Buying new 6.2 truck, need axle ratio opinions for towing!
 

Buying new crew short bed 6.2 4x4 truck. newbie here. need opinions on my 5ver weight and recommendation for axle ratio and if a 250 is going to squat back of truck more than a 350 will. I live in Indiana where terrain is rolling. We travel thru Kentucky and Tennessee camping 20% and 80% daily driver. what would be best opinion on axle ratio and which truck a 250 or 350. thanks.

Heartland Sundance 5ver,

loaded up empty tanks 11,000 lbs
dry weight 9900 lbs
hitch weight 1910 lbs
GVWR 13,910 lbs.

I would go with the 350, not much more in price, plus it's always better to have more then you need rather then need more then you have. It seems to be a matter of preference on the gearing. From what I have been reading the MPG's are about the same empty. But you should be better towing with the 4.23 gear though. But you could get away with either the 250 or 350, and with either gear. I have the 3.73 gear and have no problems towing at all, but I do have a TT.

I'm doing this as my 4 month old F250 2011 6.7 diesel has left me stranded waiting for tow truck the last time. I'm leaning towards the 350 because my 250 squatted a bunch when trailer hooked up. I also plan on doing 18" or 20" tires/wheels from ford on truck so I'm guessing the 4:30 is way to go

Yeah...you'll def want to go with the 4.30 gears. The 6.2L is low on torque (IMHO)...and the weight you are towing with the 20" tires...will make it easier with the 4.30.

The 250 or 350 is just preference. A lot of folks get air bags to keep the truck level while towing. My vote is still with the 350.

Good luck with the new SD...and post pics when you get her!


biz
:-wink

I am a fan of the 4.30 gears and the F350. The 6.2 L will not have any issues pulling your 5ver at 11klbs

Here is our f350 with 5ver its slightly smaller than yours at 10k lbs loaded up.
Its slightly touching the overload spring but 5ver and truck sits pretty level.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...rge%252529.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9.../Photo0051.jpg

My camper is 9960 loaded with a 1780 pin weight. My truck sat down about 3 inches in the rear with the camper hooked up. I got Timbrens, now it only sits down an inch.

You might be better off with a 350. I have 3.73 gears and have no problems. 4.30's would probably be better for your application.

As others have said, F350 with 4.30 gears would be a home run.

thanks. The dealer let me drive the only 6.2 gas crew cab truck he had home tonight. Its a 250 4x4 with 3.73 gears. I don't really like driving it as the front sits higher than the back end does. It drives almost like a boat! It does have a camper package on it and snow plow package on it so I'm guessing the front springs are much stiffer and that is why the front of truck sits higher? When I get mine, I think all I want is the FX4 package on it. The 350 with 4.30 gear is what I'm leaning towards.

The 250's seem to come almost level from what I've read, so depending on what packages it has, it'll effect the overall height. The 350's have a larger block in the back so no matter what you get, this truck has a good amount of rake.

Oh yeah, my vote is for the 4.30's as well.

The "camper package " option will give you a rear sway bar and beefed up front end foor an extra 140 bucks. The front end with this package sits level, on mine anyway. Good deal at 140 .

I have it on mine as well. Go 4.30's.

I know I'm out of step with the rest of the world (my wife said so and she's always right!) but if I were only towing 20% of the time I would go with the 3.73 gear, It will give a little better mpg. I have a 2012 250 with the 6.2 and have a place east of Johnson city Tn. I don't tow a camper but my truck dosn't even downshift when I go over Sam's gap on I-26 just before Erwin Tn. Just use tow haul, if you feel the need, thats what its for.

Big difference between going up a hill empty and pulling 11 or 12 thousand pounds behind you. That is why I have them. I probably tow 20% or less a year as well but when I do I need that power. You only lose about 1 mpg with the 4.30 gears. :)

I agree with nycsteve. With going with the Camper Package. It also adds the rear overload springs...which will help with squat issues.

If you go with the FX4 package...which is overall good...just be aware the Rancho shocks that come with it...are pretty disappointing...to say the least.


biz
:-X22

thanks, I was not aware of that. The more and more I keep hearing about Ford and their customer service with warranty issues, makes me think about looking for a GM Vortec. I hate to say this but.....I think Ford is getting to think their crap just doesn't stink because they survived without gov. assistance.

Sumthing doesent smell right here you stated earlier that you had problems with a 6.7 and then you state you heard about problems with ford and customer service i would think you would have experienced it first hand.Buying a chevy would probably be best for you they never break down never have anything go wrong.As far as dealers go there is not hardly any chevy dealers around here that have been in bussiness for more than 10 yrs while the ford dealers have been in bussiness for 40 plus that says a whole lot!

go look over at the 6.7 diesel forums. Ford is NOT standing behind ANYTHING for their warranty and their customer service isn't any help at all. I'm not saying GM don't break down or have anything go wrong, but they are standing behind the customer for repair work as Ford is not doing anything! That is only point I'm making.

