Ford F-250 7.3 Gas Engine Axle Ratios

dodge guy wrote:

kellem wrote:
Bought my 7.3 gas strictly for towing our 30 ft trailer and the 3.55 gears doesn't acknowledge a trailer is in tow.

4.30, 3.73, 3.55....10spd makes them feel the same.
Tremor sitting on 35" tires, maybe 4.30 is justified. Imo

But how do you know different gears won't make a difference towing your trailer?

It would be marginal towing at only half the trucks capacity.

kellem wrote:
Bought my 7.3 gas strictly for towing our 30 ft trailer and the 3.55 gears doesn't acknowledge a trailer is in tow.

4.30, 3.73, 3.55....10spd makes them feel the same.
Tremor sitting on 35" tires, maybe 4.30 is justified. Imo

But how do you know different gears won't make a difference towing your trailer?

Del

For those you who own a new 7.3 gas F-250 or F-350, and are towing tag-along travel tailers and fifth wheels, would appreciate your sharing any information on your gas mileage when towing.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

PastorCharlie wrote:
I prefer my 2000 F350 7.3 diesel DRW to my son's 2017 F350 diesel DRW truck. His is a very great truck and does a great job towing.

The difference is my truck pulls in overdrive where his will drop out of overdrive. So the gears will be either matched in the trans or diff. His truck running empty with two passengers does 70 MPH at 1,900 RPMs. His truck has 440 HP. My truck with two passengers does 70 MPH at 2,400 RPMs. My truck has 235 HP.

The 7.3 diesels can be chipped to increase their HP and Torque without harming the engine if not done so excessively. Perhaps a 50-100 HP increase. A school bus and garbage truck does not need 440 HP therefore the 7.3 is detuned to fit the intended use. Who has ever seen a school bus or garbage truck burning rubber?

My 1987 Jeep Wrangler with two passenger does 75 MPH at 1,900 RPMs.

Credit where it’s due for the OG Powerstroke, but the 2017 is double OD and the new 10 speed is triple OD.
And not a chance that apples to apples an old 7.3 will pull a load in 4th gear that a 2017 6.7 will drop to 4th doing the same.

Bought my 7.3 gas strictly for towing our 30 ft trailer and the 3.55 gears doesn't acknowledge a trailer is in tow.

4.30, 3.73, 3.55....10spd makes them feel the same.
Tremor sitting on 35" tires, maybe 4.30 is justified. Imo

PastorCharlie wrote:
I prefer my 2000 F350 7.3 diesel DRW to my son's 2017 F350 diesel DRW truck. His is a very great truck and does a great job towing.

The difference is my truck pulls in overdrive where his will drop out of overdrive. So the gears will be either matched in the trans or diff. His truck running empty with two passengers does 70 MPH at 1,900 RPMs. His truck has 440 HP. My truck with two passengers does 70 MPH at 2,400 RPMs. My truck has 235 HP.

The 7.3 diesels can be chipped to increase their HP and Torque without harming the engine if not done so excessively. Perhaps a 50-100 HP increase. A school bus and garbage truck does not need 440 HP therefore the 7.3 is detuned to fit the intended use. Who has ever seen a school bus or garbage truck burning rubber?

My 1987 Jeep Wrangler with two passenger does 75 MPH at 1,900 RPMs.

Your sons 2017 has two overdrive gears so most likely it pulls in overdrive as well.

As for burning rubber that is controlled by your right foot so you don't have to if you don't want to.

Every once in a while I drive our 2002 7.3 PSD truck and there's no way I would ever go back to one even if they were offered as a brand new truck.

I prefer my 2000 F350 7.3 diesel DRW to my son's 2017 F350 diesel DRW truck. His is a very great truck and does a great job towing.

The difference is my truck pulls in overdrive where his will drop out of overdrive. So the gears will be either matched in the trans or diff. His truck running empty with two passengers does 70 MPH at 1,900 RPMs. His truck has 440 HP. My truck with two passengers does 70 MPH at 2,400 RPMs. My truck has 235 HP.

The 7.3 diesels can be chipped to increase their HP and Torque without harming the engine if not done so excessively. Perhaps a 50-100 HP increase. A school bus and garbage truck does not need 440 HP therefore the 7.3 is detuned to fit the intended use. Who has ever seen a school bus or garbage truck burning rubber?

My 1987 Jeep Wrangler with two passenger does 75 MPH at 1,900 RPMs.

As I have said with a 10 speed the mileage difference will be minuscule! If you plan on towing anything, always go with the lowest gear available. Makes no sense to saddle a truck designed for towing with a higher gear.

Now if a say, 1mpg difference is achievable over 100k miles, that is about 550 gallons and $1200 at current avg fuel prices.
So say 5 years or $240/year in fuel savings. Or $20/month. IF you’re not towing. Taller gears won’t do any better towing.
I personally wouldn’t sacrifice the best performance for 1-1/2 lunches at Taco time or 1 case of beer a month.
If you can afford that truck it doesn’t matter. If you can’t, then it’s the wrong truck and you make bad financial decisions, so may as well have the most fun doing it!

And anecdotally, the next guy who buys your truck will be more apt to buy it or haggle less on price if he’s getting the best performing package overall. So subtract that from your theoretical $1200 savings as well.