Anyone else hate there 3.31 gear ratio?

[darkshadowgray08]

My 08 was 3.73's and towed in fifth gear like a freight train (granted it was spartan tuned, but i only ran the lower hp tunes), and my new truck is shifting all over the place, and it drives me nuts. If i wanted that i would have bought a gasser.

When pulling a trailer, i am down into fifth at the bottom of the hill, and by the time i make it part way up the hill it is wanting to drop into 4th and rev up to about 3,000 rpms!!! I hate the 3.31's, didnt' want them to begin with, but the dealer talked me into it. I don't like the fact that the only way to get 3.73's is in a dually. A one ton diesel should not have 3.31 gearing, unless you drive it around as a grocery getter.

Not sure that 3.55's would be much better, but maybe?? I wanted to put 285 tires on my truck, but definately won't now after seeing how poorly it performs with the stock size on it!

I know ford did this because they thought they were going to get better fuel mileage, so they could post that on there resume, but i have to work my 6.7/3.331's so hard to keep it up to speed that it doesn't get any better mileage than my 08 6.4L. Highly disappointed!!

[jesilvas]

If you didn't want em, why'd you let em talk you into it?

[LFD132]

Would taller tires drop your gear ratio?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AutoGuide App

[colo_dually]

First, the fact of how the new 6R140 is geared, there is no reason for the SRW trucks, with their towing capacities to need 3.73s any longer (this was also a fuel economy market, and emissions consideration).

6R110 - 3.31s - 3.55s
1st - 3.97 - 13.14 - 14.09
5th - 0.86 - 2.84 - 3.05
6th - 0.67 - 2.21 - 2.37

5R110 - 3.55s - 3.73s
Rev - 2.88 - 10.22 - 10.74
1st - 3.11 - 11.04 - 11.60
5th (4th)- 1.00 - 3.55 - 3.73
6th (5th)- 0.71 - 2.52 - 2.64

Off the line, the new transmission puts more to the ground with 3.31s than the 5R110 used to do with 3.73s, so the arguement that a 1 ton truck shouldn't have 3.31s is outdated. The whole reason for the double overdrive on the new transmission is fuel economy. How much does this trailer weigh, and how bad is this grade?

Second you mention being talked into the 3.31s by the dealership. Did you test drive the truck with 3.31's, before purchase. Did you buy the truck as a DD, or for work/towing?

On Edit, for the hunting issue - Shift the Transmission to Manual Mode, and control it. If only I had that option with the 5R110.

[CascadeF250]

Originally Posted by darkshadowgray08

My 08 was 3.73's and towed in fifth gear like a freight train (granted it was spartan tuned, but i only ran the lower hp tunes), and my new truck is shifting all over the place, and it drives me nuts. If i wanted that i would have bought a gasser.

When pulling a trailer, i am down into fifth at the bottom of the hill, and by the time i make it part way up the hill it is wanting to drop into 4th and rev up to about 3,000 rpms!!! I hate the 3.31's, didnt' want them to begin with, but the dealer talked me into it. I don't like the fact that the only way to get 3.73's is in a dually. A one ton diesel should not have 3.31 gearing, unless you drive it around as a grocery getter.

Not sure that 3.55's would be much better, but maybe?? I wanted to put 285 tires on my truck, but definately won't now after seeing how poorly it performs with the stock size on it!

I know ford did this because they thought they were going to get better fuel mileage, so they could post that on there resume, but i have to work my 6.7/3.331's so hard to keep it up to speed that it doesn't get any better mileage than my 08 6.4L. Highly disappointed!!

Have you tried locking the transmission out of 6th gear when you have a heavy load ? I have a crew cab 6.7 with 3.31 gearing and I love it. It pulls much better than my 7.3 with 3.73 gearing and gets better mileage. I tow a 5th wheel weighing 11,000 pounds and a horse trailer weighing 8,000 pounds loaded in the Cascade Mountains of Washington with no problems at all. I get 18 miles per gallon empty and 11 to 13 towing both trailers. I am very happy with the 3.31 gears.

[Tenacious-B]

Originally Posted by LFD132

Would taller tires drop your gear ratio?

Taller tires will make the truck behave as if it had a taller gear ratio. The taller the tires, the more noticeable the effect.

[Joe 6.7]

3.31 ARNT BAD IT MIGHT JUST BE YOUR DRIVING HABITS. LIKE FOR ME I HAVE 35" TIRES MY TRUCK DOES NOT LIKE TO TOW IN THE 50 -55 RANGE WITH OUT LOOKING TO DOWN SHIFT. IF I TOW 60 TO65 ITS FINE. I TOW MY #14000 TOY HUALER FINE UP THE GRAPE FINE OR GROUSER GRADE OR THE TEHACHPIE PASS. YOU CAN ALSO JUST LOCK
6TH GEAR OUT.

[vlxjim]

"I know ford did this because they thought they were going to get better fuel mileage, so they could post that on there resume, but i have to work my 6.7/3.331's so hard to keep it up to speed that it doesn't get any better mileage than my 08 6.4L."

Not sure whats going on here. The new trans has 6 gears vs 5 gears. This allowed Ford to lower all the lower gears as well as adding 5 and 6 gear overdrive. Running the lower tunes would sill not put that 08 over the 800ft lbs of the 6.7. How much are you towing? I have 3.55's with 35.5" tires. My friends as well as my inlaws have 3.31's, we don't see that big of a difference. Maybe your rig needs a flash? Somethings not right. I don't think you will find to many 6.7L owners that would say there older SD's tow better.

Did you tune this 6.7L? If so they could be using the old 2010-11 trans code that has now been completely redone. If it is tuned return it to stock and see how it runs.

[tonydumpsters]

I tow heavy daily (and use 4wd daily) and have no gearing issues with the 3:31's. I am getting ready to go 35'' tires and see no reason to change gears

[Cratos]

Thats why I ordered mine with 355's I have them in my 97 and love them now if it would just get here