I read the 6.7 forum daily and read the problems with the hpfp and valves and i know there are two sides to every story and i agree ford should stand behind their products.i had a problamatic 6.0 but never had any trouble getting it fixed under warranty.There were some problems with some early build 6.2 trannys as i guess you have read but it seems ford has fixed them under warranty and most are satisfied so u cant say ford doesent stand behind nothing.I will never own another diesel and i love my 6.2 and i think you would too.Just for info what problems were you having with your 6.7 my father in law has one is why and so far so good but he only had it 4 months.

Gearing Opinions
 

One point to consider when thinking gearing is that F-250's have 18" or 20" wheels with 275 tires and the overall height of tires are 32.5 " where the 350's have 17" wheels with 245 tires and 30.5" overall height. F-350 with 4.30 gear will get worse fuel mileage than F-250. 20% towing I went with 3.73 gears for the 80% normal driving. I just traded a 2006 F-350 6.0 with Towboss package and 4.30's and Banks equipped and 8-10 MPG. ( OUCH ) :-arrgh It would pull anything except a loaded fuel tanker:'(
Point is RPM's at 60 mph are different in a 250 versus a 350. 4.30's if buying 250, 3.73's if buying 350 HTH.

The 250's and 350's get the same size rim, it just depends on what package you get. The XL gets the same size wheel/tire in the 350 that it gets in the 250, same with the XLT, Lariat, and KR wheel/tire options.

Order guide attached for reference.

Lol this post is so wrong it's not even funny.

Haa haa, I was trying to be nice about it, but yeah, some incorrect info.. :-X04

He is referring to a 350 dually.

Exactly, Sorry for not being specific but the comparison was Dual Rear Wheel trucks to Single Rear Wheel. Duallies are all 17" with 245's. :-X15

My bad L&D, missed that part of your post.

My F-250 has 17" wheels with 265/70's

My '12 xlt 250sc has 17" cast wheels with 245/75r tires.I think Ford just uses what ever tires on hand when needed.

My apologies :-drink I always forget about gas duallies cause they are so rare.

I've been wondering about the difference between the two ratios for a while. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
My question is: With the close gears in a 6 speed tranny is there really any difference in RPM between the 3.73's pulling in a lower gear compared to the 4.30's in a higher gear at the same mph? And if there isn’t, wouldn't the better mpg for the other 80% regular driving be the better scenario?

I ordered mine with the tires I have, I think it was a $455 option.

that's what I would say, I'll take every MPG I can get with the cost of fuel always on the rise. I ordered mine with 3.73 and if it needs to downshift while towing, I really don't care.:-drink

Sort of, it basically works out to running a gear lower all the time on the highway.

While towing I do notice I am very seldom in 6th gear. Most of the time it's in 5th unless I get some flat land and doing at least 60 mph on the highway. So the truck will compensate for not having the smaller gear. I would like to have the 4.30 while towing but other then that I can do without it and have no regrets on getting the 3.73.

Ford Owner 4 Life
 

A new 250 super duty you will need to add a leaf in back. it does squat more. my 350 V-10 had 3.73 gas mileage was good and would tow about 12,500. if n you get 350 you need not change a thing. good luck !!

Newbie here that's been driving a Chevy LB7 2500 for 9 yrs thinking of changing to Ford SD 6.2L F-250 or 350. The only difference in the Chevy 2500 vs 3500 are the shocks and number of leafs in the rear springs. Axles, brakes, hubs (excluding dually), etc. are the same.
I'm wondering if F250 and F350 have same axles, brakes, etc. If they do, and I order a F250 with the 471 Camper Pkg, what am I missing out on?
Thanks in advance for the info. Last Ford I drove was a 92 Ranger that almost beat me to death on I-55 every day.

:-X22
YES...the F250 and F350 (non-dually) have the same exact setup...brakes, axles, etc. The F350 is taller out back with a 4" block...which gives it the ability to sag more...and more GVWR.

Good luck with it...


biz
:-wink

Thanks Biz4. I suspected they were the same, but could not find confirmation with build parts or from Ford Corp. info. Even with the Camper Pkg on the F250, the F350 would still have the block in addition; thus, increased GVWR somewhat. It's hard for me to equate $990 (increase cost in F350 vs F250) when the Camper Pkg is $160 accomplishing almost the same capability.
I think you have answered my question and I do appreciate the information.
R.K.

note: if you order with the camper package ford wont let you get rims bigger than 18" I think it is cause of the stabilizer bar...