Just looking for some thoughts on my current dilemma.


Currently have truck in sig, 166k miles, currently it needs about $600 worth of parts. Shocks front and rear, front upper a-arms, lower ball joints, wheel hubs in front. The wheel hubs aren't needed NOW, but if I'm taking most of the front end apart it seems silly to not just replace them while I'm in there. Truck is 14yrs old and while most of the parts I mentioned may not need repair "right now" I know they can't have much life left in them. Truck is basically bone stock driveline parts wise. I do already have rear wheel bearings and seals waiting to go in. Prev owner put 10ply tires on the truck and it rides like a log wagon, I've had them balanced once and I watched the guy spin them on the machine and every tire had a significant bounce in it. He did his best and even rotated the tire on the rims trying to move it around for a better balance but it didn't make much difference in the ride. Between new tires and the parts mentioned above I'm looking at about $1100 to get the truck like I want it and be road worthy and have a comfortable ride. In the near future I plan on purchasing a camper for my family and while this truck runs well it has 3.55 gears and what towing I've done with it since owning it I'm not impressed. Pulled a 7x12 v-nose enclosed trailer with two dirt-bikes in it and truck would barely hold OD on flat ground running 60mph.Throw a 6k lb camper on the back and it will be straining. I will admit this is my first gas truck after owning several diesels (5.9, 6.7 cummins, 6.4 powerstroke), so I'm used to torque


I posted a topic over in the SD forum a couple weeks back and must say the 6.2 engine has perked my interest. Just autotrader shopping I've found 2011 and 12 models for low $20's in good shape. I'm just trying to figure out if my truck is worth putting over a grand in and still be under powered vs buying a newer truck that will pull the size camper I want with ease. The biggest factor here is $$ of course, do I want $400 truck payment or not??? My current truck is a super-cab if I got an F250 I would get a crew for more room for passengers.


I've heard reports if buying the 6.2 go for the 4.30 gears, what little bit of shopping I've done this seems easier said than done. 90% of the trucks I've found (not buying a XL work model) all of them had 3.73's. So finding the 4.30 trucks may take awhile (which is fine).


Well I'm done rambling, open to opinions and suggestions.


Thank you.

 

With a 6.2 motor you don't need 4.30 gears..... The 3.73 is fine as long as your not pulling a 36 ft, 10,000 pound 5th wheel.

Comparing that to a 5.4 with 3.55 gears is not in the ball park. Depending on what you want and HOW OFTEN you pull, you could put 3.73 gears in the F150 and do good. I have 3.55 gears in my SCREW and have pulled a 10,000 trailer, but not daily and not far, and don't expect to be going over 60 MPH.

You can FIX a lot of truck for $20K price of a new one..... depends on what you want and HOW OFTEN you pull and HOW MUCH you pull.

A 6K trailer should not be much of a challenge for a 5.4 with 3.55 gears except for hills.... 3.73 would certainly be a help

 

I thought about gears, but I'm OCD about keeping things stock in the sense of drive train. What I mean is my door code shows axle code for 3.55 and if I put 3.73's in it that's something I would have to disclose when I sell the truck. Then that could raise red flags to a potential buyer as to WHY I changed the gears etc.


Yes $20k is a lot of money but that money buys a truck 9yrs newer with more power and bigger cab. In terms of how often, roughly I'd say five times a year or less in terms of a camper. I race dirt-bikes nearly every weekend and the truck would be used to haul the bike in the bed or pull the 7x12 trailer I mentioned earlier. Local towing is not a big deal with my current truck but interstate towing is. I just feel like the truck works to hard trying to maintain 65-70mph when something with lower gearing/more HP would be better.


I test drove an 02 screw with 3.73's before I bought mine and it was a noticeable difference just leaving a red light in the amount of (seat of the pants) torque it had.

 

In all honesty an F150 with 3.5 ecoboost would be plenty of truck for me, I don't need the F250 gasser. But, the used prices are crazy on the ecoboost compared to the 6.2 gasser. In my area easily 5k to 8k difference (higher).

 

I gotta agree that re-gearing will get the towing chore done better. But... if your into racing bikes on the weekends and sounds like you are going farther for the events. That crew cab would be pretty nice. Don't get me wrong I tend to invest in what I have rather that jump into a big payment.

 

I think your talking yourself into a newer truck.. I agree a CREW is the way to go. Maybe not up the 6.2 motor ?... a 5.4 or 5.0 should have the HP... 3.73 gears for pulling works good.

 

Does the 5.0 use coil packs? That might be a good option in a 3.73


After messing with these coils I'm ready for spark plug wires again

 

Yes the "new generation" 5.0 does use Coil On Plug (aka COP) or individual coils per cylinder. I'm pretty sure that they started in 2011 for pickups.

For a "real world" comparison....One of my friends has one in a 12' and is really happy with it, think he averages 18-19mpg. but he does not have 3:73 gears, pretty certain he has the standard 3:55. BUT he does have a pretty light foot too. I believe the only "premature replacement" he has done was a new water pump in the nearly 100,000 miles he has driven it.

 

Sounds like you are trying to talk yourself into getting a newer truck.

~$1000 to get the truck back into shape that will do what you need it to do, just not maybe exactly how you want it to.
Why are you worried about resale of a 15 year old truck if you regear? Set the truck up for how you use it. A new owner will not care that you regeared. It may be a selling point, just be honest that you towed with it and wanted new gears. Knowing that the truck had a "fresh" rear end would make me happy buying it (would not pay more just for that, but would not be a bad selling point).

Ask yourself, is there anything that a $20,000+ truck will do that your current truck will not do.
Is your current truck rated to tow and haul what you need it to? I don't fully understand what "working hard to maintain 65-70mph" means.
Can it do it, yes or no? So long as the truck is not overheating or slipping gears you are fine. The RPM's will be a little higher since you have OD off, but when you tow, that is to be expected, as is poor gas mileage.
As you said, you can't compare a diesel to a gas when it comes to the feel of how it drives, they are totally different.

 

Valid points made by all.


I may just fix up my truck and keep it a little longer. It's a nice well cared for truck just needs some parts threw at it. I honestly doubt I'll do a re-gear I just don't see the benefit outweighing the cost. Replacing worn front end parts, some shocks and tires is easy just takes a little $$.

 

I don't see a problem with a 3.55 axle pulling a 6000 pound trailer.

 

well found out yesterday my dad is selling our family farm and that put my wife into "I want a new house mode" so no new truck for me

 

Congratulations on the house. I have 3.73's and have had 4.11's as well. The 4.11's are great from a stand still but I like the 3.73's best on the highway.

 

$600 in parts is about one month of truck payments. I would spend the $600. Good luck with the house.