Ordering 2022 F250 need help
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Ordering 2022 F250 need help
I am ordering a 2022 f250 with 7.3 liter gas. I will occasionally tow a 8000 lbs travel trailer. I don’t know which gear ratio to choose, 4.30 or 3.55. I was thinking 4.30 to have more power in low gear but I don’t want to have poor mpg.I pull the trailer thru the Sierra mountains. 7% grade.
Is 4.30s overkill for a 8000 lb trailer? Would 3.55 be adequate for the pull comfortably?
I thank you in advance for your experienced comments.
vince
Is 4.30s overkill for a 8000 lb trailer? Would 3.55 be adequate for the pull comfortably?
I thank you in advance for your experienced comments.
vince
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3'55's will easily pull 8,000 lbs. Ford wouldn't offer it if it wouldn't.
People forget they have a transmission sometimes, it will be one gear lower on the hills and the only time it matters is in 10th gear. so just deal with it. . I pulled overloaded goosenecks through the mountains with a 390 with a 3 speed auto with 3.55 gears for many thousands of miles for years . but a new '7.3 with a 10 speed won't cut it ? I think it will.
If you were towing heavy loads a lot I could see lower gears otherwise the higher gears are better in every way. so just get a diesel if you tow that much.
That's my opinion, oughta be yours.
People forget they have a transmission sometimes, it will be one gear lower on the hills and the only time it matters is in 10th gear. so just deal with it. . I pulled overloaded goosenecks through the mountains with a 390 with a 3 speed auto with 3.55 gears for many thousands of miles for years . but a new '7.3 with a 10 speed won't cut it ? I think it will.
If you were towing heavy loads a lot I could see lower gears otherwise the higher gears are better in every way. so just get a diesel if you tow that much.
That's my opinion, oughta be yours.
Cargo Master
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From various internet sources the difference between 3.55 and 4.30's is about 1 mpg. With my research (see the 7.3 section of this forum), you can easily get 16.7 mpg or higher if you slow down to 55 mph over 70+. My pulling mpg on a 5000+ mile trip to Vegas and back pulling 7000 lbs, at 65 mph, was 11 mpg with the 7.3,4.30's, SCLB 4x4 on 33's.
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Since my build will not go in production for a few months, I have time to change. The gear ration is my concern, I want the low end power of 4.30 and the lower RPM in 10th with the 3.55. I may split the difference and change my order to a F-350 with 3.73 gears. This may solve my problem and give me room to upgrade my TT to a 5th W.
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
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Cargo Master
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Since my build will not go in production for a few months, I have time to change. The gear ration is my concern, I want the low end power of 4.30 and the lower RPM in 10th with the 3.55. I may split the difference and change my order to a F-350 with 3.73 gears. This may solve my problem and give me room to upgrade my TT to a 5th W.
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
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From: Mills River
Since my build will not go in production for a few months, I have time to change. The gear ration is my concern, I want the low end power of 4.30 and the lower RPM in 10th with the 3.55. I may split the difference and change my order to a F-350 with 3.73 gears. This may solve my problem and give me room to upgrade my TT to a 5th W.
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
The differences in the rear suspensions are significant. The standard F-250 rear suspension is three leaves per side rated at 6340 lbs. GAWR, and the standard F-350 SRW 4x4 rear suspension with 18” or 20” wheels is five leaves (four plus one six per side) rated at 7230 lbs. GAWR. The F-350’s rear spring first stage deflection rate is a bit higher, so it’s expect the lightly loaded ride to bit somewhat more firm.
However, for mountain towing and the possibility of a fifth wheel, The F-350 7.3 4.30 may be the real solution.
The 3.55 and 3.73 axles are Sterling, and the F-350 SRW 4.30 axle is a Dana. I don’t know about the F-250 7.3 4.30.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Cargo Master
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From: CA
Since my build will not go in production for a few months, I have time to change. The gear ration is my concern, I want the low end power of 4.30 and the lower RPM in 10th with the 3.55. I may split the difference and change my order to a F-350 with 3.73 gears. This may solve my problem and give me room to upgrade my TT to a 5th W.
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2021
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Since my build will not go in production for a few months, I have time to change. The gear ration is my concern, I want the low end power of 4.30 and the lower RPM in 10th with the 3.55. I may split the difference and change my order to a F-350 with 3.73 gears. This may solve my problem and give me room to upgrade my TT to a 5th W.
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Anyone know if there is a ride height difference and a suspension ride difference between the two?
Had a 250 with 3.55 order but wanted little lower gearing. So changed to a 350 with 3.73s. I dropped adaptive steering kept the price about the same.
Last edited by Dbarrett38; Jul 17, 2021 at 11:52 AM. Reason: Typo
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The 3.73 axle is probably a generally good compromise between the 3.55 and the 4.30. Note the new 10-speed AT had a very deep first gear (4.615).
The differences in the rear suspensions are significant. The standard F-250 rear suspension is three leaves per side rated at 6340 lbs. GAWR, and the standard F-350 SRW 4x4 rear suspension with 18” or 20” wheels is five leaves (four plus one six per side) rated at 7230 lbs. GAWR. The F-350’s rear spring first stage deflection rate is a bit higher, so it’s expect the lightly loaded ride to bit somewhat more firm.
However, for mountain towing and the possibility of a fifth wheel, The F-350 7.3 4.30 may be the real solution.
The 3.55 and 3.73 axles are Sterling, and the F-350 SRW 4.30 axle is a Dana. I don’t know about the F-250 7.3 4.30.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
The differences in the rear suspensions are significant. The standard F-250 rear suspension is three leaves per side rated at 6340 lbs. GAWR, and the standard F-350 SRW 4x4 rear suspension with 18” or 20” wheels is five leaves (four plus one six per side) rated at 7230 lbs. GAWR. The F-350’s rear spring first stage deflection rate is a bit higher, so it’s expect the lightly loaded ride to bit somewhat more firm.
However, for mountain towing and the possibility of a fifth wheel, The F-350 7.3 4.30 may be the real solution.
The 3.55 and 3.73 axles are Sterling, and the F-350 SRW 4.30 axle is a Dana. I don’t know about the F-250 7.3 4.30.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
