Taking the Plunge (Gear Swap)
After owning a F250 6.2/3.73 for 5 years and now owning another (dually) 6.2/3.73 truck I have decided to take the plunge and swap gears to 4.30. With the F250 I have towed a 11750 GVWR 5th wheel, ...
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I have had a couple thousand miles on the new 4.30 gears, and I can report that they did make a difference, strong but subtle.
Most noticed is acceleration in town, and the ability to hold 5th gear while hauling significantly longer and up highway inclines that I could never hold before. I actually gained the use of cruise control while hauling because it hold gears so much better.
I can also use 6th gear on downhill and flats while hauling, so in essence, I think I gained a full gear across the range, whereas before 6th was essentially useless hauling, and 5th practically useless on anything but flat ground or the slightest of inclines.
That said, with my stock 17" tires/wheels, I think the sweet spot would be 4.10's, as the 4.30 is a little revvy, but that is probably because I am so used to the 3.73's that I have towed with since 2011.
Gman
Most noticed is acceleration in town, and the ability to hold 5th gear while hauling significantly longer and up highway inclines that I could never hold before. I actually gained the use of cruise control while hauling because it hold gears so much better.
I can also use 6th gear on downhill and flats while hauling, so in essence, I think I gained a full gear across the range, whereas before 6th was essentially useless hauling, and 5th practically useless on anything but flat ground or the slightest of inclines.
That said, with my stock 17" tires/wheels, I think the sweet spot would be 4.10's, as the 4.30 is a little revvy, but that is probably because I am so used to the 3.73's that I have towed with since 2011.
Gman
