I have a 2016 Ford F250 6.2 gas 4x4 with 3.73 gears. we are pulling a 5th wheel that weighs between 12,500 to 13,000 lbs. would it be worth installing 4.30 gears? Any idea what the cost would be?

Thanks

 

YES, and lots of $..

many have posted the gear change... it depends on your location..

Ford dealer or a Truck Shop. and prices are all over the map..

being a 4x4.. that is 2 sets of gears and twice the amount of work. like $2,500 or so.

as long as you do NOT go over the west side mountains.. the 3.73 will work.
but if you do go over the west side mountains.. the 3.73 will still do it.. just a little slower.

my opinion.

 

Lots of questions to be asked before you drop the cash for a gear swap. First, how often do you pull the camper? Do you pul long distances especially on the interstate? Is this a daily driver when not pulling? What size tires are on your truck? Maybe a deeper gear would make sense. Gears will make a noticeable difference, especially with the wind resistance of a fifth wheel. Is it worth it? That's going to depend on your expectations. We have members that are happy pulling significantly heavier fifth wheels with the 6.2, but they understand the process to do it is a lot different than a low revving diesel. For me, your at a weight that if I pulled often, the diesel would start to make sense. Also for me, I do a lot of in town and 50-55mph hwy driving. My dad ordered a factory 4.30 truck, and I knew the benefits of the lower ratio for my daily driving.

I have under 2k in my 4x4 gear swap from a reputable off road shop that gave a 1 year warranty. Any wear problem with the gears will be known in that time frame.

 

Ron makes a lot of good points. The biggest question I think you need to ask yourself is how often am I going to be towing as a percentage of the of the overall use of the truck. I have had both the 4.30's and 3.73's and while there is a difference while towing, it did not find it significant. I live at altitude here in Wyoming and I am not disappointed in the performance of my truck for what I use it for. My current truck has 3.73's and I haul a slide in truck camper and pull my ATV's and gear at the same time.
I don't haul my truck camper as a percentage nearly as much as my truck is empty, or empty with just the ATV trailer hooked to the bumper. So, for me, I will take the gains in empty mileage with the 3.73's since probably 75% of the time it is empty.
The 4.30's are great and I really liked mine when I had them but for what you are going to have to spend to switch out to the 4.30's, you might be disappointed in the performance difference. It's a personal call and everyone has different needs.

 

Wyobull, did you choose 3.73 gears? Or did you settle for 3.73's off the lot knowing they would be sufficient for your needs? I can't remember if you ordered your truck or bought one off the lot. I think the '17's would have to perform better than pre 16 with 3.73's because of the lower torque curve. A lighter rotating assembly in the transmission would help. If you didn't order your truck, would you have picked the 4.30's over the 3.73's, and what wheel and tire package did you get?

 

Ron, on my 2016 I ordered the 4.30's. On my 2017 my main criteria was payload because of my slide in truck camper. The truck I found which had that payload I was looking for was on a dealer lot and had the 3.73's so I took it. Had I ordered my 2017 I would have ordered the 4.30's because I did like them in my 2016. That being said, I am not disappointed at all with my 3.73's but remember, I am not trying to tow a 10-12,000 lb 5th wheel with it. My camper is 3700 lbs wet. My tires are the 275/70/R18's.
I do feel though that my 2017 has more pep and seems to be more responsive at the throttle than my 2016 was and that may be because of the lower torque curve.

 

Hi guys I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I have been a lurking for years and gotten a TON of excellent advice on these boards.

I was in the OP's position last year with a 2012 f250 and 12.5k fifth wheel. I went ahead and did the gear swap. ($2.5k by the way) It really woke the truck up. And helped you to stay in the rev band longer. I am in Nebraska so not many big grades but alot of annoying hills. Towing is almost entirely in manual mode and it makes for a much more pleasant experience with shorter gears.

However as time went on I tired of having to stay ahead of the terrain. I went to a 2017 f350 diesel and appreciate what it has to offer. By the way I know of a pretty sweet gassed sitting on a dealer lot if anybody is interested.

 

I went to 4.30 from 3.73. Big difference towing, even gained mpg towing and empty. Worth the $$$$ for me.

 

Exactly. Those of us who have done this understand what an improvement it is.

 

I agree. The gears combined with the 5 Star tunes makes it a different machine. My biggest surprise was the ~2 mpg gain empty. I expected a gain in mpg's loaded/towing, just not empty. I drive about 15 miles to work and was getting ~13.5 at 60 mph. Now I am getting ~ 15.5 - 16 mpg's at 60 mph consistently. And that is with the 5 Star 87 octane performance tune.

 

Whaaaaat.. oh I love the sound of that! Even if it went up by 1, but 2.. so much better. I think I need to start saving my pennies!

 

I am probably the rare case of empty mpg improvement with a lower gear change. I have not had it on the interstate empty yet. Before I would get between 13-14 at 70mph. I am not expecting an increase in mileage on the interstate though.

 

I rarely run interstate, my work commute is about the same as yours being around 17 miles, maybe 4 of that leaving my town and 2 entering the next town, rest of the time it's 55 to 60, and when I took my trip to Eastern Oregon it was 35 to 60 the whole time, get into some corners and you have to slow and then speed back up, so for me your example is a very close match to my driving.

 

Hopefully when you do the swap, you will have similar results.

 

Got a truck with 4.30's on order.

I would anticipate improvement in town, 2-lane roads, and if you keep your interstate speed at or below 65 mph. (I know this is unrealistic for most.)

My guess is, 70 mph and up, there will be a relative drop in mpg.