Rear axle ratios

hemismith wrote:
I've had a hard time finding a truck with everything I want on it, so I'm debating the need for higher rear axle ratios. Here are the net 1st gear ratios for various half-ton trucks:

Make Rear 1st
Toyota 4.30 14.32
Ford 3.31 13.80
Ford 3.55 14.80
Ford 3.73 15.55
Chevy 3.08 12.41
Chevy 3.42 13.78
Ram 3.55 16.73
Ram 3.92 18.48

The Chevy seems like it definitely ought to have the optional gears.

The Ram is for the 8-speed; the 6-speed definitely needs them but it appears the 8-speed compensates sufficiently, especially since the 2nd gear drop is much less than the others.

The Ford 3.5 only comes with 3.31; does the turbo give it enough torque so it doesn't really need the 3.55s?

Thanks.

Back to your original question and adding that you will be towing a 6000 pound TT, I just traded in a 1996 C1500 with a 5.7L and 3.42 rear. I pull the trailer in my sig (6100 pounds) and with only 3 speeds to work with, it lugged off the line.

My new to me truck has max tow package, 3.73 rears and ecoboost it tows this trailer like it belongs here. There is a lot of good information above this post, however FWIW the newer EBs come with 3.55 or 3.31 you should be fine with either. The transmissions give you a wide variety of operating RPMs.

Don't know if this helps but I wanted to cut to the chase.