Gear ratio advice 3:73 or 4:30 on Super Duty
I am in the beginning stages of looking for a new TV and was looking at the Fords to start off with. (Dont worry Dodge fans I will look at them next) I see that Ford has either the 3:73 or 4:30 gears ...
Forum Discussion
mkirsch wrote:
+1 on the 3.73.
The engine will be wound out at 65MPH with the 4.30 gears, but it will go straight up the mountain, pulling a mountain, in 6th gear.
You don't want it to be pulling hard in 6th gear. That is why the top two gears are overdrive.....when the axle ratio is sized right for the work the truck is doing the transmission will downshift to 4th gear and the engine will rev to where it makes its power. So when the truck is using its power you want the power running straight through the transmission (4th gear) so there is less parasitic power loss. Overdrive gears are for cruising. If your truck is pulling 6% grades in 6th gear you've got the wrong truck for your RV unless you're pulling 14% grades the rest of the time.
