items needed to towing
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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items needed to towing
I have a 2000 f250 4x4 v-10 lifted 8" with 37" tires with 4.31 ratio. no tranny cooler, only factory stuff. I pull a 6000# boat and 7500# trailer. max speed is 55 to 60. very slow going up the hill. The last time I pulled my trailer. burned smell start to come out. I don't know from tranny or engine.
What do you recommend. tranny cooler, tranny chip, different ratio like 5.25??? or simply new truck
What do you recommend. tranny cooler, tranny chip, different ratio like 5.25??? or simply new truck
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 329
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Hey trk 4x4, I think your gear ratio isn't off by much, you could go a little bit lower if you are struggling going up hills. It's those tires that are killing you 
!, you need some low end torque. Might want to consider dropping a size on the tires might be cheaper than re-gearing the 4x4. Sounds like your actual gear ratio is between 3.73 and 3.84 with 37's. I would DEFINETLY install a tranny cooler if your are smelling a burnt smell, I would change the tranny fluid before the next tow too, maybe even flushed. I tow a 6500# loaded TT with my F150 supercrew 5.4L and 33" tires, 4.10 gears (effective ratio is 3.76). I have the factory tow package and I don't have any problems. I tow when the outside temp was in the 100's. Seems to me that f250 and V10 should perform for you. 
Rich
!, you need some low end torque. Might want to consider dropping a size on the tires might be cheaper than re-gearing the 4x4. Sounds like your actual gear ratio is between 3.73 and 3.84 with 37's. I would DEFINETLY install a tranny cooler if your are smelling a burnt smell, I would change the tranny fluid before the next tow too, maybe even flushed. I tow a 6500# loaded TT with my F150 supercrew 5.4L and 33" tires, 4.10 gears (effective ratio is 3.76). I have the factory tow package and I don't have any problems. I tow when the outside temp was in the 100's. Seems to me that f250 and V10 should perform for you. Rich
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
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From: Carlsbad, California
I'd also make sure that the you are locked out of overdrive when there is a serious load on the tranny and maybe even manually downshift the tranny if it isn't doing on its own. That motor will need to spin a bit faster to make its power.
Or you will be in the market for a new truck in the not too distant future, you could try upgrading to the 6.0 PSD if you tow often.
Or you will be in the market for a new truck in the not too distant future, you could try upgrading to the 6.0 PSD if you tow often.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
Like Karenj said, it't the big tires that's killing your towing performance and overtaxing the tranny. To have a stock 4.30 effective ratio with 37" tires, you need 5.05 gears (closest is 5.13). Currently, your effective gear ratio is 3.66. A gear change to 5.13 will restore stock towing performance.
