Axle Ratio Change
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
Axle Ratio Change
please help.
i have a 2002 F-250 V10 with the 3.73 axle ratio. i would like to upgrade it to the 4.30 axle ratio so that i may increase my towing weight. is this possible? if so, do Ford dealerships do this work? about how much would it cost me? is there anything else i would have to do beside the axle ratio to up my towing rating? thanks for all your help! hope to hear from you soon. according to the Ford Fleet Website, my rating is 10,600 now and if i can go to the 4.30 axle my rating goes up to 13,500. any and all help would be great!
i have a 2002 F-250 V10 with the 3.73 axle ratio. i would like to upgrade it to the 4.30 axle ratio so that i may increase my towing weight. is this possible? if so, do Ford dealerships do this work? about how much would it cost me? is there anything else i would have to do beside the axle ratio to up my towing rating? thanks for all your help! hope to hear from you soon. according to the Ford Fleet Website, my rating is 10,600 now and if i can go to the 4.30 axle my rating goes up to 13,500. any and all help would be great!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
like 99f350sd said, the truck will do more than the legal limits allow you. when your towing more weight, the gears will really just make it easier on the truck, re-gain your low end torque. if you want to safely increase your capacity, then you should change the springs, or add to them. as for the gears, the dealer may or may not be able to do that. i know mine here locally does not, however there are plenty of performance shops that will do it. you should look at spending about 700-900 dollars per axle. remember, if it is a 4wd, then you MUST re-do front and rear unless you NEVER use 4wd. i was looking at switching mine a while back, and i was quoted right around 1500.00 to have the whole job done(front and rear/parts and labor)
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
sry if i am ingnorant here, but the V10 with 4.30 can tow a FW up to 13,500 and a V10 with 3.73 can tow a FW 10,600. the only difference being the axle ratio (gears). so what is more legal about one than the other?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
so my only legal thing to do to increase the size of the fifth wheel i can tow is to buy a new truck?
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
With an F250 and a 5th wheel you are more likely to exceed the GVWR of the truck before you reach the GCVWR. I think that's what the others are trying to point out. Even if you change the gears to increase the combined weight rating (which I believe you can), it won't help the GVWR which for your truck I believe is 8800#.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
[QUOTE=towandcamp]please help.
[font=Arial][size=2]i have a 2002 F-250 V10 with the 3.73 axle ratio. i would like to upgrade it to the 4.30 axle ratio so that i may increase my towing weight. is this possible? if so, about how much would it cost me?
Towandcamp,
Cost including the gears s/b around $1000 all said and done. Maybe more, maybe less, but budget a grand. If you have a good 4X4 shop within driving distance, I'd opt for them vs. Ford doing it. Labor cost is the killer on this upgrade.
DS
[font=Arial][size=2]i have a 2002 F-250 V10 with the 3.73 axle ratio. i would like to upgrade it to the 4.30 axle ratio so that i may increase my towing weight. is this possible? if so, about how much would it cost me?
Towandcamp,
Cost including the gears s/b around $1000 all said and done. Maybe more, maybe less, but budget a grand. If you have a good 4X4 shop within driving distance, I'd opt for them vs. Ford doing it. Labor cost is the killer on this upgrade.
DS
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 103
Likes: 11
From: Billings, MT
Originally Posted by towandcamp
so my only legal thing to do to increase the size of the fifth wheel i can tow is to buy a new truck?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
my GCWR is 17,000 and my GVWR is 8800 and my Maximum Trailer Weight is 10,900. i have not had my truck weighed yet. so does anybody out there have a similar truck and how much does it weigh?
2002 6.8L V10 CrewCab. only addition since factory is Gibson Exhaust and Line-X bed liner.
2002 6.8L V10 CrewCab. only addition since factory is Gibson Exhaust and Line-X bed liner.
Last edited by towandcamp; May 21, 2005 at 01:35 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
i went and got a certified scale reading today. with my wife, myself, and a full tank of gas my truck ways 6500#. which means i am 2300# below my GVWR. so i can pull a FW no more than 10,100? does that all sound right?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
Sounds about right. You should be able to do 10,000# with a 5th wheel (20-25% on kingpin) or 10,000# with a TT (10-15%) on weight-distributing hitch. Lower gears would help you more with the TT since the 5th wheel puts more weight on the pickup.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Monroeville, AL
All 2002 V10 F250s have the same GVWR, regardless of gear ratio; 8800#, Your GCWR changes with the new gears. GCWR is not on the sticker in the door. Gear code is, though.
I'm thinking about making the same change on my '01 V10; 3.73 to 4.30. Just can't make myself spend the money right now!
Jim
I'm thinking about making the same change on my '01 V10; 3.73 to 4.30. Just can't make myself spend the money right now!
Jim