Rear end swap?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,360
Likes: 821
From: Mi'kma'ki
well David85 did that to his too.transfer case.
i think thats a wise thing to do to a 2wd for sure.
that sure comes in handy often as well,without needing the 4wd sometimes.
but yeah,i read "very steep drive" and towing a trailer,man it sure would suck to have her loaded up,and just spin.
then i read "Money isn't the problem" to top off this whole discussion,and that just seals the deal to me right there.....4wd truck.
there is something REALLY desirable about this 2wd,that's making him really think about settling.
i see a base truck of: f250/f350 4wd with 3.55's really hitting home here,rather than a base of: f250/350 2wd w/4:10's.
something such as super clean/XLT etc trim im thinking is overpowering clearer judgment.
sure the 2wd's are generally cleaner trucks lol.there's a reason for that too.
interiors/paint,etc.that's all much easier to work with,add on,and modify.
starting with the right foundation is key (sure is easier and cheaper anyway.)
i think thats a wise thing to do to a 2wd for sure.
that sure comes in handy often as well,without needing the 4wd sometimes.
but yeah,i read "very steep drive" and towing a trailer,man it sure would suck to have her loaded up,and just spin.
then i read "Money isn't the problem" to top off this whole discussion,and that just seals the deal to me right there.....4wd truck.
there is something REALLY desirable about this 2wd,that's making him really think about settling.
i see a base truck of: f250/f350 4wd with 3.55's really hitting home here,rather than a base of: f250/350 2wd w/4:10's.
something such as super clean/XLT etc trim im thinking is overpowering clearer judgment.
sure the 2wd's are generally cleaner trucks lol.there's a reason for that too.
interiors/paint,etc.that's all much easier to work with,add on,and modify.
starting with the right foundation is key (sure is easier and cheaper anyway.)
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From time to time I tow things like this small ~10,000# cooling tower... and often, smaller things...
(I wouldn't try pulling one of those up my driveway, though.)
FORDF250HDXLT and yourself are probably right, I shouldn't settle for a 2wd truck.
As you guessed, this is a super clean XLT with all the goodies I want, including the (not that common) manual tranny... so yes it's still attractive despite being 2wd.
(I wouldn't try pulling one of those up my driveway, though.)
FORDF250HDXLT and yourself are probably right, I shouldn't settle for a 2wd truck.
As you guessed, this is a super clean XLT with all the goodies I want, including the (not that common) manual tranny... so yes it's still attractive despite being 2wd.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Don't waste your time with the 3.55's if you intend on pulling big loads, and expect to stay at highway speed. You'll run an extra few hundred RPM's cruising down the highway, but with any sizeable load, your engine will thank you for leaving the 4.10s in the truck.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
i strongly disagree with the 4.10 ratio for highway driving..... look at my avatar. that cooling tower weighs in at 10,000lbs right? well the skid steer on that trailer weighs more than that and i pulled it with my 3.55's at 60-70 mph on flat roads and held 45 mph on some good steep grades and i get 20-25 mpg if i keep my foot out of it. unloaded of course
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
When i first got my 2wd, i got stuck more often than I care to admit. The biggest part of it was learning how to drive a 2wd lol. Its all throttle control and momentum. Limited slip would have been a great help too. Last winter I put 1000 lbs of weight in the back, and never got stuck once....I did go a few places I shouldnt have too. I think with some decent tires, a decent driver, and limited slip a 2wd can go alot of places a 4wd can. Throw in that Tcase for the low range and I think you would be set up pretty good. I'd get the 2wd if its as nice as you're making it out to be.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,360
Likes: 821
From: Mi'kma'ki
between all the differences with trucks;engines,trans combos,tires,gears,srw vs drw,ttb vs straight axle,there is no other thing that makes such a drastic difference as 2wd vs 4wd does.
im having a hard time figuring out what he needs too (based on the info,it really does point to 4wd tho) in the end,he's going to love this truck if he gets it,or really regret it latter on.
i say this,because he currently has a 4wd and personally knows first hand the difference it can make.
i just hope i got him thinking good,off the "pretty" factor a little,that seems to me,might be sidetracking him.
i really think the whole reason for the thread in the first place,is that he knows he needs a 4wd truck (or most likely should have one on hand) and knows he shouldn't settle.if he was pretty sure a 2wd would work for him,he would have just bought it,and all we would see is a thread called "hey guys i got a new truck" rather than this thread title pre-ownership.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
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From: Texas
Disagree all you want. I've had both 4.10's and 3.55's now in my truck, and the difference is night and day. Yes, I run a bit higher in the RPM range turning 4.10's at 70 (~2200 vs ~1900RPM's w/305's), but the difference pulling is mind boggling. I never lost speed on a grade or downshifted until I swapped to the 3.55's. I never saw high EGT's either. My empty fuel mileage (17-19) averages out the same if I've got 3.55's or 4.10's, and I got better mileage when pulling a load with the 4.10's. 13ish with 4.10's vs. 9ish with 3.55's pulling the same load, on the same stretch of road
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
Disagree all you want. I've had both 4.10's and 3.55's now in my truck, and the difference is night and day. Yes, I run a bit higher in the RPM range turning 4.10's at 70 (~2200 vs ~1900RPM's w/305's), but the difference pulling is mind boggling. I never lost speed on a grade or downshifted until I swapped to the 3.55's. I never saw high EGT's either. My empty fuel mileage (17-19) averages out the same if I've got 3.55's or 4.10's, and I got better mileage when pulling a load with the 4.10's. 13ish with 4.10's vs. 9ish with 3.55's pulling the same load, on the same stretch of road
Do you have larger-than-stock rear tires? If not then are you also around ~2000 RPM in last gear at 50 mph?
I seem to recall I was at ~2000 at 50 mph in fifth gear during my test drive... couldn't take it safely to 70 on those country roads, and the closest highway was too far away. My quick calculations (a.k.a. feelings) make me think going from 50 to 70 wouldn't only mean an increase from 2000 to 2200 RPM...
...but if you're right, then it's not that bad.
Thanks to all others for the advice! Still thinking about it, almost hoping it will sell in the meantime so the decision takes itself without my having to do it.
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