On Ford's website I built a truck in February and chose the 3.73 Limited Slip axle and it was available in 18" wheels. Now when I go to build and price, when I choose the 3.73 LS axle, it requires 20" wheels which add about $1300 to the price of the truck. The 3.55 LS is still available with the 18's. What's the deal? Is this a move by Ford to push buyers into the 3.55 axles to somehow boost their MPG's? Does anyone have a 2008 F-350 6.4L with the 3.55 LS? Is it enough? I have an '88 F-250 with 7.3L with a 3.55 and no OD. It seems to be sufficient for that truck. Opinions please.
Lil_R
__________________
'08 F-350 Lariat CC LWB 6.4L PSD 4x4 Dark Torreador
'96 F-350 XLT CC LWB 7.3L PSD White/Gray
325,000+ miles
Lil R: I too, would like to hear from some comments to your question. I just picked up my F350 6.4 PSDwith 3.73's LS and 18" rims, it was built on Feb11 and in Canada you can still ordered 3.73's. I went to Trailerlife.com and 95% of the folks talked me out of the 3.55's because I pull a 13000 pound 5th (only time will tell). The JOB#3 trucks are just comming off the line and delivered to the Dealer in the past few weeks, so I'm sure we are going to hear about them soon. I've been keeping data on my truck, but I have less then 100 miles, when I get more miles and useful data, I'll pass it on.
Last edited by MPD56; 03-06-2008 at 04:16 PM.
Reason: To add PSD Diesel
Now when I go to build and price, when I choose the 3.73 LS axle, it requires 20" wheels ...
That was true for a few days in late February. But by March 1, Ford had seen the light and now offers 3.55 as standard, and 3.73 LS as an option on SRW PSD pickups with 17" or 18" wheels.
Page 2 of the order guides dated 03/01/08 now says:
Latest Order Guide Updates
The 3.73 Limited Slip axle (X3L) is now available on (F-250 and F-350 SRW) Pickups with the 6.4L diesel engine, automatic transmission, and 17" or 18" wheels.
But don't hold your breath waiting for Ford to update their FordVehicles website. In their current cost reduction mode, Ford has fired so many people that there's not enough warm bodies to keep up with the work.
Reminds me of my over 30 years working for the Feds. Every year we were told we had to do more with less.
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My Sierra Blanca in the sig pic was a great pickup for 11.5 years. I sold it last year. Replacement is a 2012 F-150 EcoBoost SuperCrew Lariat.
Last edited by SmokeyWren; 03-06-2008 at 04:28 PM.
Thats good that they still offer the 17's or 18's in the 3.73 LS. When I did the Build and Price today and saw that the 3.73 LS required the $1300 20" upgrade, I was pissed. I don't need 20's and I wish that the 3.55 LS was enough because it would make the mileage better. I don't tow all the time and the truck will do more basic driving than towing. But when I tow, besides pulling my boat, it's with extremely heavy loads (farm equipment). I'd sure like to hook onto something big with the 3.55 LS and see what it does to the truck. I'll probably end up with the 3.73 LS with the 18's though. Thanks for the heads up Smokey. And yeah, if anyone has any info on towing with these trucks with the 3.55 LS, let us know.
Lil_R
__________________
'08 F-350 Lariat CC LWB 6.4L PSD 4x4 Dark Torreador
'96 F-350 XLT CC LWB 7.3L PSD White/Gray
325,000+ miles
Anyone notice the 3.73 adds another $50 to the MSRP, too?
It should be more than that. The standard 3.55 is an open axle. The optional 3.73 is a limited slip, so you have to pay for the LS, and that's more than $50
It should be more than that. The standard 3.55 is an open axle. The optional 3.73 is a limited slip, so you have to pay for the LS, and that's more than $50
Well, what I meant was the 3.73 L/S was originally a $300 adder over the non-L/S. Now that the 3.55 is standard, they peg you $350 for the 3.73 L/S now. The 3.55 L/S is still $300 more over the non-L/S 3.55. Why can't they offer a locker like the 2009 F-150? Maybe it will be an option in 2009 on the SD.
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2010 Ford F-250 Superduty Harley Davidson. Navigation. Moon.
SmokeyWren: I'm not a big fan of the L/S either and would rather have a locker, all my other trucks had lockers. It's going to be a learning curve for me. Case in point, I picked my new F350 4X4 up at the dealer last friday in a bad snow storm and drove to work in 4x4, a mini van pulled out of a parking spot (Glare ICE), when i tried to back into the same parking spot, I just sat there and spun like a $50K+ beached whale with all my co-workers watching LOL. They said that I wasn't in 4x4 (but it should've been) and just the back wheels were spinning, Well to save face i told them that at over $5.00 a gallon for fuel i didn't want to waste it using 4x4 drive LOL. Later, when no one was watching I put the hubs in lock and later with all the co-workers watching I used the "OLD GO OR BLOW TECHNIC". Need less to say I was at the dealer's on Monday 5 minutes before they opened, the mechanic said that it shouldn't happen again LOL. Sorry for the story, but i had to get it out of my system and I'm still pumped with my new truck which is good at my age, i would think!! (I've been driving 4x4's off road for over 30 years and this put the OLD Bull, YOUNG Bull theory to test again).
