F250 3.73 to 4.30 axle ratio
I have a 2017 F250 4x4 crew cab, 160" wheel base, 6.2l gas, 3.73 gear ratio. I am trying to see if having 4.30 axle ratio gears installed will make much difference regarding 5th wheel towing. I noti...
Forum Discussion
Can't answer your question directly as I only did a swap while pulling non-5th wheel trailers:
- Had a chev 2500 with 3.73, gas, etc....and it was a 4x4.
- Pulled a big TT and other "heavy" trailers
- Was usually within all specs, based on estimated weight on the hitch. Kind of close to the GCVWR.
- I really did not like pulling, or more accurately, starting to pull, heavy loads (i.e. heavy enough that I was probably pegged out at the GCVWR)
- Switched to the 4.1 (IIRC) in both axles...at the time and spot, $900 each.
- Made a UUGE difference in starting grunt and uphill pulling. Paid a bit of a speed/mileage penalty when not pulling. I'd guess my mileage went down when pulling, but it wasn't any good anyway.
- Overall, I considered it worth it at the time. Fast forward a few years when I could more easily afford a new vehicle, I'd have just got a bad-a** 350 for a hauler...which is in fact the route I took when I got a 39' 5th Wheel.
As others have noted, the axle ratio only affects the GCVWR numbers and the grunt available for pulling. Doesn't help either numerically or otherwise on the load capacity...which is what bites 250's when it comes to 5th wheels.
- Had a chev 2500 with 3.73, gas, etc....and it was a 4x4.
- Pulled a big TT and other "heavy" trailers
- Was usually within all specs, based on estimated weight on the hitch. Kind of close to the GCVWR.
- I really did not like pulling, or more accurately, starting to pull, heavy loads (i.e. heavy enough that I was probably pegged out at the GCVWR)
- Switched to the 4.1 (IIRC) in both axles...at the time and spot, $900 each.
- Made a UUGE difference in starting grunt and uphill pulling. Paid a bit of a speed/mileage penalty when not pulling. I'd guess my mileage went down when pulling, but it wasn't any good anyway.
- Overall, I considered it worth it at the time. Fast forward a few years when I could more easily afford a new vehicle, I'd have just got a bad-a** 350 for a hauler...which is in fact the route I took when I got a 39' 5th Wheel.
As others have noted, the axle ratio only affects the GCVWR numbers and the grunt available for pulling. Doesn't help either numerically or otherwise on the load capacity...which is what bites 250's when it comes to 5th wheels.
