high gears for towing
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 548
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From: Sparks, NV
high gears for towing
alright i know theres the 3.55 for being ragged edge for most engines on towing... but what about the mighty inline six? with that low end power with the power adders with a 4bbl and headers and a cam to add on the power... wheres the limit? my brothers 1997 7.3 has 3.55/e4od and can haul anything around effortlessly (by anything i mean a 1 ton car trailer with a 2 ton f150 parts truck to the junkyard). So i was wondering if the mighty inline would allow me to have the 3.27 ratio while towing a 69 chevelle to the dragstrip 30 miles away.
i guess what im sayin is: how low is too low?
*WHEN DONE* 1981 f150 300/np435/9". also the trailer has brakes so brake upgrade isnt needed
i guess what im sayin is: how low is too low?
*WHEN DONE* 1981 f150 300/np435/9". also the trailer has brakes so brake upgrade isnt needed
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Your brother has the powerstroke diesel....You have a 300....Much less mighty than a PSD
I would gear it to cruise at its torque peak or around 2200 rpm at whatever speed you cruise at on the highway. with the 1:1 fourth gear in your tranny that probably means 3.55s. Maybe 3.73s.
As for adding a hot cam, a 4 bbl, and multiple power adders....um.....youre in for quite a ride either way i guess!
I would gear it to cruise at its torque peak or around 2200 rpm at whatever speed you cruise at on the highway. with the 1:1 fourth gear in your tranny that probably means 3.55s. Maybe 3.73s.
As for adding a hot cam, a 4 bbl, and multiple power adders....um.....youre in for quite a ride either way i guess!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: East Tennessee
I have 3.50's (9" vs 3.55 8.8"). And the NP435, and like 5.0 said, it's good to have it where your RPM will be in a comfort zone at highway speeds. I do 2200 RPM at 55mph with my gearing, and that's absolutely perfect power for me hauling/pulling a load.
3.27's would still get the job done. Any gear will get the job done, technically, it's just how it feels while doing it that matters. And that is subjective to the driver. Exactly how much weight are you going to be hauling?
3.27's would still get the job done. Any gear will get the job done, technically, it's just how it feels while doing it that matters. And that is subjective to the driver. Exactly how much weight are you going to be hauling?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Sparks, NV
for being a power stroke it is underrated. easily achievable numbers for stock. even for the 300. i will be towing a 1969 chevelle or a 1970 chevelle on the car trailer to and fro to fernley (30 miles) for tuning. every now and then for yard projects and such. i guess im gonna have to try the 3.27 if i like them ill keep them
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southern California
I had a 1990 F150 4x2, swb, LXT Lariet, 4.9/5 speed and 3.55's. I would tow my 65 Mustang (3200 lbs) several hundred miles at a time (both city and hwy). The trailer was an all steel tandum axle with brakes, weight about 1700 lbs. Total weight about 5,000 lbs.
I would not want to haul much more than this unless it was city only driving but what I can say is...
Hwy, flat road, I could very confortably run at 65-70 in 5th gear; 55-60 in 4th. Mileage on hwy- typically 24-26 mpg (I know, it sounds like bs but my dad's does the same thing- gets better mileage loaded than empty)
Pulling the grapvine (SoCal to NoCal), ran 65 mph in 4th until the 6% grade at the top, then maintained 55 mph in 3rd with the gas pedal 2/3 depressed.
For up to 5,00 lbs, the set up is more than adequate.
I would not want to haul much more than this unless it was city only driving but what I can say is...
Hwy, flat road, I could very confortably run at 65-70 in 5th gear; 55-60 in 4th. Mileage on hwy- typically 24-26 mpg (I know, it sounds like bs but my dad's does the same thing- gets better mileage loaded than empty)
Pulling the grapvine (SoCal to NoCal), ran 65 mph in 4th until the 6% grade at the top, then maintained 55 mph in 3rd with the gas pedal 2/3 depressed.
For up to 5,00 lbs, the set up is more than adequate.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
I never recommend towing in 5th - or over 55 mph. It is pretty impressive, though, that your truck did that well going up the (south or north?) side of the Grapevine. I could barely do that in an unloaded Nissan Hardbody and won't even get into the 2nd and 3rd gear, 25mph fights to get my old POS '86 Ranger 2.0L through that stretch. Just shows me the 300 has plenty of ***** to pull a load, period.
