4:10 or 3:73

[RLDSL]

Time is money, right?

In parts of the west coast, you get run over doing less than 65... sometimes more.

Ah yes, California logic. Reminds me of about 30 some odd years ago , out there, I was driving home from a meeting late, doing right on or a tad under the speed limit, with cars whizzing by me at 30+ mph faster left and right, all the sudden, the cop lights come on behind me. I pull over completely stunned as he goes over me with the fine tooth comb and I finally have to ask why. After some hemming and hawing, he finally admits , that he pulled me over because .... I was doing the speed limit.... and NOBODY does the speed limit around there at that time of night unless they are drunk or stoned
So if I'd been going 85+ like everyone else, he'd have left me alone
and people wonder why I dont like to go back there to visit

 

[icanfixall]

Thats the truth Robert. If you look out of place your sure to get pulled over for a look see. Usually the look see results in an arrest. Funny how that works. A famous line that was used on me several times is.. "The reason I pulled you over is your brake lites don't work". Don't even get out to look if they are working or not. there is no way you can step on the brake peddle and rush back there to see if the work or not. I surprised a goober officer one time and showed him how to check them. I simply pulled on my emergency flashers and said... SEE.. They work fine.... He left in a hurry after that... Actually that only shows that the flashers work and maybe the stop lite switch is bad.. But I didn't tell him that he knew nothing about cars or electrical systems....

 

[Black dawg]

As some of you know about my rig. I tow lots.

With 2 overdrives, I would go atleast 4.1

 

[Mulochico]

Ah yes, California logic. Reminds me of about 30 some odd years ago , out there, I was driving home from a meeting late, doing right on or a tad under the speed limit, with cars whizzing by me at 30+ mph faster left and right, all the sudden, the cop lights come on behind me. I pull over completely stunned as he goes over me with the fine tooth comb and I finally have to ask why. After some hemming and hawing, he finally admits , that he pulled me over because .... I was doing the speed limit.... and NOBODY does the speed limit around there at that time of night unless they are drunk or stoned
So if I'd been going 85+ like everyone else, he'd have left me alone
and people wonder why I don't like to go back there to visit

Actually, in our wonderful state, you could be doing 65 in a 55 zone, being passed by everyone, and get a speeding ticket and an obstructing traffic ticket at the same time. Had a CHP officer tell me that one on a break from a traffic school session (back when class a drivers could still do traffic school)

 

[kc0stp]

Personally Id go with the 4.10s just for the added power for the hills, as far as the speed vs mpg I look at it quite simply, if Im towing my trailer its on route to a race so either very early in the morning with a set deadline for arrival or the night before, in either case the longer it takes the less sleep/rest I get. Add to that once a year I have a 500mile tow from Denver to SLC, that far 10mph diffrence = 1 hour on the road (roughly) where as 10mph diffrence = ~.2-1.0 mpg diffrence, frankly I stop in the same spots if Im going 55 or 80 just have to put an extra gallon or 2 in if I go faster.

Thats the truth Robert. If you look out of place your sure to get pulled over for a look see. Usually the look see results in an arrest. Funny how that works. A famous line that was used on me several times is.. "The reason I pulled you over is your brake lites don't work". Don't even get out to look if they are working or not. there is no way you can step on the brake peddle and rush back there to see if the work or not. I surprised a goober officer one time and showed him how to check them. I simply pulled on my emergency flashers and said... SEE.. They work fine.... He left in a hurry after that... Actually that only shows that the flashers work and maybe the stop lite switch is bad.. But I didn't tell him that he knew nothing about cars or electrical systems....

Thats why I have this push the brake pedal down with it then casually walk to the back of the truck and check as needed.

 

[GOOSE]

So what are your thoughts Gary?

 

[CaptTom]

Although I long for 3:55's, I really do like my 4:10. I don't have all the force multipliers like some of you do, I'm all stock.

That said, I really like the 4:10's for towing and hauling. The add on's just enhance the pull you're trying to do. Do you want to do more of what it is you're doing? Then 4:10's is for you too.

I'm a bit of a weirdo and hate lugging, I'd rather over-spin than not. Getting my load up to speed in traffic is more important to me, in part because it weeds out some of the freeway tow suicide dodgers.... you know, those idiots who pass right in front of you leaving some paint on the left front bumper as they change into your lane. I find the slower I come up to speed, the more people stuff the lane ahead of me, taking it even longer for me to get up to speed so as to keep distance! Sheeesh! Weird huh?!

No matter what you choose, even if you have a lot of whizbangs, it still comes down to fuel economy or greater pull.

What do you need is the real question.

Until I start using my truck as a Lincoln, I'm staying with the 4:10's and upgrading it, when the time and money comes, with double secret OD.

 

[tanman_2006]

I weight 12-15K unloaded and break 30k with a tractor or hay. I want 4.56's so I can get the weight moving and a ranger splitter to keep keep it going.

