3.73 or 4.30 ??
5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
Pre ordering a new truck for my landscaping company and trying to decide on rear for it.
Engine will be the 6.8. This will be primarily used for towing a landscape trailer and plowing in the winter. Don’t care about fuel mileage.
specs it will be Standard cab 8’ bed. Single rear wheel
Thank you
Matt
Engine will be the 6.8. This will be primarily used for towing a landscape trailer and plowing in the winter. Don’t care about fuel mileage.
specs it will be Standard cab 8’ bed. Single rear wheel
Thank you
Matt
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
And the fact the 3.73s are going to pull most any trailer guys with gassers are pulling anyway so why go with a gear that sucks down interstates to really gain nothing for most people’s use?
one of this forums biggest proponents of 4.30s or die tows a trailer that doesn’t even weigh 4000lbs. The question he should’ve considered is if he needed a maverick or a ranger lol.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 242
Likes: 99
Listen to the question being asked. Yes 4:30 makes better sense. All the freeway gears are good but for a lot of stop and go around town and city driving along with snow plowing will actually do much better with 4:30’s. Freeway driving and gas mileage with 4:30 vs 3:73 is negligible with a 10 speed transmission. My 69 F250 CS with a 390, C-6, 4:10’s was spinning at 70 mph. Behind the 6 speed would have been a huge difference and the 10 speed awesome.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 431
Likes: 247
At 70 mph my DRW 17in wheel 6.8 with 4:30s is 2000 RPMs. 6.8 is a stroker motor and seems to likes RPMs.
Go test drive a 6.8 with 3:73 and 4:30s. You will see first hand how the 6.8 works so much better with 4:30s than 3:73.
Go test drive a 6.8 with 3:73 and 4:30s. You will see first hand how the 6.8 works so much better with 4:30s than 3:73.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 63
Likes: 22
the fact that it’s nicer to be under 2k rpm if you’re on a faster interstate. Makes for a nicer ride.
And the fact the 3.73s are going to pull most any trailer guys with gassers are pulling anyway so why go with a gear that sucks down interstates to really gain nothing for most people’s use?
one of this forums biggest proponents of 4.30s or die tows a trailer that doesn’t even weigh 4000lbs. The question he should’ve considered is if he needed a maverick or a ranger lol.
And the fact the 3.73s are going to pull most any trailer guys with gassers are pulling anyway so why go with a gear that sucks down interstates to really gain nothing for most people’s use?
one of this forums biggest proponents of 4.30s or die tows a trailer that doesn’t even weigh 4000lbs. The question he should’ve considered is if he needed a maverick or a ranger lol.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
"Most people" probably are better off with 3.73 because they're using their trucks like cars. For the use the OP specifies I believe he would be better served by 4.30's. Most of my towing is not very heavy, typically 4k - 7k, but my trailers all have large frontal areas (54 - 70 sq ft) so they push a lot of air and at least 90% of my truck use involves towing a trailer. Having the 4.30 option is one of the reasons I'm currently looking at Ford.
i tow with my trucks but I also do highway driving where 4.30s would drive me nuts
im also driving a 6.7 but have 7.3 trucks for the company…so I’ve used them all
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 2,418
From: Everywhere and nowhere
If you think the mileage difference on the highway between 4.30s and 3.73s is negligible I have a 13'5" tall 102" wide 5th wheel and my fuel mileage was consistently 1-1.5mpg BETTER towing with 3.73s. I was over the GVWR for my truck and it still got better mileage than my truck with 4.30s. I have NEVER gotten better than 7mpg at 70mph with 4.30s towing my 5th wheel. I could pull better than 7mpg any tank hand calculated with 3.73s unless there was a 20+mph head wind.
I'm turning 2100rpm at 70mph in 10th gear and 2400rpm at 80mph in 10th gear. The absolute best fuel economy out of either truck was between 1500 and 1800rpm once the converter locks up.
I'm turning 2100rpm at 70mph in 10th gear and 2400rpm at 80mph in 10th gear. The absolute best fuel economy out of either truck was between 1500 and 1800rpm once the converter locks up.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 63
Likes: 22
I don't doubt that 3.73s are best for your use and I know they would be adequate for my use because I'm making due with even taller gearing right now. I never drive empty highway miles, use the car for that, if I'm in the truck it's for work. When I'm driving the truck on a highway I've got a flat front parachute of a trailer in tow. If the speed limit is 70 I'm driving 70 - 75. For me the multiple overdrive gears and extremely tall top gear final drive ratio are not desirable. I much prefer the power and feel of the extra leverage provided by the 4.30s (I have experience with both). One of the reasons I'm currently truck shopping is because I hate the tall gearing in my current rig. I like that Ford still offers a choice, allows us each to get what works best for our needs. The OP asked for opinions and mine is that his use sounds like a good fit for the 4.30s
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 63
Likes: 22
If you think the mileage difference on the highway between 4.30s and 3.73s is negligible I have a 13'5" tall 102" wide 5th wheel and my fuel mileage was consistently 1-1.5mpg BETTER towing with 3.73s. I was over the GVWR for my truck and it still got better mileage than my truck with 4.30s. I have NEVER gotten better than 7mpg at 70mph with 4.30s towing my 5th wheel. I could pull better than 7mpg any tank hand calculated with 3.73s unless there was a 20+mph head wind.
