3.73 VS. 4.10's
 

Just speced out a new Ford 1 Ton dually 4X4 with a 6.0 Diesel and automatic.I wanted 3.73rear end with a limited slip. But the only way you can get the 3.73's is without limited slip.
So the question is,would I be better off with the 4.10's with limited slip,or the 3.73's without...
I will be towing a 36 Baja Outlaw roughly 70 miles round trip most every summer weekend.And it wil be my daily driver....
Thanks
Steve

4.10s for that truck would be better. You would notice no difference in fuel mileage while pulling that boat and you will need the L/S if you have to use a steep or slippery ramp. Now on a long highway trip with no load you will suffer a little MPG if you don't reduce speed.

Roby

I have the 4.10s in my 2000 7.3 and it does great. I pull my 42 Sonic 80-90 mph on I95 no problem. With the 6.0 you have another 1000 rpm so it should even be better.

If you still want to lower it a little just get a taller tire, that is what I did with my 96 7.3.

You can always put bigger/taller tires on and that will pull the ratio to maybe 3.90 range. I had the same dilema on my Ram as far as snowplow pkg and glad I went/forced to the 4.10. The fuel mi will be null. $25-50 yr extra max? You can burn that up in 2 rounds of shots for the boys.

Thats fuggin crazy ! You're one insane mofo ! ! :eek: :crazy: :eek:


I had my Cig Cafe' on the trailer up to 95 mph ish ONCE for a brief moment. I just wanted to see what I could top the package out at with a V10 Ram 2500 CC 4WD and 4.10's.

I'am telling you the trailer is set up good and it tows great. I never do it in traffic but late at night when nobody is there I wind it up. It's not the getting it up to speed it's the stopping it so don't get sleepy!!

3.73.. is a much better gear to have in a truck.. has plenty of low end and better gas mileage.. i've driven both for year and will never get a 4.10 again.. IMHO

I guess it depends on the make/power being used. I know that on prior gen Dodge Rams, if you go from 3.55's to 4.10's on any small block ( 318/360 ) set up, your gas mileage actually INCREASES when not towing.

The 4.10 is great on the new trucks with 5 speed autos.
They wound up pretty tight on the 4-speed at 85-90mph
:D

Steve,
Well, my truck (if you remember it) has 3.73 Limited slip. For the BH launch ramp, the LS comes in handy. I've never had to put it in 4x4 to pull out of the water. With 4x4, you probably wouldn't really need LS.

I'm not sure how far it is to work from your house, but aren't you retiring soon? How long are you going to keep the truck?

Depends on what the diff is in mileage and how many miles you put on a year. That's what I'd go on. I use my truck for not much else than pulling the boat, so a v10 with 4.10's is fine for as many miles as I put on. If I drove 30,000 a year, I'd go diesel and 3.73.

Keep the Dodge, buy that Thunder:D:D

Steve,
Where you lookin'? If you happen to stop in Siemans, talk to Bob Betker. Tell him I told you to stop in, and he'll charge you $500 more. LOL! (Siemans will do loaner cars, even though it's a little drive for you) You looking at Campbells, and Jordan's I'd assume?

Mark

Love the V10 with 433 at between 10 and 11 MPG with tons of torque.

4.10's ALL THE WAY:cool:

The wife's Excursion as 3.73's and my F-350 has the 4.10 rear end. For towing a boat as heavy as the 36 Outlaw you will be glad in the long run that you went with the lower ratio.

I have towed over 20,000 miles now in overdrive and it is awesome. Hills that most vehicles will downshift on do not phase my truck with the boat in tow.

Do not know if this is true, but I would ask your dealer before you purchased. Somewhere I read that you could tow heavy loads like the 36 in overdrive with the 4.10 ratio, but not with the 3.73's. Anyone know if this is true?

I have a 2002 with the 7.3 and love it. Go with the 4.10's and the 6.0 and you will be thrilled! Got a chance to drive a new 6.0 with a 35 Fountain in tow and it is a big difference over the 7.3. That thing will pull like a freight train!

I drive interstate daily 22 miles each way and at 70 MPH non-towing see 14.5 to 14.8 MPG. Towing I see 10.5 to 11.5 MPG depending on how hard we push it.

Good luck

My words exactly.....resale, resale, resale!!;)

Steve,

After you get it add one of these in the bed.

