I have an 03 f350, lifted 8' with 22wheels and 37 toyos(load range E). AFE intake, and 4' straight pipe.
I just bought a 5th wheel(weighs 13K). I took the truck and trailer & truck to get weighed, Total Axle weight is 23,840. I've been towing it locking out the over drive and it gets by.
Will forking up $1,800 to regear it help that much? or what other mods will help this strugle?
The tow/haul button does not lock out OD. Tow/haul holds any given gear longer before shifting and enables automatic downshifting when you apply breaks.
If you have stock gears, it probably never runs in 5th (OD) except on downhill grades.
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2004 F350, 6.0L TorqShift, SRW, CC, LB, Lariat, 4X4, Built Feb 2004
8" Lift, 37x13.5x17 Tires, 4.88 Gears, Turbo-back Exhaust, Gauges, Air Bags...
Biofumes,
if you look in the towing forum (where we are now) and find the heading (towing a gooseneck with my Excursion) you can see what I just pulled from Tn. to SoCal. It has a 3.5 donahue lift and 35" toyo open country mud terrian tires and still has the factory 3:73 gear ratio.
I did notice alot of the low end torque was gone with the lift and tires, but I then put one of Jodys DP tuners on the truck, and it woke it back up to a respectable towing machine. I pulled that set of double trailer 2200 miles and got a hand calculated 9.6 MPG most towing was done at 65 MPH.
I am also in the process of taking the Excursion up another 3-4 inches so that I can put some 37's on it and I will fork out the 1800.00 to re-gear the truck so it has its low end torque back.
Also, I will recomend you put a good tuner, exhaust and intake on to help improve the MPG.
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2003 BLACK F-350 XLT Sport,Crew Cab,FX4,ESOF-4X4 LB,Daullie 6.0 w/ 5 spd auto, moonroof, 4:10 limited slip, Back up sensors Daul Alternators,AIC. Line-X,B&W Turnover ball.
Prodigy brake controller.
2003 BLACK Excursion Limited 7.3 w/DVD entertainment center, rear captians chairs, 3.73 limited slip.
1999 F-250 SC,7.3 lariat 4X2
1968 Chevy C-10 Short Bed PRO-STREET 500+CI BBC
1991 Honda CRX-SI (Black Also)
2002 John Deere Gator Diesel 6X6
2003 Limited edition Cannondale Cannibal- With colors that woulnt run, RED, WHITE and BLUE #0000016
Multiple 1969 Camaro Convertible Indy Pace Cars (one Documented Festival Car)
1-1972 El Camino SS (Pro Touring) Under construction.
changing the gears does not increase or decrease the amount of power, it only moves the available power in the rpm range.
having the larger tires turns the engine slower, so you are essentially operating below the intended powerband of the engine.
changing the gears to get back to the effective ratio of stock, should improve the overall driving, including easier take-off, because you will be operating the engine in its designed powerband.
Nice!! so all I'll have to do is upgrade my brakes......
yes, upgrading the brakes and the frame should do it, plus, check to see what was the weight on the rear truck axle when you had it weighed. Make sure that the rear axle weight does not exceed the tire weight ratings.
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2001 F350 XLT 4X4, shift on the fly, 38 gal fuel tank, running boards, sliding rear window, black, crew cab, long bed, 4.10, automatic transmission, 11,500 gvwr, 20,000 gcwr, 7500 gvw, dual rear wheels, 7.3l turbo diesel, completely stock, 114,00 miles when purchased, now has 125,000 miles, repairs so far: starter, batteries, cps.
2005 Nomad Rampage toyhauler made by Skyline. 11,500lb gvwr.
honestly, you've modified the truck so much that it isn't well suited for towing, especially that heavy weight. You'll have to flip the axles to even get the trailer under the truck, and the high center of gravity will be more dangerous.
I think you'd be better off buying another truck just to tow the fifth wheel, preferably a dually. What is the weight rating of those wheels and tires?
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2006 GMC K3500 CC DRW 4x4
1994 F-350 DRW PS w/ zf5
1996 Town Car
I have a similar set up and had to regear to 4.56. Many members here will
trash you for towing with a lifted truck but if the tow vehicle is set up correctly, it isn't a big deal. I had to install airbags , flip trlr axles and
2" blocks to level everything out. The gear change really made towing a more pleasant experience .
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2005 F350 CREW CAB LARIAT
6 INCH LIFT -37'S ON 18 INCH DIAMOS
SCT and tunes by Innovative Diesel
Silver line 4" Exhaust turbo back
Auto meter Cobalt series gauages
4.56 gears
honestly, you've modified the truck so much that it isn't well suited for towing, especially that heavy weight. You'll have to flip the axles to even get the trailer under the truck, and the high center of gravity will be more dangerous.
I think you'd be better off buying another truck just to tow the fifth wheel, preferably a dually. What is the weight rating of those wheels and tires?
The toyos are rated "E", around 3800pds per tire, they are pricey, but well worth it.
I've already flipped the axles on the trailer, so its even with the lift on the truck.
Has anyone had to rebuild their tranny with billet torque converters or built up their tranny so that its bullet proof?
Want to do it the right way, since its custom wheels, tires, lift and so is the trailer, once the gears are done, I just need to make sure the tranny will hold.
I would regear just to save your tranny. I regeared my 05 to 4.88 and loved it, the gears were a little high when driving empty but not bad and it towed my trailer good. I had a 130,000 miles on my truck when I sold it and it had the stock tranny which shifted and drove just like it was new.
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08 F-450, RED/MEDIUM FLINT, CC, LB, LARIET, 4X4, NAV, REAR DVD, BACK UP CAMERA, CAPTAINS CHAIRS, B&W GOOSE NECK HITCH, FIFTH WHEEL COMPANION, WOLF LINER, 90 GALLON TRANSFER TANK, TRAIN HORNS, REAR AIR BAGS.
00 FROD RANGER 4X4
94 FORD RANGER
85 JEEP CJ-7
05 F-F350 SRW, FX4, CC, LB, Lariet, 4X4, SOLD
99.5 F-350 SRW, CC, LB, LARIET, 4X4, V-10, SOLD
93 FORD RANGER 3.0 4X4 SOLD
Towing 24K with Lift
Linear Mode
