I have a 03 F150 Ext Cab, 4.2 w/5 speed, stock tires, 3:55 gears, and tow a bass boat pretty much every weekend. Trucks stuggles pulling up boat ramp and on steep ones I really have to put the gas and clutch to it to get it going.

Thinking about doing a swap to something better. Really like the truck, and it will be paid for in 3 months. I have read allot of posts on 3:73 and 4:10 and would like some input from you guys on which you think would be better. I don't want to fork out 600 bucks and not be happy with the gears.

Thanks

 

4.10 gears. Or do a V-8 swap. I've got the 4.6 and 3.55 gears, and I want 4.10s.

 

what size tires are you running?? Of course the lower you go it will be better for pulling up a ramp but I'm afraid 4.10's might be going too low for highway driving and would probably kill your gas mileage, that is unless you have oversized tires then it may be needed. I'd probably go with 3.73's if you are running stock sized tires. I'm in the same boat (pardon the pun), I have a '05 4.2 auto with 3.55's and I pull my bass boat all the time. With my auto I dont really have a problem at the ramps, mines more out on the highway where I would like to have a little lower gearing. But my problems stem from me going up in tire size, when I first got my truck it had 255/65?/17's and pulled the boat great, but I've since put FX4 18" wheels with 275/65/18's on it and it has changed my gearing up and kind of screwed with my shift points. So I am thinking about getting 3.73's to try and get it back to the way it was. I feel like no matter what gearing you go with in a 2wd V-6 with a stick its going to be tough pulling up ramps. Just not enough torque down in the low RPM's that are used when taking off, unless you slip the clutch a lot. If it was a 4wd you could just lock it down in low and let the clutch out and she would climb right on up the ramp. I've had 5spd trucks before, and I know what its like to set in the boat and smell your clutch or tires burning when your partner is trying to pull you up the ramp.. its not fun.

 

I'm running 255/75/R16's and I think that might be some of the problem, as when I bought the truck I was told it had oversize tires on it. So my gearing may actually be worse than 3.55. I contacted a few people that said the same thing in the 4.10's and think I need to go with 3.73's. 90% of the ramps are no problem, but the 10% are the ones that worry me out in the middle of nowhere, with nobody around. Steep, Wet, Slick, etc. Just debating on spending the money for the gear change, that way the truck will continue to serve my needs. to Haul Boat, ATV, Deer Stands, etc.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I'm from the shorter gears = better camp...

The difference from 3.55 to 3.73 won't even be noticeable. IMHO save your money. It's only like a 5% increase in torque multiplication.

A lot of guys run 4.10s on facotry-size tires and are happy. I don't think you'll a post where someone wasn't happy with this setup, nor has anyone reported decreased mileage or excessive rpm.

Here are some pics of my speedo & tach at speed:
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=263323
...285/60R18 tires, slightly taller than stock. Several guys with stock-size tires and 4.10s posted here as well.

I do have a V8, as do most posts that I've read, but things are similar for the V6. Let us know what you do.

 

I have the same thing as you but a short cab. It came with 255/70-16's from the factory with the 3500# towing package. Yours are just a tad taller.

I just ran the data through a calculator (http://www.csgnetwork.com/tireinfo4calc.html) and yours are the same width as stock but 3.34% greater in circumference. This gives you the *equivalent* gearing of 3.435.

EDIT: What do you guys think about a chip with a towing profile? Would this give him more low end grunt to compensate? I think a chip would be cheaper than a new axle.

 

I had thought about a Chip, but really don't know much about them but have read some good things here. I don't mind paying for the gears if it really helps with the towing, as I don't want to buy a new truck and deal with payments again. It will be paid for in about 4 months, so that means more fishing trips with me and my 7 year old son. I get fairly decent mpg towing on the hwy even with the AC on. Last I calculated was around 14.7 mpg towing at 70 MPH during the during the summer with AC.

 

Not bad mileage at all - at 70 mph on the highway NOT towing and with the A/C off I get about 19 to 20 on E10 87 octane fuel. It's stock except for a K&N dropin and a VForce muffler.

 

If it were me I would spend the money on gears before I bought a chip or tuner. If you've got a buddy that has the correct tools and knows how to setup gears you can actually get them and put them in pretty cheap, quite a bit cheaper then you can buy a tuner. My neighbor has the tools and know how and has already told me he would set mine up. I may be wrong about the 4.10's, if you dont run too many R's and your mileage isnt cut way down then they would be better.