Ive been thinking about getting a new truck but before I start crunching numbers on different models im trying to narrow down certain items I want. My question is why ate the axle ratio offered now so low? I have a 250 5.4 with 4.10 gears and I think thats adequate. I see they offer 3.73s or 4.30s with the new gasser. Whats your input on this . Side note I normally tow under 6k but I do haul max wieght in the bed. Truck im looking at is crew cab 8' bed

 

I not completely sure but, I believe the rear axle ratio is lower (4.30) because of the 6spd transmission. I had an opportunity to buy a 2011 SD Super Cab with the 4.30 rear but my salesman didn't call me in time and the truck sold.

I too owned a 2003 F250 CC SD 5.4 w/ 4.10 rear for 9 years (bought new before trading it in). Best truck I ever owned! Aside from maintenance, $3,200 in repairs that whole time.

I would get the 4.30 if buying a gasser, 3.55 if buying diesel.


Been looking to purchase another SD. This time a F350 CC w/ 8ft bed. Just not sure if 6.2 or 6.7 (never owned a diesel).

 

I have a 2015 reg cab 2wd 6.2 w/ 4.30s. Even unloaded, I think the 4.30s feel most appropriate for this truck. Throttle response in 1-2nd can almost be to fast if your half awake, lol. but no accidental wheel spin yet, on street. cruising at 75 puts your rpms a little over 2k, and right at the power band start. Will slow down really fast when you let off. but great power, in 6th too. First gear is short, and she loves to upshift right away. Without a foot full of gas off the line, she'll kind of leap frog into 2nd, then again right into 3rd. If I give it minimal throttle, she climbs right up to 6th before I hit 40mph, and doesn't want to downshift easily. I lock out 6th in town, some times.


I had a boat, but I sold it, so I haven't towed with my truck yet, but I think towing and hauling is where the 4.30s will really kick ***.
Since I'm unloaded a lot now, and I have just about the lightest config, (6k lbs), the 3.73s MIGHT have been more laid back, and comfortable, but not as fun. Also, mpg shouldn't be a concern with these, lol, but just in case your wondering, mine's been 12.3 - 12.7 from day 1. I do about 60% town, 40% highway. no bed cover.

 

Im not too concerned for mpgs ,im at a steady ten now no matter what I do. Gear changing is one of the things I dont feel comfortable doing so thats why im looking for input. Ihad a ford 4.0 with 3.73s and it eas an absolute dog under load. I know thats an Appleto orange ccomparison buts that my only experience. Id rather err on the side off too much power/ torque than not enough,as long as its not to detrimental to mpgs over the long run. I love.my current rig now but bieng a SC it's just too small ,also the rear bed wheel well is start to show signs of cancer so I figured id get the most out of selling it now.

 

As you said "joey", I carry Max Payload most of the time. I carry an Eagle Cap truck camper from end of March 'til end of October and it carries it fine with 3.73s. If I had ordered the truck instead of buying off the lot, I probably would have ordered 4.30s - because we camp right on the beach. With tires aired down and 4 wheelin' 11,000 pounds through soft sand, the 4.30s would have been much better... but, it works fine as is. Hope this helps...

 

Mine is a 2011 CC LB SRW but I come from the diesel camp.

I currently have 141,000 miles on my truck and probably 50,000 to 60,000 mile of that is towing something. Most of my trailers are in the 10,000 to 13,000 lbs range. My truck has the 3.55 rear end.

Besides the power to drag trailers up the mountains of the west where I live. The diesel gives me pretty good fuel mileage for 8,000lbs truck. Towing 13,000lbs horse trailers, I get 11 Maybe 12 mpg depending on the route I drive. Chasing around town to the various homes I'm building is about 14-15 mpg, and most long distance drives with an empty truck at 80mph = 18 mpg

On rare occasions, I've driven Salt Lake City to Jackson and stuck with 65-70 mph for the 300 mile trips and seen as high as 23 mpg. But I have to keep my speeds down around 65 for that to happen.

Yes Diesels cost more. Both in initial cost and in the fuel. I'm paying $2.60 a gallon for Diesel fuel, Gas is about $1.84 around here. So the better fuel mileage is offset by the higher cost of fuel. I'm paying 24% more for the fuel I buy. But the diesels are usually getting 40-50% better mpg.

As far as maintenance, I've spent around $3500 in 141,000 miles on repairs to my truck. Brakes, Wheel Bearings, Batteries, New Fan Belt, Flush Tranny and Coolant. These are pretty much the same repairs folks would have on a similar mileage gas truck. So the main difference on maintenance is 13 qts of oil vs what the gas engine uses each oil change and a new Fuel Filter every 20,000 miles.

Hope that gives you some comparison of the cost vs benefits of the two engines

 

I dont drive enough so a diesel wont make much sense for me. My 06 right now has only 60k on it. Most of that is short trips empty ,carry max cap (or more than recommend wieght) or plowing.ive searched about 2 dozen dealers ,looked at hundreds of trucks online and not 1 has the 4.30s . Every gas crew cab has ordered locking 3.73s. I dont mind ordering and waiting but I know u usually get a better deal with something off the lot. I

 

Here's my 2 cents...after the uber short 1st gear the 3.75 and 4.30 match up very closely when one gear apart. Eg. 6th gear in the 4.30 will give about the same RPM and road speed as 5th gear on the 3.75. Same for 5/4 and 4/3 gear comparisons. The 4.30 should get into 3rd gear faster but the engine torque management that limits power in lower gears at slower speeds kinda nullify the advantage. Recently pickuptrucks.com compared their 0-60 test from 2010 with an '11 with 4.30 gears and 2014 with 3.75 gears and the 3.75 was quicker. Obviously there are too many variables in test results 4 years apart to say that the 3.75 is really a quicker setup but the fact that there is any doubt makes me wonder if the theoretical advantage of the shorter gears in acceleration is all that significant in real world towing?