i would say as long as you dont tow more than 5 to 6,000 pounds 3:31 gears are just fine.

 

You still having the problem? My truck does the same thing. I'm told that programming it would tighten it up. Any information on this from anyone?

 

1: sounds "normal" for a 6 speed trans
2: none
3: poor performance, poor mileage, poor towing, poor choice for a full sized truck, etc etc etc
4: a re-gear and custom tune

 

2. Good gas mileage with an unloaded truck driving it conservatively.

 

3.08 was the default gear ratio prior to like 2003. When the "new" trucks were introduced in 1997, there were only 2 gear ratios available, 3.08 and 3.31 or 3.23

Believe it or not, somehow we got by with sub 200 hp engines for decades, and gear ratios higher than 3.55, and 3 speed auto's or 4 speed manual...

 

with minimal tow ratings and fuel mileage

 

Fuel mileage aside, they did the same amount of work, towed and hauled the same amount of stuff...

I think most people on here think their F150's are sports cars. They certainly treat them as such.

For every 1 F150 XL I see actually doing work/hauling stuff, I see 6-10 with overweight white dudes wearing a polo shirt driving to/from work or the bar

 

1996 F250 tow rating with 4.10s is about 12000lbs. The new 2011s are twice that just so you know. They don't do nearly the same work.

 

They do the same work, just now, they are doing it legally according to the DOT...

Besides, back then the F250's and F350's werent the same vehicle like they are now. The only difference between a 250 and 350 is the GVWR rating. That is fact. It wasnt like that prior to 1998.

 

my 08 V6 with 3.55 gears with a 5spd is rated for 5000Lbs.... a V8 with a 6speed and a 3.31 cant be that bad...i think they can do more than 6,000Lbs. just go by whats in your owners manual or build sheet/window sticker.

drive conservatively...? whats that mean jk LOL

yup it was 3.08 and 3.31 and yeah my 78 f150 was a 4spd manual but no clue what the rearend was on it but i know it was a logging truck in OK and 1st gear topped at about 3mph and 2nd topped at about 15mph, 3rd was 35 and 4th was about 90....yeah thats a long gear....

i would say same amount of stuff but either way you buy a vehicle for your needs. if you needed something more than what an old f250 could do, then you got a f350. but currently the f250 can handle it so you buy an f250. you still got what could handle what you wanted it for either way.

 

I'll leave that one alone

 

What, you dont think they have the same leaf pack, the same axles, and the same everything else? Clearly the only difference is a 2 and a 3. I put another 0 on the end of my 150, now its a 1500, and you should see the stuff I can pull. Its the size of a 150, but can do the work of 2 750s.

 

That's because it's true and you cant refute it. It's a well documented fact.

Same Chassis
Same Spring/Shock package
Same rear axle/diff package

It's the same truck with a higher GVWR rating

 

That is backwards from a few years ago--my truck has a 3.55 open diff and my Dad's '07 XLT has a 3.73 limited-slip rearend.

I'm afraid the XLT is slipping further down the chain, as far as features go. I looked at an '11 XLT SuperCab last weekend for $19,988 (stickered at $31K) and even the salesman asked if I really wanted to step down from my '08 STX. I've added everything except carpet floors (nope), the 3.73 LS (someday, or 4.10s) and a sliding rear glass (don't think so) to make mine comparable to an '08 XLT.

I tested my MPG yesterday and driving 5 MPH slower on a trip I make every week (around 70 miles one way), my truck averaged 19-20 MPGs. Barely came off of full. Usually running 65, I burn a quarter tank going, and coming back home.

So to get back on topic, the 3.55 gears aren't so bad--but a 3.31 in a modern truck that is used for towing often? Yuck.

 

very true for my area