Ford F-250 7.3 Gas Engine Axle Ratios

[TECMike]

Is there much difference in towing milage, and around town/highway mileage with the new F-250 7.3 gas engine with rear gear options?

Considering 3.55 or 4.30 axles ratios. Any input is helpful.

[goducks10]

kellem wrote:
One more element I might add regarding the new 10 spd transmission is you can lockout gears on the fly which is ideal for towing.

Can't you do that with any of the HD trans?
But yes it is a nice feature.

[kellem]

One more element I might add regarding the new 10 spd transmission is you can lockout gears on the fly which is ideal for towing.

[NWnative]

Get the 4.30's. Keeps the engine in it's sweet spot when towing / hauling. I chose the deeper gears with my gasser and am very happy with it. I get at or better mileage that my friends with the 3.73 axle as the engine doesn't have to work as hard to get things moving. Transmission holds gears and doesn't hunt or shift excessively at all. I am running the 6spd.

[Hannibal]

That’s what mine does as well. When towing, it uses all gears. We’re out with it now.

[steve-n-vicki]

On my truck with the transmission in normal mode or economy mode it takes off in first gear skip second and goes to third and it skips fourth into fifth and then shifts the rest of the gears out

[dodge_guy]

kellem wrote:

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.

Exactly! But if towing more weight that’s when the deeper gears make a difference!

[kellem]

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.

[dodge_guy]

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?

[otrfun]

Del

[TECMike]

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.

[Grit_dog]

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.

[kellem]

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

[FishOnOne]

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.

[PastorCharlie]

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.

[dodge_guy]

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.