Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27
  1. #1
    Winter can end now..... BoatBuggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    St Lawrence Ontario / Sam Rayburn TX
    Posts
    12,205

    Gear Ratio For My New F350 Diesel Dually

    Hi all. I'm about to order a new truck to tow the new Cedar Creek Champange Edition we stumbled across last fall. I've decided that I'm going with an F350 XLT SuperCab diesel dually with a few extra options but I'm not sure what gear ratio I should be getting. We will be towing the 5th wheel to/from Toledo Bend where we will hang out during the snowy time of year. From where we live it's about an 1800 mile one-way trip on the Interstates. For the most part, the trip is fairly flat as we can pretty much avoid the mountains/hills of PA, WV, VA, TN. This truck will also become my daily driver - I'm retired and most of my driving is towing the boat somewhere. I understand the higher the gear ratio, the better the tow but the worse the gas mileage. I know the gas mileage will probably suck on the best of days and if an keep the suckage to a minimum I'll be happy. I'm thinking about getting the 3.73 gears instead of the 3.55s but could be convinced to go with 4.10s if the diff in fuel economy won't be too harsh on my daily use.

    Thanks.....
    Doug
    2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
    2018 Ranger RT198p, 2013 Mercury 150 Optimax

  2. Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    16,927
    #2
    Dead middle of the range ... best all around solution.

  3. Banned
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Muscle Shoals, Alabama-Wilson Lake
    Posts
    10,043
    #3
    3.73 for the diesel and your Cedar Creek.

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    KALKASKA MICHIGAN
    Posts
    4,065
    #4
    I have always went with 373's in all my diesels and been very happy. Towing up to 21k with no issues. Good all around gear. Cj
    2002 X19 200HP OX66 HO Vmax,HPDI lower, it lives, thanks Hydro Tec.

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Lawrenceburg, Ky
    Posts
    1,891
    #5
    If you are not towing anything heavier that the rv then 3.55's will do great if you are buying the diesel. I have 3.42's and tow 21k with zero downfalls.



  6. Member BigSexyPhoenix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lavaca Arkansas
    Posts
    12,745
    #6
    Go with 3.73 if you want the best of both worlds.

  7. Winter can end now..... BoatBuggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    St Lawrence Ontario / Sam Rayburn TX
    Posts
    12,205
    #7
    Thanks everyone..... I think I'll go with the 3.73s.

    I doubt I'll be towing anything more than the 5'er but my azz isn't getting any lighter and I'm thinking I might want to get a camper and turn some of my long one day trips to the St Lawrence and Lake Ontario into weekend trips.
    2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
    2018 Ranger RT198p, 2013 Mercury 150 Optimax

  8. HYDRA SPORT LS205 225HO JER-1 BIG BASS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Proctorville Ohio
    Posts
    3,515
    #8
    My 2005 f-350 dually diesel with 4:10 rear and front 4x4
    honestly gets 8 mpg , I’ve done some mods I’m at bout 13 consistently now.
    thinking bout switching out gears to 3:73 or lower

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Brusly, La.
    Posts
    219
    #9
    I have a 2017 F350 dually and pull a 16k lb fifth wheel with 4:10 gears. Got 9.8 mpg last weekend no problems pulling with this set up.

  10. BBC SPONSOR
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Bergheim, Tx
    Posts
    85
    #10
    Like wise 2016 F450 with a 20k cyclone, same mileage as above

  11. Member Bass AHolic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    NW GA
    Posts
    7,757
    #11
    Quote Originally Posted by JER-1 BIG BASS View Post
    My 2005 f-350 dually diesel with 4:10 rear and front 4x4
    honestly gets 8 mpg , I’ve done some mods I’m at bout 13 consistently now.
    thinking bout switching out gears to 3:73 or lower

    8mpg ? thats bad , my 4x4 GAS magnum dodge 4x4 gets that pulling TT, and just driving 11 mpg. Truck before a chevy Diesel 25 mpg day in and out empty or pulling.

  12. Member bassn5150's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Hot Springs, Ar
    Posts
    902
    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by JER-1 BIG BASS View Post
    My 2005 f-350 dually diesel with 4:10 rear and front 4x4
    honestly gets 8 mpg , I’ve done some mods I’m at bout 13 consistently now.
    thinking bout switching out gears to 3:73 or lower
    Should you go forth with the gearing change, don't t forget on a 4X4, the gearing in the transfer case has to match the rear end gear. If you plan on using 4wd that is.

