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I have been a long time reader. Currently have a 2003 f350 v10 with 5 star tunes. I've owned this rig for 3 years, and its in great shape both cosmetically and mechanically. I have 3.73 gears, which leads me wanting while towing, especially in elevation. Question is should I gear to 4.56, or hold off and look for a 3v with 4.3?
If you like the truck and its running well I would keep it and just re-gear. Buying a new used vehicle always come with the unknowns of what a previous owner did/didn't do. Now an 05 and new will have the coil spring front suspension with better ride & turning radius so that's could be a factory too.
Just remember if you are 4x4 you have to do both axles so it can get pricey. No experience on the ratios here but most guys I read with the 6.2L are happy with the 4.30s.
Or just get a diesel. No altitude drops in power there. Mine still pulls like a freight train at 8000ft.
I have been a long time reader. Currently have a 2003 f350 v10 with 5 star tunes. I've owned this rig for 3 years, and its in great shape both cosmetically and mechanically. I have 3.73 gears, which leads me wanting while towing, especially in elevation. Question is should I gear to 4.56, or hold off and look for a 3v with 4.3?
I have a 01 CCSB 4X4 with the V10 and factory 4.30 posi gears.
love it. Has no problems pulling a 24 foot loaded toyhauler thru the mountains and out into the sand dunes.
I'm also running 33 tires, a little taller and wider than stock size.
When empty, it gets up and boogies for a big heavy truck. But the MPG suffers some because of the 4.30 gears. I get 13 when running 75 empty.
I have a '04 and swapped from 3.73 to 4.30 a few years ago. I had a 32' camper ~8k loaded, and it pulled it great. Upgraded campers to a 37' ~10k loaded, and it huffs a little more. If I had to do it all again, I would have went to 4.56 as the truck is a dedicated tow vehicle. I'm just waiting to upgrade to a 7.3 gas dually now.
I have been a long time reader. Currently have a 2003 f350 v10 with 5 star tunes. I've owned this rig for 3 years, and its in great shape both cosmetically and mechanically. I have 3.73 gears, which leads me wanting while towing, especially in elevation. Question is should I gear to 4.56, or hold off and look for a 3v with 4.3?
I had a '08' F350 (dually) with the V10 4.30 gears and pulled a 12k 5th wheel all over the west/ mountain grades. It would do 40-45 mph up the grades. The 4.30s did a fine job.
(2008)
362 hp & 457 lb.-ft. torque
BRAKES
Type 4-wheel disc ABS (standard)
Front (rotor diameter) 13.66"
Rear (rotor diameter) 13.39"
I pull an 11k lbs 5th wheel all over the country with a 2v 5.4 and the 4.10 gears makes a big difference. The 3v is going to have more power, but as mentioned already, is going to have bigger problems than a little lack of power. Diesels have been nothing but trouble since emissions. Mine won’t be first to the top of the hill, but it gets there every single time. When it comes to towing, reliability is more important than anything else.
My 08 3v V10 had 188k mile when a new reman engine was put in.... here's that thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-flatbed.html. It was my delay of putting the noise off that cost me the engine. Sold the truck in 2016 with near 300k.
My 2012 3v 6.2 just replaced with a 2021 had over 200k miles no issues.
Occasionally a crap engine happens but it certainly isn't a norm with the 3v engines.
The 3V V10's are far less reliable than the 2V by design. They suffered insufficient oiling to the heads which caused problems with roller followers for obvious reasons and they suffered the same questionable hydraulic timing chain tensioners which would either blow a seal and/or not work all that well due to low OP anyhow. Insufficient OP.....chains slap......timing chain guides break apart....pieces reside in pan and circulate throughout motor....clog oil pickup.....OP suffers even more and on and on.
The 3V V10 has all the problems of the 3V 5.4 except cam phasers and the phasers really aren't that problematic in the 5.4
An '11+ 6.2 will pull circles around the 3V V10 and get better mileage while doing it. I've used both extensively in the CO mtns with identical loads but my V10 did me the favor of cratering around 155k due to a dropped valve from a failed roller follower
Buy what you want......and good luck if that's a 3V V10. But it's a free country and your money to spend or waste as you choose
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