I am in the process of ordering an ecoboost. I will be towing an 8k trailer-not alot, maybe 3-5 times a year. The question I have is do I need the max tow package which has the 3.73 diff. Will the 3.55 work? The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking that with the 3.55 I may get better mpg's. Any advise would be appreciated, Mike

 

What kind of trailer is it? Depending on the tongue weight, you may want to also get the HD payload package if you don't want to go over the payload rating.

 

I have an 8000 lb cargo trailer that I tow 4 months out of the year. Absolutely no problems and I have standard tow pkg with 3.55's. You will not be disappointed, unless you aren't happy with 11 mpg. That is all I get while towing. Empty I get 22-23 on hwy.

 

It is a 35 ft travel trailer, I'm not sure of the tongue weight. It weighs 7149 empty, so I figured about 8k when loaded. I made the mistake on my last truck of not getting the bigger engine-I got the 4.6 3v with tow pkg, but with the new tt it won't work. I don't want to make another mistake, but I also don't want to buy something I don't need. Once again, thanks for your opinions.

 

My question would be, is there a chance that you will increase the size and weight of your trailer?

My 4x4 EB truck has the 3.31 axles and a tow rating 8200 lbs, your trailer would max my truck out.

The same truck with 3.55's has a tow rating of about 9800+, IIRC.

The same truck with 3.73's has a tow rating of 11K+.

To see the exact tow specs, go to Ford and refer to the towing chart. I hope this helps a little.

 

My own thought here is when in doubt go up in tow rating. I have never been sorry to have more capacity, but I have been sorry to have less.

Just my two cents worth,

Steve

 

Thanks for the opinions, and I think you are right, it is better to have too much than not enough. Does the 3.73 gas mileage differ greatly against the other rearends?

 

In comparison to 3.55, I would expect a less than 10% difference and more likely closer to 5%, so not much in terms of mileage. I think you will find you can make up the difference by paying attention to your style of driving, at least that is my opinion. Hopefully others will chime in with thier real world experience.

Steve

 

I think that with the six speed transmission the gas mileage difference is negligible between the 3.55 and 3.73 or the 3.55 and 3.31.

 

I am in the same boat. I am going to be ordering in the next week or so(pending on the deal I get) and trying to figure out whether to get the 3.31 or the 3.55. I will tow a duck boat many times in the winter, but that is about it. I would say it weighs about 3500lbs with everything.

Should I do the 3.55 or the 3.31?

ps. It will be the lariat with the standard tow package, trailer brake control switch, 18 inch wheels.

 

3.73 would be my pick. Better to have too much than not enough. You'll never notice the mpg difference over 3.55's.

 

Thanks to all, I am ordering the max tow with the 3.73, and rear camera on an xlt screw, chrome pkg, sliding rear window, 6.5 bed and the color will be ingot silver-same color as the 2010 I'm trading in, I had alot of comments from people saying they really liked it, and it doesn't show the dirt like darker colors. Any idea how long it will be before it is delivered?

 

If you travel the interstate (empty) a lot at 70+ mph you would probably see the difference in mpg. Naturally you can just slow down but some of us just don't want to. If you don't tow a lot of miles every season and drive a lot of interstate you may be happier with the mpg of the 3.55.