Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave
I use 3.08 gears. I have no problem towing 10,000 lb trailers, sometimes through hilly country. These things have staggering torque as low as 800 RPM.
If he is a 4x4, the numerically lowest gears he can get for his front axle is 3.55 and the improvement is not worth the trouble. For 4x4s an overdrive works better. It would give you an overall 2.98:1 ratio. Overdrives are pricey, though. I could not make one make sense and I drive 25,000 miles a year.
A ratio lower than 3.55 could be trouble for an automatic transmission.
Ford now offers a 3.55 ratio as standard on diesel pickups.
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That is correct, they do offer a 3.55, which I may recommend he switch to. He does not however use the 4wd often and the truck does have and O/D. He and I both know MPG's tank when towing, but he wanted to improve his numbers on the street, empty. I had proven to him previously that the truck is capable of at least 22mpg, maybe now he'll change his habits. I just figured I would research all options to help him with this beast.