FORD F-150 AXLE RATIO CHOICE
My new trailer (Keystone 26RBS) weighs only 6600 lbs + cargo. I’m about to order a 2021 Ford F-150 equipped as follows: V6 3.5 engine Standard (not Max) Trailer Towing Package. This truck has a 10...
Forum Discussion
APT wrote:
Only 6600 pounds dry will be 7200-8000 pounds loaded. Combine that with pulling two sheets of plywood through the air at 65-70mph.
That is a 7% difference in gearing. You'll never notice a measurable difference in fuel consumption. You will feel a 7% difference in wheel torque. I recommend 3.55 (or whatever the highest numerical axle availible).
In the old days of 3 speed transmissions that made a lot of sense because if you dropped down a gear, it felt like you were red-lining the engine to make 55mph.
With lots of gears to choose from, very little impact from the rear axle ratio unless you are pushing beyond what the lower (numerical) ratio is rated for.
The engine doesn't know how it got to the overall gear ratio (transmission plus axle ratio)...it just knows the final gear ratio, so the engine will run at roughly the same RPM & torque for a given speed even if it picks a different transmission gear to do so.
I would select for the highest payload possible.
