3.55 or 3.73 for the new 5.0?
I have a 5.4L with 3.73LS and run right around 2000 RPM at 70 MPH with stock tires (265/70R17). I try to avoid driving in town and on the freeway. My gas milage seems to be best around 1500 to 1750 RPM. I plan on taller tires in the distant future. I love the tranny/gear combo though; it's better then anything I've had in the past.
Regarding what Gene listed, this is true, so acceleration will be great. However, maintaining top speed in overdrive becomes a problem like above, not enough power. Not that there is much difference between 3.55 and 3.73, but 3.08 might be too much to hold 6th gear in a 4WD Screw on anything but Kansas flat roads.
APT, while you make a good point about larger/heavier tires, my experience hasn't been bad in the past. 2004 Explorer...stock was P235/70R16 and I upgraded to LT265/75R16 (9% larger tires and heavier by who knows how much) and I only lost 2% MPG (.357 MPG) with all milage corrected for tire size (I think is was less then that, but I don't have more recent data with me currently). That was with a 4.0L V6 and 3.55. As I said..."in the distant future"...just trying to share past experience as I track MPG and how everything I do/change effects it.
I concur with all said here. Go 3.73. I'll also say that if you are going with the actory 20's, you'd better get the lowest (3.73) gear ratio available. I can give you several examples where the simple tire size screwed up my towing or accelleration. I ordered 20's on a 2008 King Ranch. The heavy Michelin LT/AT2's made the truck a dog off the line, and moving a 4,500 pound trailer a slower process as well. Now, my 2010 (although it has a lower 1st gear than the 2008) has 18" wheels and easily pulls the trailer, but still downshifts a bit. Even my Dad's identically-equipped 250's to mine in the past (mine with 20's, his with 18's) were always noticeably quicker off the line.


