Opinions on Gearing for Tow Vehicle

[Black Horse]

I am considering getting a new tow vehicle (F250 or 350) and am leaning towards the 5.4L gas motor. Most of the available trucks have the 3.73's (better fuel mileage) and others have the 4.10's (better towing).

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences?

[stang5slow]

dont know much about the 5.4 GAS engine, in my opinion, the 7.3 deisel can pull anything

[Black Horse]

Yeah..I would love a diesel, but it isn't what is in the cards for me right now. V10s are strong but are real gas suckers. 5.4 is dependable and good enough for what I want.
5 speed auto trans (5R110W) of course.

[Jeff88coupe]

How heavy of a load is your enclosed trailer when all loaded up? I'd go with the 4.10's if your gonna be towing 5K+ in a box enclosed trailer.

+1 for towing with a diesel...i'll never tow with a gas motor truck again if I can help it.

[BigBadStang]

Dave, my father in law pulled a Baja 272 (27foot) boat and trailer that weighed about 5,800lbs. gross with his 05 Expedition with the 5.4 and 3.73:1 gears, and it pulled that boat like up and down the hills in Cumberland like it wasn't even back there.

[nordi]

Dave,

Are you looking at new or new to you trucks? Best advice I can give you on a 5.4 truck, is get one new enough to have the 3 valve 5.4 because they run MUCH better than a 2 valve one. Same for the V10. The older 2 valve ones were gutless. Honestly, a new 3 valve V10 runs impressively well.

Nordi

[stang5slow]

ya, a V-10 can still pull, but it will use much more gas that the diesel, when i worked for duke, i had a 08 7.3, dont remember the gears, but i use it to pull CDL commercial vehicles, it would pull them like they werent there, for the money, 7.3 is best in my opinion, but if its the money situation in the first place, i'd go for a earlier 7.3, not a newer, with the gas truck you'll end up spending more in the long run

[Black Horse]

Right now for me there is no diesel option - I'm planning to buy new (2009) and will not wait for the new 2010 diesel offering - so 5.4 3-valve is my plan. My towing is not as frequent as before (maybe one event a month) and I'm not travelling as far. I want this as my daily driver too.

So back to the question at hand - 3.73's or 4.10's?

[k062693w]

I would go with the 3.73's if it's not a full time towing truck !!! If it's more of a daily then you will want the MPG's !!!

[cstreu1026]

i don't know that you will notice much a difference if any at all with gas mileage between the 3.73 and 4.10. I notice little to no difference between 3.27's and 4.10's in my car.

Food for though...I think Castrucci has some left over 2008 Diesel super duties still on their lots. looks like 1 in Alexandria and 2 in Milford. I am sure those could be had for a lot less than sticker price.

[ibstrokin]

If it's a 5 speed auto, then it should be double overdrive. You have to remember that the tires are 30/31", not 26" like in a car. I would say if you do a lot of highway driving 3.73, otherwise 4.10, the 4.10 will very similar if not better around town.

[Pops Fun]

Hi
I'll throw a controller in my F-150 and let you try it if you want!! Tow package, 5.4 and 3.73 gears. i pull a boat nothing like a car trailer. I pulled Tom's car on an open trailer with no problem a couple times it was with my other truck 2005 f-150 but the same set-up!!

Steve

[Katmandu]

Right now for me there is no diesel option - I'm planning to buy new (2009) and will not wait for the new 2010 diesel Have you ever driven a Turbo Diesel ?

Why not buy an 09 Diesel ?

[RACEME]

You can get the 09 F150's with the built-in brake controller now. Those mod motors are really smooth in the higher rpm's so I will vote for the 4:10's.

[05yellowgt]

I'd vote for the 3.73's. Should have plenty of grunt for what you are wanting to do. How big of a trailer are you wanting to tow? It sounds like an F150 might do what you want to instead of a 250 or 350.

[Black Horse]

My car and trailer with all my gear are about 6,000 lbs. (20' enclosed)
Pricing out the new 2009 f150 with all the heavy-duty options actually drives the cost a bit higher than a F250XL.

I'm not going to talk about diesels, I AM looking forward to the next generation (Ford built) coupled with the new 6-speed auto, it will haul a tank. (Sometime having too much info is a dangerous thing).

[BigBadStang]

If I were buying it, 3.73's would be what I would order.:)

[Timido]

I would get a pre emission cummins or 7.3 If you are dead set on a gas motor I would get the V10. Gear wise I would get a 4.10 or 4.30 My Excursion has a 3.73 and it is great if you are going 80mph. I tow with it alot out of overdrive so it is not downshifting so much.