 

[The Warden]

I'm a bit of a weirdo and hate lugging, I'd rather over-spin than not.

Spoken like someone who grew up around Detroits

IMHO it depends on what you're using the truck for. If you're regularly loaded heavily and doing a lot of stop and go or mountain driving, 4.10's make more sense. However, at least in my opinion, if your truck's more for mixed-use (i.e. sometimes loaded and sometimes empty) and/or you spend most of your time on the freeway, I would argue in favor of 3.55 gears. Yes, it'll be slower to get started, but once you're on the freeway, you can use a taller gear for straightaways and downshift for hills as needed...and, IMHO you essentially have more flexibility, especially with the gear splitter. You're still geared tall enough for running empty, but you can also downshift to get into the right RPM band for towing at 55 mph, and with the gear splitter, you still have plenty of gears below whatever you're at.

JMHO

 

[sle2115]

I've had all three in my rig, hated the 3.55's, gutless, loved the 4.10's except on highway, and now, the 3.73's are awesome. They pull very well, dropped several hundred RPM's off at highway speeds, and with the ZF it really made a great difference, my engine seems to really work well with this combo as well, pulls great, doesn't seem to strain with 10,000 lbs behind it (struggled with 3.55's) and moves well down the road. This, the 3.73's seem to be the best combo. I went through changing front and rear being 3.73, but I'm sure having to run that Dana 60 makes the 3.55's feel different than in 2wd as well. moving a lot of weight, about 7500 empty.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

I weight 12-15K unloaded and break 30k with a tractor or hay. I want 4.56's so I can get the weight moving and a ranger splitter to keep keep it going.

that kind of rig doesnt sound like a daily driver,but an around the farm/close to home worker.go right to the 5.13's for that kind of weight.don't even frig around.you'll just stress stuff too much otherwise imho.
see what it takes to just swap in the f-super duty rear for an inexpensive swap.

 

[tanman_2006]

that kind of rig doesnt sound like a daily driver,but an around the farm/close to home worker.go right to the 5.13's for that kind of weight.don't even frig around.you'll just stress stuff too much otherwise imho.
see what it takes to just swap in the f-super duty rear for an inexpensive swap.

Haul hay 400 miles one way at times if I can't hire it done. I also run hot shot loads in my free time and having a couple trucks tagged for that weight comes in handy. Been looking for either an idi super duty or 3500hd 6.5 but haven't had much luck finding one to my liking. I just beef up my trucks the best I can and build them for the jobs I might tackle.

Honestly the 6.5's do better at this work than my Dmax. I'm also afraid to break the Dmax lol.

 

[92F350CC]

wow some of you guys sure are in an awful hurry.i dunno how you can afford it @ these fuel prices.
have a hatred against keeping some $ in the bank lol?
remember it's not only about rpms.it's the force of the air your cutting through.

It saves me money on psychiatric treatment, because I go insane anytime I'm forced to drive less than 65 on the highway(I particularly get angry at people holding me up in non-passing zones). It seems my speedo is pegged more often than not on the highway in this truck. I stopped checking the MPG years ago, especially since it's a gasser. Wouldn't mind swapping my 4.10's for some 4.30's or 4.56's if I towed more.

 

[Goofyexponent]

The problem is that going from 3.55 to 3.73 is such a small change, you'll likely only be jumping up 100 RPM at 85, and then another 200 between 3.73 and 4.10's. To me, the 5% change in gearing wouldn't be worth the trouble to go to 3.73's. I think you'll still have the best of both worlds by going to 4.10's. 2100 RPM at 85 shouldn't make a huge difference in economy based upon RPM's alone and should still be tolerable noise wise.

I'm basing my guestimations off of towing in the 65-70 MPH range and running empty in the 80 ish range.

I wish I was running 1800 RPM at 65!

I did a direct comparison once. I was rebuilding one 3.55 rearend, so I put a 4.10 rearend in my truck to keep it mobile and I could still et to work.

From 3.55's to 4.10's it was almost 500 RPM at 60 - 65 MPH in 5th gear. The truck seemed to like it a little better, and I only lost 1 or 2 MPG's. Mind you I was only going 100 kilometers an hour (10 under the limit) and I wouldn't flog the snot out of it to keep it rolling.

Would I go with 3.73's or 3.55's ? No. You hardly EVER see 3.55's or 3.73's in a large truck around here...but around here we have a lot of hills. 4.10's, 4.30's, 4.63's and 4.89's are the norm in large trucks around here due to the terrain.

What road conditions are you going to be pulling in? I would go with 4.10's and keep my foot out of it to save coin.

My Explorer has 3.73's and if I keep it for next winter's plwoing season, I am going to drop in 4.10's or even higher. Pushing that blade in 4 high with 3.73's is murder, and shifting in and out of low range isn't good for my electrinic T case....I know. It sucks.