4.30 vs 4.88

[aarondeere]

I did a search but couldn't find anything so I'll ask. About what kind of difference would I see mpg wise between the 2 ratio's? This is on a F450 pickup with the 6.4 and driving would be pulling a 12k fifth wheel and a mix of city/highway driving. I'm currently using a '05 F550 w/4.88's and a 11' flatbed with the 6.0 weighing around 9500lbs and it's getting about 10mpg and down to 7 in hard pulling so I'm expecting much. Also I can get a Job 2 F450 KR very well loaded with a sticker of 61k for 46,800. Is that a good deal or should I be able to do that kind of deal on a job 3 truck? Alot of questions but thanks for any insight.

[Stalwart]

12K is not enough weight to need the 4.88. From my experience of towing a 26,500 lb trailer, I wouldn't want the 4.30's . . . OK, if I was driving in the flatlands they would be OK, but not out here in the PNW.

[tfunk88]

Originally Posted by aarondeere

I did a search but couldn't find anything so I'll ask. About what kind of difference would I see mpg wise between the 2 ratio's? This is on a F450 pickup with the 6.4 and driving would be pulling a 12k fifth wheel and a mix of city/highway driving. I'm currently using a '05 F550 w/4.88's and a 11' flatbed with the 6.0 weighing around 9500lbs and it's getting about 10mpg and down to 7 in hard pulling so I'm expecting much. Also I can get a Job 2 F450 KR very well loaded with a sticker of 61k for 46,800. Is that a good deal or should I be able to do that kind of deal on a job 3 truck? Alot of questions but thanks for any insight.

You can get a deal at least as good as that on a job 3 truck. Crossroads Ford in Cary, NC is having a sale of $16k off sticker on f450's in stock. At least they were, I'm sure they still are! They've got a 61,575 King Ranch that would be 45,575 after the sale. Not too far from MD.

[jimmy]

in Dallas/Fort Worth area there are dealers advertising 20K off KR's with owner loyalty and ford financing.

[aarondeere]

Thanks guys for the info. Yeah I think I'll pass on that truck. I use my current setup for farming and that 4.88 is nice for large loads of hay but otherwise it's always "racing" the engine. I don't think I want that again. Also the only reason for a 4.30 rear would be if I upgrade campers someday I don't want to be restricted due to truck limitations. I might have to look down there in NC. Around here it seems that the dealers aren't moving off the sticker near as much as other parts of the country. At another dealer that I have dealt with many times, I inquired about one when mine was in the shop. He said we're making great deals........how about 8k off sticker. Oh wow that is one heck of a deal . I guess they're not too worried about selling trucks. Nice thing about all of this is, is that I don't really need a truck till next summer at the earliest so if I don't do anything no big deal. Save my money and put it in the bank. Again thanks for the info.