Final drive ratio
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 161
Likes: 81
From: So Cal...for now
I wish 3.73's were an option on my F450. It does not need 4.30's for what I do and tow. For that matter, I didn't need an F450 either, but the price was really close to an F350, I could get it well under MSRP, and the wife was on board sooo why not.
I did hem and haw about going with a F350 DRW with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. I just couldn't do it because ya know, "what if." I wish that I could go to a dealer and hook my trailer up to a truck during a test drive and see if it meets my needs. That would be great.
I did hem and haw about going with a F350 DRW with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. I just couldn't do it because ya know, "what if." I wish that I could go to a dealer and hook my trailer up to a truck during a test drive and see if it meets my needs. That would be great.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,410
Likes: 1,015
From: Central KY
With 3.73 the trans can still gear down easily to adapt to any situation at lower speeds, but has the advantage of lower RPM on the interstates. With 4.30 you get zero advantage once you leave 1st gear, and you also lose the low RPMs at interstate speeds. To me it's a no brainer to go 3.73 unless you intend to tow near max capacity a lot of the time.
My last truck was a Ram. The options there were 3.21 or 3.92. I had the 3.21. It still towed the camper fine, it just did it one transmission gear lower than the 3.92 would have. But when not towing that low RPM cruising was niiicceee....
My last truck was a Ram. The options there were 3.21 or 3.92. I had the 3.21. It still towed the camper fine, it just did it one transmission gear lower than the 3.92 would have. But when not towing that low RPM cruising was niiicceee....
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
I wish 3.73's were an option on my F450. It does not need 4.30's for what I do and tow. For that matter, I didn't need an F450 either, but the price was really close to an F350, I could get it well under MSRP, and the wife was on board sooo why not.
I did hem and haw about going with a F350 DRW with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. I just couldn't do it because ya know, "what if." I wish that I could go to a dealer and hook my trailer up to a truck during a test drive and see if it meets my needs. That would be great.
I did hem and haw about going with a F350 DRW with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. I just couldn't do it because ya know, "what if." I wish that I could go to a dealer and hook my trailer up to a truck during a test drive and see if it meets my needs. That would be great.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 1,659
From: Bighorn Basin, NW Wyoming
How about the 4,000lbs GCWR advantage and other towing advantages stated in Ford’s tow guide with 4.30’s? I guess that all just a bunch of nonsense?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,358
Likes: 1,722
From: AKRON ohio
Your TT probably doesn't even weigh 4000 lbs
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 1,659
From: Bighorn Basin, NW Wyoming
That’s not what Ford’s tow guide states.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
4.30s have an advantage in every gear, not just 1st.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 1,659
From: Bighorn Basin, NW Wyoming
Most importantly to me, I like the way gas trucks drive with 4.30’s. Especially with bigger tires which bring rpms down.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 908
Likes: 1,838
From: SE PA
Of course the 4.30's drive better with your bigger tires, the Tremor package with the 7.3 requires it. The 3.73 with your bigger tires would be a bit of a drag and I full agree with you. Most folks don't put on bigger tires and the 3.73 is fine for them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 226
Likes: 121
Those are made up numbers in reality. SO he very well may not need them.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 3,989
Likes: 2,326
With 3.73 the trans can still gear down easily to adapt to any situation at lower speeds, but has the advantage of lower RPM on the interstates. With 4.30 you get zero advantage once you leave 1st gear, and you also lose the low RPMs at interstate speeds. To me it's a no brainer to go 3.73 unless you intend to tow near max capacity a lot of the time.
My last truck was a Ram. The options there were 3.21 or 3.92. I had the 3.21. It still towed the camper fine, it just did it one transmission gear lower than the 3.92 would have. But when not towing that low RPM cruising was niiicceee....
My last truck was a Ram. The options there were 3.21 or 3.92. I had the 3.21. It still towed the camper fine, it just did it one transmission gear lower than the 3.92 would have. But when not towing that low RPM cruising was niiicceee....
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,358
Likes: 1,722
From: AKRON ohio
it depends on what you consider an advantage. I consider 75 mph for 1200 miles dead heading empty with 3.55 gears an advantage over 4.30.
4.30 gears you CANNOT cruise like 3.55 and that's the advantage if you need that advantage. I need that when empty mpg matters on a long trip. No reason at all to want to be spinning higher rpm's when it just isn't needed. That is a huge advantage when I'm cruising empty at highway speeds with the trailer in tow. 10th gear nice and easy. Return trip 10,000 lbs 9th gear. Its all good on my end.
4.30 gears you CANNOT cruise like 3.55 and that's the advantage if you need that advantage. I need that when empty mpg matters on a long trip. No reason at all to want to be spinning higher rpm's when it just isn't needed. That is a huge advantage when I'm cruising empty at highway speeds with the trailer in tow. 10th gear nice and easy. Return trip 10,000 lbs 9th gear. Its all good on my end.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
it depends on what you consider an advantage. I consider 75 mph for 1200 miles dead heading empty with 3.55 gears an advantage over 4.30.
4.30 gears you CANNOT cruise like 3.55 and that's the advantage if you need that advantage. I need that when empty mpg matters on a long trip. No reason at all to want to be spinning higher rpm's when it just isn't needed. That is a huge advantage when I'm cruising empty at highway speeds with the trailer in tow. 10th gear nice and easy. Return trip 10,000 lbs 9th gear. Its all good on my end.
4.30 gears you CANNOT cruise like 3.55 and that's the advantage if you need that advantage. I need that when empty mpg matters on a long trip. No reason at all to want to be spinning higher rpm's when it just isn't needed. That is a huge advantage when I'm cruising empty at highway speeds with the trailer in tow. 10th gear nice and easy. Return trip 10,000 lbs 9th gear. Its all good on my end.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,281
Likes: 2,415
From: Everywhere and nowhere
This isn't a genset peak torque also means peak fuel consumption. You are making plenty of torque at 1700rpm to maintain 70mph. Why would I want to turn 2100rpm when I dont even need as much torque as the engine is producing at 1800rpm? No vehicle produced is designed to be at peak torque cruising at 70mph.