Lower gear for towing?
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 966
Likes: 2
From: Crooked River Ranch, OR
Lower gear for towing?
It will help but steep long grades will still be a problem. I picked up 5 MPH towing speed up the grades when I went from 3.55's to 4.10's with my big-block. My personal opinion is a 302 makes a good in-town and flat road tow rig...when you start getting around a 5,000+ lb. trailer I would step up to an F250 with the biggest engine you can find, or acquire the patience to go sloooow and take your time. 
Deen
Deen
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Benton USA
Lower gear for towing?
Thanks,
That is what I was looking for. I have all ready drop about $1500 in the 302 trying to get the power up. It runs fast, real strong with no load but dies under a load. So I suppose I need to look at the Power Stroke?
Thanks again!
That is what I was looking for. I have all ready drop about $1500 in the 302 trying to get the power up. It runs fast, real strong with no load but dies under a load. So I suppose I need to look at the Power Stroke?
Thanks again!
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Benton USA
Lower gear for towing?
Hey Folks,
If I lower the gears in a 95 F150 from 3:55 to 4:10 how much of an increase could I see in the towing capicity of the truck.
Current truck is a 95 F150, 4X4, supercab, 5.0L, Automatic W/Od, Headers, Flow masters, H pipe, no Cat, and hyper chip. Stock rating is 6800Lbs.
I'm towing a trailer with 4300Lbs dry weight, 7200lbs GVWR. Normal road weight is around 5500lbs. But the hills are killing me.
Will 4:10 gears solve the problem?
Thanks
If I lower the gears in a 95 F150 from 3:55 to 4:10 how much of an increase could I see in the towing capicity of the truck.
Current truck is a 95 F150, 4X4, supercab, 5.0L, Automatic W/Od, Headers, Flow masters, H pipe, no Cat, and hyper chip. Stock rating is 6800Lbs.
I'm towing a trailer with 4300Lbs dry weight, 7200lbs GVWR. Normal road weight is around 5500lbs. But the hills are killing me.
Will 4:10 gears solve the problem?
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,245
Likes: 16
From: Vancouver Wash USA
Lower gear for towing?
>Thanks,
>That is what I was looking for. I have all ready drop about
>$1500 in the 302 trying to get the power up. It runs fast,
>real strong with no load but dies under a load. So I suppose
>I need to look at the Power Stroke?
>Thanks again!
Or the V-10, then you get a tow monster, and a hot rod when there's no trailer lash-up (besides they don't stink). Ken
>That is what I was looking for. I have all ready drop about
>$1500 in the 302 trying to get the power up. It runs fast,
>real strong with no load but dies under a load. So I suppose
>I need to look at the Power Stroke?
>Thanks again!
Or the V-10, then you get a tow monster, and a hot rod when there's no trailer lash-up (besides they don't stink). Ken
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Lower gear for towing?
The 302 is kind of bad under load because it wasn't built to be put in a truck. It was ment to be in the mustangs. The only difference between a 302 mustang engine and the 302 truck engine is the firing order and the mustang has roller rockers. I think the mustangs have bigger injectors too, but you will find some HO truck engines. With its short stroke, the torque just isn't there. Wouldn't be a bad idea to put a stroker crank in it, i'm thinking about it when i rebuilt mine in a few years. You've gotta build the 302 for torque if you want to tow. Might i suggest looking into cams? maybe one can help get the torque where you need it. Also, rear gears are a good thing to think about. You should see a good improvement with 4.10s but the gas mileage will go down.
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Sunroof, and some 32" BFG Muds
.
Pictures are in!!
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Superduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed is 65mph, Go Baby Go!
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Sunroof, and some 32" BFG Muds
.Pictures are in!!
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Superduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed is 65mph, Go Baby Go!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Lower 48
Lower gear for towing?
>It will help but steep long grades will still be a problem.
>I picked up 5 MPH towing speed up the grades when I went
>from 3.55's to 4.10's with my big-block. My personal opinion
>is a 302 makes a good in-town and flat road tow rig...when
>you start getting around a 5,000+ lb. trailer I would step
>up to an F250 with the biggest engine you can find, or
>acquire the patience to go sloooow and take your time.
>Deen
================================================== ===========
DEEN,
This is best common sense solution to towing I've ever seen on this board. Most responses jump straight to GVWR and specs.
>I picked up 5 MPH towing speed up the grades when I went
>from 3.55's to 4.10's with my big-block. My personal opinion
>is a 302 makes a good in-town and flat road tow rig...when
>you start getting around a 5,000+ lb. trailer I would step
>up to an F250 with the biggest engine you can find, or
>acquire the patience to go sloooow and take your time.
>Deen
================================================== ===========
DEEN,
This is best common sense solution to towing I've ever seen on this board. Most responses jump straight to GVWR and specs.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 966
Likes: 2
From: Crooked River Ranch, OR
Lower gear for towing?
Trail_Rider...thanks for the vote of confidence
I try to tone my answers from experiance rather than answers straight out of a book. I've been driving, towing, mechanicing for 38 years now and hope to have learned something from my mistakes that I can pass on to others 
Happy "Trails" to you, Deen
I try to tone my answers from experiance rather than answers straight out of a book. I've been driving, towing, mechanicing for 38 years now and hope to have learned something from my mistakes that I can pass on to others Happy "Trails" to you, Deen
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