Gear change......Help!
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Gear change......Help!
I just purchased a 3500# travel trailer, and need help with a gear change. I currently have 3.08 and the trailer is all that the truck wants to pull. 55 mph max speed. I also have 31x10.50 tires. I was thinking about going to 3.55 or 3.73 what do you guys think? Would it be better to go up to 3.73 and would I lose a lot in gas mileage? Thanks a lot!
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 780
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Gear change......Help!
Ford's "Trailer Package" (which I ordered on my present'91) had 3.55 gears--I subsequently dropped to 4.09/4.10 to pull my 4,600# trailer, which it does, beautifully.
It also gets high 12s, solo, low 12s, towing. I've since retrofitted an older granny-low four-speed and am giving serious consideration to going back up to the 3.55s, with which the truck ran 16s and better.
The 3.73 is a good compromise, I think, depending on your transmission. If you have the standard-issue 5-spd. OD, go with the 3.73 or 4.10--that Mazda-built trans is really not up to HD towing w/o a big gear.
Eddie
It also gets high 12s, solo, low 12s, towing. I've since retrofitted an older granny-low four-speed and am giving serious consideration to going back up to the 3.55s, with which the truck ran 16s and better.
The 3.73 is a good compromise, I think, depending on your transmission. If you have the standard-issue 5-spd. OD, go with the 3.73 or 4.10--that Mazda-built trans is really not up to HD towing w/o a big gear.
Eddie
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Copley, OH
Gear change......Help!
With 31" tires, I wouldn't even consider 3.55s. I run 3.73s with 30" and they didn't hurt my fuel economy a bit over the 3.08/29" setup that came on the truck. With 31s a 4.10 might be a bit too much though, I'd stick with 3.73s
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