I am buying a new '08 F250 6.4L PS. I have two options in the truck (both are Crew Cab Lariats) One is better equipped with a 3.55 rear end and the other less equipment with a 3.73 rear end. I am retired and I tow a 13,000 LB 5th wheel trailer when taking vacations. The salesman tells me that Ford started putting the 3.55 in standard in later build F250s and that it tows the same as the 3.73. Is this true? Which truck would be the smart choice between fuel economy and the ability to have piece of mind when towing my 5th wheel? Thanks for your assistance since I am new to big trucks. Rob H
Think simple. The torque of the 6.4 was increased to 650 from 570 with the 6.0. This is 14 % more. This compares to 5 % less with the 3.55 from the 3.73. Lesson learned: If you could tow the trailer with an old 6.0 a 355 is a no brainer.
All the discussion is a bit overstated in my view. You won't make any mistake with both of them.
On another note: I do not believe you can tow a 13k 5er with a SRW. From what I know you will need a DRW. Smokey will know better, though.
On another note: I do not believe you can tow a 13k 5er with a SRW. From what I know you will need a DRW.
A 13k 5er will have a hitch weight of over 2,200 pounds - probably 2,300 to 2,400.
F-250 CrewCab 4x4 longbed has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds and will probably weigh over 8,500 before you tie onto the trailer. Subtract 2,200 pounds of hitch weight and you'll have only 7,800 pounds left for the weight of the wet and loaded truck without being overloaded over the GVWR of the tow vehicle.
So if the max weight of the wet and loaded trailer is 13k, and provided you can leave stuff at home so the tow vehicle doesn't exceed 8,500 pounds, then you'll be at least 700 pounds overloaded with an F-250.
The 2009 F-350 SRW will be okay though, so you won't have to have a dually unless you want some wiggle room. 11,500 GVWR minus 2,400 hitch weight leaves 9,100 pounds for max wet and loaded truck weight. It's easy to load a CrewCab 4x4 PSD longbed so it will weigh more than 9,100, but it's do-able to keep it below 9,100 if you don't have a back seat full of NFL linebackers.
Rhiner: Here is my 2 cents (Can). I went through this a year ago and I got the F350 SRW, it cost around $800.00 more but it can handle a little more weight. I went on a CAT scale to get the facts. With just me and My wife in the truck, a full tank of fuel and the trailer packed for a week. My 5th was 11,360 lb and the pin weight was 2,740 Pounds, which is close to being over loaded for a F350. As far as the axle, the 3.73 has no problem and I would think neither would the 3.55 as JimJoe stated. I'll save you the $9.00 and post the scale weights below.
You will also notice that the steer weight didn't change, my hitch is 1 inch ahead of the rear axle as per factory specs, it's no problem, but don't like it. Also go to "Trailerlife.com" in the tow vehicle forum, there are people that have been there done it.
__________________ -2008 F-350 CC 4X4 Lariat, SRW, 3.73.
Any color, as long as it's "Black".
Ordered 12/31 - Born 02/11 - Picked up 03/29. -1972 First Ford - 1956 Fairlane - Mint
Rolled it at 100+mph (Teenager, Duh, no one hurt)
Totaled Oct/73 (Over 35 Years ago and still remember that lesson). -First New Ford - 79 Bronco - Ordered Mar/79
150K Miles - I disassembled 2000 and I sent it to three different scrap yards. -1982 - My Sister married a GM Sales Manager (He Retired 2007, "Hello" Ford Super Duty, enough said, LOL). -2003 - ZRX1200 (Some say "Mid Life", LOL). -2008 - Jayco 313RKS 5th (The kids won't move out of the house).
My 5th was 11,360 lb and the pin weight was 2,740 Pounds, ...
Most 5ers that gross 10,000 to 15,000 pounds have a pin weight of around 18 to 20 percent of gross trailer weight. However, 17 to 25 percent is not uncommon. Yours is over 24 percent. So the estimating math didn't work for your 5er because is has more hitch weight than the average big 5er.
Quote:
...which is close to being over loaded for a F350.
If your F-350 SRW 4x4 PSD has a long bed, then the GVWR is 11,500 pounds.
That's not "close to being overloaded". That's overloaded. Which is surprising for a trailer grossing only 11,360 pounds.
Did you perhaps have a full fresh water tank in front of the trailer axles? If you did, then you can reduce pin weight a coupla hundred pounds by hauling only enough fresh water to flush the pottie until you almost arrive at your destination.
Or if your trailer has the fresh water tank behind the trailer axles, then you can reduce pin weight by filling the tank before you hit the road.
I bought a 2008 F250 with 3.55 gears. I wasn't too sure about the gears for what I tow. I figured if it didn't tow good enough, I would just switch out the gears to 3.73. I hooked up my boat the other weekend to get it out of the storage yard to work the tires and axles. From my opinion, it seemed to tow better than my '06 F250 with 3.73 gears (I had a 6" lift with 35" tires = 3.45 gears) The boat and trailer weigh around 8500 lbs right now, and closer to 9500 with fuel and equipment. It pulled it up to 70mph quickly and smoothly. I could barely tell it was towing at all. I have not attempted any mountain passes yet, but I'm sure it will be fine.
__________________ -Kyle
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o 2011 F250 Crew Cab Lariat, Golden Bronze/Tan
o 2008 F250 Crew Cab Lariat
o 2006 F250 Crew Cab Lariat, Black/Tan, 6" Procomp Lift, 35" Procomp Xtreme AT, 18" Helo Maxx 8, 3.73 gears, 4" MPRB Turbo Back, AirRaid Intake, Edge Attitude/Monitor. **(STOLEN from my El Paso, TX driveway 14 OCT 2008)**
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