Hey guys, I'm looking at new F150's and really want the golden bronze metallic with pale adobe interior, but its hard to find around here with the offroad package. My question is how nice is the locking rear axle? Would I really miss it? I don't do a lot of offroading, but do some snow and some mud. never got my 2001 f150 stuck, but really wanted this feature with the offroad package on my new truck. What difference am I going to see between the 3.55 and the 3.73 as far as towing and gas mileage?

 

I was doing some trails last night in my truck when it was pitch black out. open differential in the rear + sand + reverse = no torque whatsoever. I ended up making my own trail as it was easier to do that than it was for me to back over some ruts without getting hung up.

I have 3.55s, Towing isn't terrible, but I wouldn't keep my 3.55s if I towed more than twice a year. I would suggest the 3.73s, locker if you can, and some decent tread. Even trails were pretty rough with the stock pirellis.

 

I tow a ton, but its not a lot of weight. Usually 2-3 days a week. Its an 18ft fiberglass bass boat, but I intend to get a bigger boat sometime. Still looking at under 3500lbs for anything I tow though.

 

When I tow, I am pulling vehicles for mudding, so they are pretty big things.

 

There is no VS...


3.73 w/ locker or LS hands down.

Wait for it if you have too.

 

Do u plan on leveling and putting 33s on? If u plan on going bigger, I would definitely go with 3.73. I have 3.55 and 285/70/17(32.8) and wish I had the 3.73s, especially when towing. Even if u stay with stock size tires I would go with the 3.73. Unless u do a ton of highway driving, would be the only benefit of the 3.55s.

 

I prefer a LS over an open (for sure) and a locker for street driving. With a locker, it might be a little better for going straight in the snow, and is certainly better in specific off-road conditions, such as one wheel off the ground, but it is not a good in the rain or when driving on curvy roads in the snow. I say this because with a locker, you will have an open, unlocked, differential with normal driving in the rain. Pickup trucks in general like to spin their tires in the rain, even with moderate acceleration. A LS rear helps significantly with this, where an open rear on an unlocked locker don't.

 

If you are towing less than 3500# and you are going to keep stock size tires, a 3.55 LS would be the best of both worlds. The 6 speed auto has a 1st gear that's plenty low enough to get you moving.

 

well I picked it up yesterday. They found a dark blue one with everything I wanted. Including the offroad package with the 3.73 locking rear axle and I can't be happier. I got the 5.0L in it and when I picked it up after it was driven 3.5hrs here it was averaging 19.6MPG. With some in town driving it has dropped, but still around 18.6 So I'm very happy with it.

 

Nice truck

Glad your happy with it.