Rear gear ???

[first time 5er]

I am looking at several F350 Duallies.
I'm looking for the future, as my F250 can handle the 5ver i have, but looking to expand sometime in the future.

The three trucks i'm looking at have 3 different rear end gears 4.10,3.73 and 3.55
all have the same 6 speed auto trans.

It's going to be the DW daily driver (maybe 50 miles a week) back and forth from work and whatever

we live in flat Florida but love the mountains also

One more thing
Is there anything you would consider an "must have" for towing a 5ver?

Just looking for opinions

[66joej]

3.73 gears should be deep enough and get the 4X4. If you need 4X4 once you will be glad you have it.

[JRTJH]

I'd guess you're looking at 2016 F series trucks? If so, there's no difference in towing limits for the F350 DRW with the 6.7L diesel that is based on axle ratio. The 3.55 ratio is only available in the SRW models. In the Dual Rear Wheel trucks, both the 3.73 and the 4.30 rear end ratio are rated at 19,000. Note that there is no 4.10 ratio available in Ford's line of trucks.

I believe that the F350 DRW truck with the 4.30 rear end is only available in 4x4 version and only with the "wide front axle". That truck is "essentially" a F450 with 350 badging... If you're looking at a "conventional front axle" the only available ratio is 3.73.

The GCWR on the 3.73 is 32,100 while the GCWR on the 4.30 is 35,000. With the two GVW ratings of 13,800 or 14,000, there is no significant difference in the maximum trailer weight which for the "conventional front axle" truck (GCWR of 32,100) would be 18,100 pounds at "max GVW" and the maximum trailer weight for the "Wide front axle" truck (GCWR of 35,000) would be 19,000 at "max GVW". So it comes down to whether the extra 900 pounds of trailer capacity (max of 18,100 vs 19,000) is worth the extra fuel consumption and the high RPM at highway speeds. (This is very simplistically explained, there's more to consider but this is the basics)

NOTE: The numbers don't add up correctly on the "wide front axle" ratings because of that "rebadging issue"... For that truck, it's a registration consideration whether to buy an F350 or an F450 which in many areas must be considered a commercial vehicle, even if used privately.

Looking briefly at the Ford website, the 2017 F350 DRW truck is only available with the 3.55 or the 4.10 ratio. The 4.30 ratio is only available in the F450 and there is no "wide front axle" available except in the F450 truck.

In the F350 line, the GCWR for the 3.55 ratio is 36,000 so at GVW (14,000) the max trailer is 22,000 (at GVW) and the 4.10 ratio GCWR is 40,000 so at GVW (14,000) the max trailer (at GVW) is 26,000. Note that the website indicates a larger trailer weight, but that can only be achieved by unloading below the truck's GVW to stay under the GCWR of 36,000 or 40,000.

Above numbers are for fifth wheel/gooseneck trailers, not conventional trailers.

I would make an "uneducated guess" that the reason Ford went with the 4.10 ratio and dropped the 3.73 for this year is to increase the GCWR without having to resort to the 4.30 axles which cause the engine to really increase RPM at highway speeds. Since they no longer offer the "wide front axle" in the F350, there is no need to have that ratio except in the F450 model trucks.

ADDED: The 3.73 ratio axles is available in 2017, but only with the 6.2L GAS engine. It is not available with the diesel.

[sourdough]

John has given an excellent response above. Remember that axle ratios for a gas engine and a diesel engine are much different due to the difference in the power output. Most diesel options have a pretty low axle ratio due to that as compared to a gas engine.

[Desert185]

My must have for towing a fiver is an Andersen hitch. Lightweight, 24,000# capacity, easily removed, clean bed with no rails if the gooseneck ball version

www.andersenhitches.com

[denverpilot]

Above numbers are for fifth wheel/gooseneck trailers, not conventional trailers.






I seem to remember there being a different rating on both the Dodge and the Ford between gooseneck and fifth wheel also in 2017, buried somewhere deep in both of their websites/specs... but I can't find it now.

The guys at The Fast Lane Truck (a popular YouTube channel) made brief reference to it either in one of the regular review videos or maybe in episode 7 or 8 of their Ask Mr. Truck series.

(Side note: Their new book on pickup trucks looks like a great reference guide for this sort of stuff but I haven't had time to buy a copy to peruse yet.)

http://www.tfltruck.com/2016/09/truck-nuts-book-is-now-available-the-fast-lane-trucks-and-mr-trucks-guide-to-pickups/

[Desert185]

I seem to remember there being a different rating on both the Dodge and the Ford between gooseneck and fifth wheel also in 2017, buried somewhere deep in both of their websites/specs... but I can't find it now.