I'm turning 2100rpm at 70mph in 10th gear and 2400rpm at 80mph in 10th gear. The absolute best fuel economy out of either truck was between 1500 and 1800rpm once the converter locks up.
I'm turning 2100rpm at 70mph in 10th gear and 2400rpm at 80mph in 10th gear. The absolute best fuel economy out of either truck was between 1500 and 1800rpm once the converter locks up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
I don't doubt that 3.73s are best for your use and I know they would be adequate for my use because I'm making due with even taller gearing right now. I never drive empty highway miles, use the car for that, if I'm in the truck it's for work. When I'm driving the truck on a highway I've got a flat front parachute of a trailer in tow. If the speed limit is 70 I'm driving 70 - 75. For me the multiple overdrive gears and extremely tall top gear final drive ratio are not desirable. I much prefer the power and feel of the extra leverage provided by the 4.30s (I have experience with both). One of the reasons I'm currently truck shopping is because I hate the tall gearing in my current rig. I like that Ford still offers a choice, allows us each to get what works best for our needs. The OP asked for opinions and mine is that his use sounds like a good fit for the 4.30s
again, with your trailers you stand to have no real benefit using 4.30
your only difference will be spinning high rpm on the highways for no reason whatsoever
a 3.73 truck would tow twice as much as you’re using it for with ease. The only time I’d go with 4.30 is if I was pushing a gas truck closer to 75% of its tow capacity. The gears would be a welcome addition as you approach those weights. Give or take a little depending on where you’re towing (mountains etc).
for instance my guys were towing north of 16k lbs with a 3.73 7.3 gas truck and it was getting the job done. But it was a good candidate for 4.30s and I think it would’ve been a nicer tow. We ended up switching that truck out for a 6.7 power stroke though.
but for a landscape biz and his weights 3.73 would be absolutely fine.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 63
Likes: 22
even highway driving with a lighter trailer like yours will be nicer with 3.73s
again, with your trailers you stand to have no real benefit using 4.30
your only difference will be spinning high rpm on the highways for no reason whatsoever
a 3.73 truck would tow twice as much as you’re using it for with ease. The only time I’d go with 4.30 is if I was pushing a gas truck closer to 75% of its tow capacity. The gears would be a welcome addition as you approach those weights. Give or take a little depending on where you’re towing (mountains etc).
for instance my guys were towing north of 16k lbs with a 3.73 7.3 gas truck and it was getting the job done. But it was a good candidate for 4.30s and I think it would’ve been a nicer tow. We ended up switching that truck out for a 6.7 power stroke though.
but for a landscape biz and his weights 3.73 would be absolutely fine.
again, with your trailers you stand to have no real benefit using 4.30
your only difference will be spinning high rpm on the highways for no reason whatsoever
a 3.73 truck would tow twice as much as you’re using it for with ease. The only time I’d go with 4.30 is if I was pushing a gas truck closer to 75% of its tow capacity. The gears would be a welcome addition as you approach those weights. Give or take a little depending on where you’re towing (mountains etc).
for instance my guys were towing north of 16k lbs with a 3.73 7.3 gas truck and it was getting the job done. But it was a good candidate for 4.30s and I think it would’ve been a nicer tow. We ended up switching that truck out for a 6.7 power stroke though.
but for a landscape biz and his weights 3.73 would be absolutely fine.
I apologize if it sounded like I was asking for opinions on my use as I already know what works best for my use just like you know what works best for you.
I have no doubt the OP would be fine with 3.73 but if the majority of his use is plowing and in town hauling (in my opinion) he, and his transmission, would appreciate the 4.30s for that type of stop and go driving.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
In my case the weight is irrelevant. A flatbed trailer weighing 12k takes less power to maintain freeway speeds than an air blocking, wide, tall, flat, cube style trailer with half the weight. So for my use, with a gas engine, I want a few extra rpm. I have experienced the difference first hand and without a doubt the 4.30s are my preferred choice for my use.
I apologize if it sounded like I was asking for opinions on my use as I already know what works best for my use just like you know what works best for you.
I have no doubt the OP would be fine with 3.73 but if the majority of his use is plowing and in town hauling (in my opinion) he, and his transmission, would appreciate the 4.30s for that type of stop and go driving.
I apologize if it sounded like I was asking for opinions on my use as I already know what works best for my use just like you know what works best for you.
I have no doubt the OP would be fine with 3.73 but if the majority of his use is plowing and in town hauling (in my opinion) he, and his transmission, would appreciate the 4.30s for that type of stop and go driving.
tell me more because I haven’t experienced that issue or any such difference between my 3.73 or 4.30 trucks
sorry to tell you that you’re just being dramatic here
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 63
Likes: 22
I also sincerely hope that you have a great day!
