which is recommended 6 speed or 10 speed with 4x4

 

They're both good. The 10 speed is new and the 6 speed has been used since 2010. 10 speed is 3.5 EcoBoost only for 2017. For 2018 the 10 speed will be standard with the 2.7 EB, 3.5 EB and 5.0 V8. Only the base non turbo 3.3 V6 gets a 6 speed for 2018.

The 6 speed has been an outstanding and reliable unit. The 10 speed has had a good first year. I guess it all depends on what you want and how you intend to use it.

 

It's not really a matter of recommendation.... The 10 speed is the new replacement unit that's taking over the old 6 spd unit. As stated, the 6 speed has proven itself as a reliable unit. The 10 speed isn't like some other brands transmissions, it is able to skip gears so may shift less often than the 6 speed under many driving conditions. It was a joint venture with GM, and fanboy or not, I think its safe to say that with the engineering departments of the two biggest truck companies behind them, and their profits at risk, they've probably done more than a fair amount of testing under more than normal numbers of conditions to make sure they got it right. No major issues from the first year with the most power motor is a great sign for the future of this transmission. For me, I'd wait to get the 10 speed transmission because the '18 has a better looking grill, the transmission would just be an added bonus.

 

I've got the 10 speed in my '17 Lariat and find that it works just fine. If you just want to get around leave it in Drive. No thrills, decent fuel mileage but a couple of quirks related to gear skipping. But no real problems. When you want fun, drop it into Sport mode. Again, it works great and no problems and it will impress!
All other things being equal, there's no contest. I'd take the 10 speed over the 6 speed any day.

 

not that i need to spend anymore money on my 4-wheeled moneypit, but i'm curious to know if a 10 speed could be retrofitted into a gen 1 3.5L ecoBoost..

 

I seriously doubt it. Even if the bell-housing bolt patterns were the same (and I really don't know if they are), virtually nothing would be compatible. EVERYTHING on this drive-train is controlled by computer. The transmission definitely is. Pretty much the only thing the Gen I and Gen II engines share is the displacement. Different turbos, different cam, different injectors etc. All of the various computers involved with the entire drive-train have to work together. Either trade in your old money pit for a new money pit or hope you can find a Gen II that someone rolled and harvest the entire drive-train with all of its assorted electronics.

 

Anything is possible if you spend enough money. But you very possibly would have wished that you just went out and bought or traded for a new one.

 

True that. A friend of mine always says "Anything can be built." However, cost is a whole other thing.

 

This is like the old question about converting a truck to 4 wheel drive. It would be cheaper and easier to trade the truck on the one you want rather than doing a conversion. I can see no reason to even attempt a swap from a 6 speed to a 10 speed.

 

Whether you buy a truck with a 6 or 10 speed transmission, the truck will only use the gears it needs. In either case these trucks are designed to perform with which ever drive-train you chose with the best performance available.

 

And it's not like the 10-speed is an option box you can tick off. Once you know the model year and engine then the transmission is chosen for you.

 

While the manufacturers are concerned with performance (hence, Sport Mode) they also need to be concerned with Corporate Average Fuel Economy - CAFE.


I doubt anyone would consider a current eco-boost F150 with a 10 speed as having best performance.


The 6 speed is basically a 4 speed with 2 overdrive gear ratios. The 10 speed is really a 7 speed with 3 overdrive ratios. But when either one is in top gear their OD ratios are basically the same (.69:1 for the six speed and .63:1 for the 10 speed). The spacing between gear ratios is smaller with the 10 speed to keep the rpm's down and take advantage of the turbos.

 

On the CAFE loop the 10spd must show higher mileage.....in the real world I’d bet there is little to no difference.

 

Ford and GM sure spent a lot of $<moola> to get little to no difference! I'm guessing there is a measurable difference of 1, or maybe even 2 MPG, depending on conditions.

 

The 10 speed is proven faster than the 6 speed. There's numerous videos of that being true.