Secure tool box on top half and 50 gallon fuel tank on the bottom. With the stock 40 gallon tank this gives us a range of 900+ miles towing. All you got to do is hit the rest areas as needed and keep on trucking!

Dock that is a sweet set up and a must for us guys with truck that tow boats long distance. Rag's

Rags, just printed out the pic of your boat for the wall!!;)

Doc.

Where did you get that tool box/ fuel tank? Will it fit under a cover.

Rags, You are correct oh Great one!

Bob,

Mine is exactly flush with the side of the bed. I have not been able to find a low profile cover that will allow me to open the tool box part. I now plan to install a shell type bed cover and add the remote fuel fill to the outside. This is a kit they offer that attachs to the existing fill on the tank and you drill a hole in the camper shell and mount a fuel door on the outside to make it easy to refuel.

I purchased this system about a mile from my house at Trailers of The East Coast, Exit 170 off of I-40 in Mocksville, NC. Total was $1400.00 with tax and installation. There is a toggle switch on the dash that allows me to switch between tanks on the fly and the factory overhead display and factory fuel guage works for both tanks.

I have sold three for them and should be getting a commission!

http://www.trailersoftheeastcoast.com/

Here are some links to companies that make them.
I had a buddy that did not go with the tool box, instead he got a 90 gallon tank.

http://www.transferflow.com/html/toolbox_tanks_0.html

http://www.aerotanks.com/diamondplates.html

I have a Trax-UFS system from Transfer Flow in my 2002 F-450. I went with the version that adds the second fuel tank under the truck so that I would not lose any bed space. I personally think that this is the best option on this truck, especially when towing long distances because I now have a fuel capacity of 80 gallons.

This system transfers fuel automatically, so there are no switches or anything inside the truck. The good part is that the factory fuel gage and the factory computer in the overhead console still work correctly. The only hint of the system being there is the second fuel door/fill neck (factory looking) and the LCD display screen flush mounted in the dash.

I am sure that "Dock Holiday" will agree. Until you have it, you don't realize how nice it is having the extra fuel capacity. Here is a link to the system that I am using.

Transfer Flow - Trax UFS

Here is a picture of the display flush mounted in the dash. You can put it anywhere, but I chose this location because it fits perfectly where the factory puts that "pop out" piece. If you don't want a flush mount display, they also offer a display that can be mounted under the dash, in the glove box or anywhere you want to put it.

Here is another picture of the display.

Here is a pic showing the two fuel doors. The rear one is the factory fill door and the front one is from Transfer Flow.

I almost forgot to answer the initial question of this post. I personally would go with the 4.10 ratio.

The only gear ratios available for my F-450 from the factory were 4.88 and 4.30, so I ordered the 4.30 ratio with the limited slip. It still winds up a little at high speeds, but it will pull a load like it's not even there. Besides, I had this truck built to tow, not to fly down the highway at 100.

Don't get me wrong though. Even with the low gear ratio, this thing will still cruise down the highway as fast as I want to go while towing a load. Maybe I am just the odd one, but when I am pulling the boat or the car trailer, even on I-95 with no traffic, I set the cruise control between 70 and 75 and just sit back and relax. That is a lot of weight back there and I would rather be safe than sorry.

If you want to know the RPM difference between the 3.73 and the 4.10 ratios, here is a link for a gear ratio calculator. Just fill in the blanks and it will do the calculations for you.

Gear Ratio Calculator

Thanks for the link Dock.

Bob

Wait until they come out with the 2005's. I heard that they are changing the body style.

Better trade in your old Ford Trout...
;)

Thanks for the input guys.....Looks like I'm going with the 4.10's LS.

32 Fever,
I just got back from Haggin-Wimberley,and they smoked Campbells deal on the same truck.I'll give Seimans a try and see where I end up buying,thanks for the name. I turned the Dodge in from lease in January so I need to do something quick...I was hopping to get a ride from you in that new 42 Outerlimits.....:D ;) Say hi to Ericka.Wish this damn weather would warm up so we can all get back on the water:mad: Are you going up for SOTW?????

Troutly,
Thanks for ALL the info.....You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the 05's would ya?????

Dock,
Really like the second tank.It will probably be one of my first add ons....How's the Outlaw running????
Steve