I have a 97 XLT 250 5-speed close-ratio 410 gears. I do a lot of highway driving thinking about changing differential to the 355. Any thoughts or comments?

 

If you tow heavy or alot leave the 4.10 if just highway cruising and light tow put 3.55. IMO with 3.55 and some mods you will be happy like me.

 

what would be the other modifications required?
thanks for your response. :-)

 

what would be the other modifications required?
thanks for your response. :-)

 

They are not required but play nice with 3.55, Check my SIG, with this setup the 3.55 were a pleasure towing and highway driving, I also had 4.10 and didnt like the high rpm and fuel consumption on 75+ MPH.

 

Love my 3:55. I only tow 3500LBs.

 

I have hauled loads that I don't think I could have got rolling with 3.55 gears, my truck is almost always towing something so I stay with the 4.10 gears and only drive 72 mph. max. my empty mileage is 18.6 just takes longer to get there, If I wasn't towing I would defiantly go with the 3.55

 

I very much agree. 3.55 if short tires and not towing. 4.10 if towing much camper or weight. I had 3.55s and 285/75 tires and it was just not in the right rpm band to tow my 28' pull behind with. Yea I could get by but I am going to 4.10s. I had a SD doolie with 4.10s years ago and that thing had NO problem pulling anything I ever put behind it. I once pulled a triaxle trailer with my 1965 f600 dump truck from nowhere Kentucky. Stopping wasn't ideal but I'm a believer in them 4.10s . If you want to go 90mph then you won't like them.

 

I haven't run 4:10s except in our dually with a 5.8l and a c6 (no overdrive). I know that that's a slow combo especially since it's loaded all of the time but I think it would be worse with 3.55s on that truck. I have 3.55s in both of my 7.3s which for the most part are daily drivers so I really like those gears. I do hook on to the trailer once in a while and I pull heavy. With 235/85 tires there is no way I'm hitting 5th gear when I'm loaded but it's all about how YOU use your truck.