 3.73 can only be got with the max trailer tow pack and no one wants them big *** butt ugly mirrors. I went from 3.73 to 3.55 option and have no problem towing my 7000lb+ trailer. Im sure the 3.73 would make a bigger difference at the higher loads the f150 can handle but for what i tow 3.55LS seems to work every well.

 

Dealers here have XLT's with max tow and 3.73's. I agree, not fond of the huge mirrors.

However, if you get an FX4 it comes standard with 3.73's and a locker. If I get one, I think that's the route I'm going. I have 3.55's in my 02, and have dreaded them from day one. Now the 09 may not be bad with 3.55's as the new 6spd can compensate with more and lower gears. But I think once in 6th gear, you will notice any slight press of the pedal will cause a downshift. I need more driving time in one of these to determine for sure.

 

excaliber what you gonna be towing??

 

The 6sp more than compensates.....your overall gear ratio will be better in an 09 with 3.55's than it was in your 02 (or a 04-08) with 3.55's...

 

Nothing more than a utility trailer full of decoys and eventually a camper trailer.

I just want to make sure that I have everything I want right off the bat so I don't regret it later on.

 

Once you get on the highway with your load, the 09 with 3.55s and your 02 with 3.55s will be making about the same torque. In the lower gears and accelerating, the 6 speed should be awesome though.

02 in OD (.70:1)= 869.75ft/lbs
09 in OD (.69:1)= 895.0675ft/lbs..........Assuming peak torque.

At least 3.73s would give you 939.4005ft/lbs.

With 3.55s and towing, I'd expect a lot of highway downshifting and at least one owner that has posted here has mentioned that.

Mike

 

I would much prefer the big nice looking mirrors lot more visibility with them?
Look much better than the small ones.

 

According to a previous post by a person who just took delivery of an '09 Platinum, the larger mirrors are not power fold like on the SD's. Color me cooky, but, WTF!? Is it too much to ask to put power fold mirrors on a 50k truck? Who's steering this ship? How could the worlds premier truck builder overlook something so simple? And what do 3.73.1 gears have to do with nice mirrors?

When you build a SD, you don't have quite as many restrictions as with the F-150 build site. Perhaps the dealers can order something different.

Tim

 

It's funny how you have to add all kinds of stuff to get what you want. I want the 3.73 rear end on the XLT or Lariat but I have to add the Chrome package and max towing to get it.

I like the FX4 but I don't like the black grill. I have yet to see the large tow mirrors. Power fold would be a nice option.

 

I had this issue, without a load, on my 04... why I opted for 3.73s in my 06. I do believe the 6 speed compensates for the taller gearing though, as stated.

 

I can see it compensating when accelerating, but once at speed you're no better off than before. Once on the highway, you'll be playing the 6th, 5th, 4th dance all day long, especially with a trailer.

So IMO go for the 3.73s definitely. I wish that with the 6 speed that they would have offered 4.10s or even 4.30s.

Mike

 

Unless you plane to never tow more than say 1,000 to 2,000 pounds, get the 3.73 gears.
If planiing to tow around its max towing weight try to get 4.10's if you can IMO.

 

EXCAL: It's funny, I have been looking also. (4X4) When I read your comments they are exactly what I have concluded. Want Lariat grill and other chrome (chrome makes a truck look good), 3:73 has always been the absolute best all around rear end and always will be. It's a ratio that is the best. I have read in here that the 6 speed is never 1:1 so that may help. But I will get 3:73 "posi" and I will get that Lariat front end. For the money it's the best model for me. Pretty and pretty rugged. Only wish I could get, at my age, automatic steps. What a great idea, I hate tubular side steps, they always look J.C Whitney to me. Everything here is 3:55 (except FX4) and there are no Supercabs in AZ. So far they are telling us what to buy or they are not running Supercabs at the factory yet. Don't want to order one but by the time I find what I want, it will probably be 8 weeks! Rough life! Oh BTW, you can't see how big the mirrors look while you are driving it. And they get smaller the farther away you stand (no big). Bartamos.

 

I've got those big mirrors on my '08, ordered it that way. I wanted all the visability I could get. never saw a 150 with them till mine arrived. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first but after 10 months with them I'll never get the small mirrors again. However; I wish they were power fold like the SD, I've hit the post on tollway lanes twice (thank god they fold under pressure) it took a couple times before I made the habit of pulling in the driver side for clearance. As for the chrome packages, I HATE chrome, therefore with my next purchase under the current body style (I'm not a fan of the chrome SD style grill) I will take the FX4 with body colored grill.