I have an 05, and it always seems like I could use an extra half gear on rolling hills. So I was wonder who out there has had the 04-08 and then got a +2009. I suspect that new tranny must help quite a bit. Does it?

 

6-th gear ratio is about the same as the old 4th. That leaves 5 gear ratios that replace the old 3. New first gear is about 2/3 of the old first, leading to much quicker starts, especially under load. Since the gear spacing is better, the torque drop off when the trans upshifts is not as bad.

About the only problem some people are reporting on 09/10 is the transmission hunting and inability to control the gear except for 3rd and lower. The 2011s will have manual gear selection for the 6-spd.

 

I can only hope it comes with a third pedal on the floor.

 

I'm with ya there, but I don't see that happening. I do hear rumors that the 2012's may have a manual tranny available with a V-6.

 

I don't have the ratios for the 08, but here's the 09-10:

1st: 4.17:1
2nd: 2.34:1
3rd: 1.52:1
4th: 1.14:1
5th: .86:1
6th: .69:1

 

No manual tranny coming for the more powerful motors in 2011, just manual control over the current 6-spd auto.

4R70W/4R75W Ratios:
1st 2.84 :1
2nd: 1.55 :1
3rd: 1.00 :1
4th: 0.70 :1

Rev: 2.23 :1

 

I haven't done alot of interstate driving while towing yet, but mine hunts for gears alot more than I care for. Design or not, I'm not that impressed with it. I'd take the old 4-speed with overdrive for towing so far. Power is less than stellar, and I find many times I am burying the go pedal with no great results. Maybe I'll change my mind by the end of the summer, but after weighing my setup and being at the gross vehicle ratings (and sometimes at/over the gross rear axle rating) with nothing in the bed, I'm probably done with this 1/2 ton world once and for all next time.

 

I'm impressed by the trans in the '09....My only request is that the cruise control had some logic built in when in tow haul mode. Without the cruise control it tows very well, mine rarely if ever hunts for a gear except to downshift on an incline.

 

IMHO you shouldn't use CC when towing unless you're on flat terrain with little or no wind and no traffic.

 

Agreed!

 

That sounds kinda crappy. I was hoping for a happy ending. I'm waiting for some 09/10 used ones to come up. I'm done with paying new prices.

What about the custom tuners? Are they able to correct the problem?

 

I have had a 2010 SC 4x4 XLT with 3.55 and 5.4 for 3 months. Before that I had a '97 F250 with 4.11, 460, and 4-speed transmission. I tow a 27' travel trailer, about 6,500 lbs loaded.

The 2010 tows easily as well as the F250. With the 3.55, 5th gear is the same as 4th was in the F250, and the 5.4 tows the trailer without a problem in that gear on the level and slight inclines. I have had no problem with gear hunting, and I've been over a variety of terrain from level to 6-8% grades. In fact, the 6-speed tends to hold a gear so well that when you start going up a hill that's too steep for the gear you're in you'll tend to lose speed unless you nearly floor it to make it downshift.

In general this truck tows as well as my F250 did and the 5.4 pulls about as hard at the same rpm as the 460 did.