3.73 v 4.30

[Greg S.]

What sort of differences can you tell between the 2 rear ends? I am looking at getting a new SD 2wd and have been in the diesel v. gas battle.I drive ~ 30K / yr. and I tow a 6000 lb. boat + people and gear on the weekends. I need the puling power and decent gas mileage. Can anyone tell the difference between the 2? and if so what are they? what kind of mileage do you get? All I see in people's sigs is 4x4 or Exursions.

thanks Greg

[fredvon4]

OK Greg S I will jump in here. Welcome to F-D

I have the 3.73:1 and should have gotten the 4.30:1 as I really want to up the tire diameter purly for looks. By uping the tire diameter I would effectivly change the gear ratio.

Towing the load you describe the 3.73s are a good choice as you will have plenty of torque towing and still get OK MPG the rest of the time.

I drag about 8000lbs for a gvw of 15600 and have absolutly no troubles pulling long mountain passes. If fact I am tickled to death with the pulling power of this combination. But I know if I change tires she will not be in the power RPM part of the band. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

As you can tell I don't know first hand on the 4.30s... but my aquainteces with them claim pretty close to the same MPG that I get, but all of that is really subjective as I have a lead foot and they are slow old farts. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Obviously all things equal the 3.73s will give better MPG (if only slightly) and the 4.30s will drag a heavier load higher in the RPM band.

Other than my tire desire I have not yet wished I had the lower ratio....even for my inner child games between the stoplights. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] HTH

[NoMo]

At 30,000 miles per year, I'd consider the PSD. Otherwise, your truck & towing requirements only "need" the 3.73 gears.

[350R]

I have a 99 V-10 with 430's I load three ATV's, on over the cab, on over the bed and one in the bed, extra gas, water, riding gear and pull a popup camper all over the mountains of Colorado. I never have a problem keeping up with traffic unless someone really gets you out of the power band on a really big hill. I have just switched the tires to 255x85x16's they are 33" which gives an affective ratio of 410:1 so far I haven't had a problem with this ratio either. http://www.rockymountainatv.org/imag...cles/index.htm
I am not sure I would want the 373:1 doing what I do but it caould very well work for you.
My .02 worth

[V10 man]

The advantage of the 4.30's is that the transmission will not downshift as often. The taller gears will help hold speed on hills. I have the 4.30's and get 12 mpg city, 15 hwy. Either ratio will work for you. You need to decide if you want good performance while towing or slightly better fuel economy the rest of the time. I think your towing fuel economy will be the same with either gear. The 3.73 working harder and using more fuel.

[tyler thompson]

Are you looking at getting the 6 speed or the auto?

[NoMo]

The V10 sounds like a good plan then. And, if mileage isn't really what you're after... I totally recommend the 4.30 gears! [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

[Greg S.]

NoMo,
I tend not to keep trucks for more than a couple years. The break even point on a diesel is around 90K miles. Thats around the time I get the urge to get a new truck,(i've only had the current one for 1 1/2 yrs.) so whats the point. It seams that the mileage between gas & diesel isn't more than 2-3 mi/gal and gas prices are pretty close again. The V10 should last 200K anyways, right?

Tyler,
Auto. remember - i need to talk on the phone, eat and read a map while driving, it would distract me to much to be changing gears too.

Thanks for the reply's.

[tyler thompson]

What kind of mileage difference is there realy going to be between the 3.73 and the 4.30? I have been thinking the the 3.73 would be the way to go with the 6 speed and the 4.30 would work better with the auto trans!

[NoMo]

Only one or two MPG difference at the most.

[spoon]

I like my 3.73s as I run empty 90% of the time. If I were to go with a slide-in camper, the 4.30 setup would make more sense.

[F350V10]

I don't know what the folks with the 3.73's get, but with my 4.30's and a 5-speed, I average about 13 MPG mostly city. I have only had one trip on the highway without pulling a heavy load and I averaged 15 MPG. (See my sig for specs)

Hope this helps.

BTW I really enjoy starting out in second gear. From what I understand, if you have the 3.73's you have to start out in 1st? If this is true, then the 4.30's leave you with 1st as a granny gear.

Just my .02

[outpost22]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by spoon:
I like my 3.73s as I run empty 90% of the time. If I were to go with a slide-in camper, the 4.30 setup would make more sense.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Spoon,
I normally agree with you, and think 4.30's are great for the camper, except that my camper's only on for less than 5% of my driving and the rest is empty. It still pulls great with the 3.73's due to the actual weight of the camper being much less than most trailers. I'm always running in hills and altitude, but just drop out of o.d. and let it run [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] I appreciate the extra mileage/lower revs the rest of the time with the 3.73's. Now if I was hauling a 5'er all over the place.......

[Lazer]

My info is that 4.30's get AS GOOD of mileage as 3.73 -- even empty.

Those OHC engines do not like to lug.

I know for my 5.4 4.10 gets better mileage than my 5.4 3.73 does. (And both do better than my V10 and both are worse than my diesel.)

30,000 miles/year, I'd probably get the PSD, but w/ v-10 - go 4.30.

[sidagnew]

I get 14.5 mpg @65mph unloaded and 12 mpg avg unloaded. Stoplight to stoplight with the 4.30 mech advantage is too fun! For those of you who may be a little leary about going for 4.30's: You'll be screaming for them when you upgrade your tiresize [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]