Towing with highway gears

[nc1500]

Since Ford now sees fit to equip all SD's with more highway friendly ratios
(250/350) across the board I was wondering what towing with a single wheel is like. It can't be good to pull close to capacity with a 3:31 gear set. For those who have towed with a single wheel 2wd and 4wd, what has your towing experience been like?

[53 willy]

I dont have one of these trucks yet so I dont have any first hand experience but I have seen so many people talk about these high gears and most are complaining about them, but does averyone forget that we now have a double overdrive tranny? Final gear ratios really dont mean much due to what the tranny is putting out. One of our semis has 3.08 gears but takes off wieghing 90K plus in off road conditions just as good as some of our others with 4.10s, and both do comparable on the interstate, final ratio depends on the tranny.

[richc22a]

I tow 8k+, nowhere near capacity with 3:55's, the truck takes off, rolls as good as my 7.3, 6.0 and 6.4. Actually tows better, getting the weight rolling is easier, I knew it was back there with the 6.0, 6.4, this truck makes it seem effortless. I have towed about 1000 miles is all, and the traction control keeps the tires from spinning taking off (no levelers/sway control bars), never had that problem with the 6.0, or the 6.4.

I towed probably 20,000+ lbs with the 7.3 (3:73's), short distances. Went thru 3 tranny's in 340,000 (one my fault, hired an idiot who burned one up). Overall, the 6.7 seems to have more power all the way around w the higher gears.

[jimchris]

I ordered one with the 3:31 and will do some towing, I figure I will just lock out 5th and 6th.

[jasonmt]

Actual numbers are better than all of the jibber jabber:

TorqueShift 5R110 (2003-2010)
3.11, 2.22, 1.55, 1.00, 0.71
w/ 3.55
11.04, 7.88, 5.50, 3.55, 2.52
w/ 3.73
11.60, 8.28, 5.78, 3.73, 2.65
w/ 4.30
13.37, 9.55, 6.67, 4.30, 3.05

TorqueShift 6R140 (2011-)
3.97, 2.32, 1.52, 1.15, 0.86, 0.67
w/ 3.31
13.14, 7.68, 5.03, 3.81, 2.85, 2.22
w/ 3.55
14.09, 8.24, 5.40, 4.08, 3.05, 2.38

Sure looks like if you compare a 5R110 with 4.30's and a 6R140 with 3.55's that the 6R140 has a higher overall torque multiplication ration in 1st and yet the same overall torque multiplication ratio in 5th as the 5R110 with 4.30's but also has the advantage of another overdrive gear.

[richc22a]

After you pull acouple of times, I think the only time you will lock out 5th, or 6th is in hilly, mountain terrain...

[cruiser09]

I will pick mine up on Memorial day, but wont pull anything until I get the 500-mile break in done. Probably mid June I will hook up the 11K travel trailer and see what happens.....I will report on that trip later....

[nc1500]

I have to trust Ford for going with the taller gearing; it's just contradictory to everything I learned about towing over the years where you needed the deeper gearing if you wanted to tow more. Makes sense about the transmission making up for the lack of rear gearing; Nissan does the same thing in the Titan with their tow package.

I can still get deeper gears but have to step up to a 450 or 550; with the 350 towing over 20,000 (with 3:73) that's all I'll need.

[grndpndr2]

Does anyone have the 3:11s. What results are you seeing when towing? I too am looking to order a truck. I still cant decide on gearing. Im looking to tow a 40ft race car trailer. But I also use the truck more often unloaded and need it for fuel economy.