Towing with a 2009 Ford F350 6.8 V10 4.10 Supercap LB

Ivylog wrote:
You do NOT need to change from your 4.10, especially with a 4X4. In hilly terrain I would lock it out of OD and use the tow/haul making your 4.10 into a 4.56. In the days of three speed trannies axle ratios were very important but not with a five speed/OD tranny. I agree a 3.73 behind a gas engine is too tall a gear for towing, but not if you had a diesel.

It doesn't work that way. changing gears effectively changes the ratio of each gear in the trans making each much more efficient and useable, that`s why trucks with a lower gear ratio have a higher tow capacity. you can`t simply just "drop a gear" or "lock out O/D". Unless you have done a gear swap you can`t say that is how it will work.

You do NOT need to change from your 4.10, especially with a 4X4. In hilly terrain I would lock it out of OD and use the tow/haul making your 4.10 into a 4.56. In the days of three speed trannies axle ratios were very important but not with a five speed/OD tranny. I agree a 3.73 behind a gas engine is too tall a gear for towing, but not if you had a diesel.

I think your truck would handle near 14K, if you changed gearing to 4.56. If you are 2WD, it would be an easy, inexpensive upgrade.

Jerry

The V-10 with the right gearing tows just as well as a similar year diesel. If you like the truck then swap the gears to 4.56 and it will pull hat 14k lbs effortlessly and in O/D. And yes he V-10 will last a long time towing that weight!

I tow 9k lbs with V-10 X with 4.30 gears. I swapped from 3.73 to 4.30 and it was night and day difference. Looking back I kind of wish I would've went to 4.56's. But for my weight 4.30's are perfect. There are many people on here that went to 4.56's and are glad they did.

I am totally with you on what you feel is OK. While there is a limit in overall weight, there is also limits in pin weight too. Fifth wheel owners tend to load those big front bays up pretty deep sometime, I know I do with mine.

It also depends on what you carry in the truck, and likely on your choice of tire and wheel size too.

Having said all that, there are those that run fully loaded, I doubt you should worry about the truck longevity. It's your comfort level coming down a steep winding road, and going up it too. Having a rig with disc brakes would likely help too.

I see you have a rear kitchen. No doubt there are many somewhat a bit lighter than Arctic Fox, but you do fulltime in it, so you want quality build and insulation too.

What is your carrying capacity-payload. If you do not exceed that number you will be ok.

Hitch weight is what matters pulling a 5er not the tow weight. I am pretty sure your hitch weight would not exceed 3000lbs for a 14000lb 5er and your truck should carry that easy.