The guys at The Fast Lane Truck (a popular YouTube channel) made brief reference to it either in one of the regular review videos or maybe in episode 7 or 8 of their Ask Mr. Truck series.

(Side note: Their new book on pickup trucks looks like a great reference guide for this sort of stuff but I haven't had time to buy a copy to peruse yet.)

http://www.tfltruck.com/2016/09/truck-nuts-book-is-now-available-the-fast-lane-trucks-and-mr-trucks-guide-to-pickups/

Does it offer a more specific advanced look at the topics or is it more for the neophyte's general education?

[1jeep]

I can only speak of the 2016, although I do know in 2017 the f350 dually is no longer available with 4:30 gearing in diesel.

My 2016 f350 dually has high capacity tow, which givers it the wide track front axle, 4:30 gears and towing cap of 26k lbs. Also it shares the same 14k lb gvwr as the F450 but the 450 comes with 19.5" wheels and G rated tires along with a slightly heavier rearend.

I bought my truck with the thought that in Ma it mght be easier to register and insure, looking back I should have just bought a 450! As for fuel mileage empty on the highway going about 72mph I get 15.4 mpg.

FYI, Prime ford in auburn ma still has a few 2016 f360 duallies with high capacity tow and all the bells on their lot.

[first time 5er]

wow now here is a bunch of guys that know their stuff.
I'm glad i asked
I'm going Saturday to test drive and i have some questions i couldn't find answers to
The 2017 F350 window sticker, under optional equipment list 4.10 limited slip axle with LT245/75R17E tires and 14000# GVWR package.

Does anyone know what the 14000# package consists of?

Another question

what is the fifth wheel hitch prep package?
i have the the rails in the bed of my F250 now
Does this mean they will be able to bolt right up to the F350?
and does that include the light plug?

[JRTJH]

Well, to start, the 14,000 GVW package is the spring package on the "standard F350 dually. It is "paperwork rated" at either 13,800 or 14,000 pounds. There's no difference in the part numbers of the spring packs. If there's also listed a "snow plow package" or a "camper package" the truck will have a "one spring upgrade" on the affected axle: Front for snowplow and rear for camper packages.

The fifth wheel prep package consists of the "underbed attachment points" for the Reese underbed hitch system (Reese manufacturers the Ford system). It includes the 4 "pucks" for the fifth wheel hitch base and the "single puck" for a gooseneck ball system. The "above the bed" components are not included and your "conventional rail hitch" will not fit the truck. You can, if you choose, purchase a "Reese picture frame" which will fit the 4 pucks and provide a platform (which replaces the rails) that are in your current truck. You can also purchase a new hitch that eliminates the need for the "picture frame". On some hitches (Curt for sure as that's what I have) sells the "puck/base/leg" components to convert their hitch head to a "puck based fifth wheel hitch". Reese was working on a conversion kit, but I don't know if it is yet available.

The third question, yes, there are two 7-pin connectors in the Ford truck with the optional "fifth wheel prep package". One is on the bumper (beside the license plate) and one is on the driver's side of the bed, just forward of the tail gate.

[66joej]

The GVWR is the weight of your truck along with everything in it including trailer pin weight.
The 5th wheel prep has a 7 pin plug in the box and the bed has a provision for a goose neck hitch and 4 sockets to accept the 5th wheel hitch which is unique to your truck.
Hopes this helps a bit.

[66joej]

What John said.

[denverpilot]

Does it offer a more specific advanced look at the topics or is it more for the neophyte's general education?



Sorry don't know. I just like their YouTube stuff.

They load up the latest trucks to the real max and tow up the back side of the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel uphill from Silverthorne, CO to the tunnel which is one of the steepest longest grades one will find around here in CO... so you get to see if the manufacturer is fibbing on the real world towing performance. They call it the "Ike Gauntlet".

They're pretty detailed on the videos so I would like to think their book is worth a few bucks, but haven't purchased it yet. Perhaps Amazon reviews will tell the tale. It's available there.

[first time 5er]

Well i took the plunge. Bought the F350 lariate DRW. Drives about the same as my F250 but man its got all kinds of technical stuff. lights and cameras everywhere. Radar in all four corners for blind spots. all keyless stuff, perimeter and sensor alarms, ambient lighting, Cruise control with radar to set distances to the vehicle in front of you. I've been reading the book for 2 days and still haven't figured it all out yet. mileage isn't very good with the 410 rear gear but if i worried about mileage i would have bought a prius :whistling:

[Tbos]

Enjoy the new TV.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2014 Silverado 1500 LT in Deep Forest Green