  13. Winter can end now..... BoatBuggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    St Lawrence Ontario / Sam Rayburn TX
    Posts
    12,205
    #13
    Since this thread has seen some new life I thought should update it.....

    After much deliberation, I ended up going with a SRW with 3.55 gears and an 8' box instead of a DRW. I just didn't like the DRW for everyday driving.

    I've towed the trailer about 400 miles so far and the truck handles it just fine. The shipping weight of the trailer is 13,900 lbs and we've got about 500 lbs of stuff in it right now but that will probably get to 2000'ish lbs when we load up to go live in it for 5+ months. I'm getting about 11-12 MPG at 55'ish MPH. I suspect that will go down to 9-10 MPG at speeds of 65-70 MPH and carrying more weight.
    2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
    2018 Ranger RT198p, 2013 Mercury 150 Optimax

  14. Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Hot Springs, AR
    Posts
    3,620
    #14
    14,000 should be a pretty easy pull for that truck even with SRW. How's the mileage unloaded, just everyday driving?

  15. Member C130's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Magnolia, TX
    Posts
    3,616
    #15
    Should have gotten the DRW, I'll never tow a 5th wheel with a SRW again. You may be within your rear axle weight since your trailer isn't that heavy but most of the F250's have very little tow capacity. Fine for towing boats, travel trailers, etc., they suck for even a semi heavy 5th wheel. I have an F450 with the 4.3 but I towed a large toy hauler.

  16. Winter can end now..... BoatBuggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    St Lawrence Ontario / Sam Rayburn TX
    Posts
    12,205
    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Bass Junkie View Post
    14,000 should be a pretty easy pull for that truck even with SRW. How's the mileage unloaded, just everyday driving?
    I know it's there but I'm not sure the truck does..... It's my first diesel and I'm more than impressed at how much power there is.

    Just everyday driving I'm getting about 18-19 MPG. I live in the country and most of my driving is between 50 and 65 MPH.
    2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
    2018 Ranger RT198p, 2013 Mercury 150 Optimax

  17. Winter can end now..... BoatBuggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    St Lawrence Ontario / Sam Rayburn TX
    Posts
    12,205
    #17
    Quote Originally Posted by C130 View Post
    Should have gotten the DRW, I'll never tow a 5th wheel with a SRW again. You may be within your rear axle weight since your trailer isn't that heavy but most of the F250's have very little tow capacity. Fine for towing boats, travel trailers, etc., they suck for even a semi heavy 5th wheel. I have an F450 with the 4.3 but I towed a large toy hauler.
    It's an F350 not an F250 and I have plenty of excess capacity on all the weight ratings.
    2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
    2018 Ranger RT198p, 2013 Mercury 150 Optimax

  18. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Lawrenceburg, Ky
    Posts
    1,891
    #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Bass Junkie View Post
    14,000 should be a pretty easy pull for that truck even with SRW. How's the mileage unloaded, just everyday driving?
    You wouldn't tow a 5th wheel with a SRW and I wouldn't buy a truck nowadays with a 4.30 gear to tow one. You get the same mileage towing as I do with 3.42's but I can bust 18 every day average and 24 on trips empty. Not everyone needs training wheels.



  19. Moderator Fishysam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Jamestown North Dakota
    Posts
    9,318
    #19
    I'm my limited experience the 3.4 type gears work great because they shift less and they let the motor work for ya, 4.3 type gears the motor revs and shifts, looses boost for no reason then start again.
    Mercury 250 proxs 2B115089

  20. Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    NE OK
    Posts
    5,125
    #20
    Quote Originally Posted by BoatBuggy View Post
    It's an F350 not an F250 and I have plenty of excess capacity on all the weight ratings.
    You are gonna be over on the rear axle. With 20-25% on the pin, that’s 2800 lbs min. From what I’ve seen, 2800-3000 is the what srw’s are doing legally. Will it do okay, absolutely, but when you throw in the trucks load and your camper load, it will be tight.
    War Eagle Blackhawk 2170 - Suzuki 150, MG Xi5
    Lowrance HDS 7" & 9" - Twin Talon 12' Anchors

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast