Pls help. Can't decide which gears are for me.
06-28-2015, 02:45 PM
#11
However since you're worried about rpms while empty, then 4.11 would work if you are ok with locking out 6th while towing. How worried are you about another couple hundred rpms?
06-29-2015, 11:36 PM
#12
I have already went with a tuner. I currently use the Livernois tuner and only use the 93 octane maps for tow or performance. I've thought really hard and know the 4.56 would be great, but how bad is that going to hurt empty mileage when I'm cruising interstates at 2500 rpms? But yes, 6th is completely useless and if you don't put the gear select in manual it tends to keep it in 4th almost all the time so 5th isn't much.
06-30-2015, 08:52 AM
#13
Senior Member
I have 3.73 gears and it pulls my 4000+ pound boat and trailer no problem but the boat is way more aerodynamic then your trailer. Going to 4.11 you'd be going up two gear sizes and I think that would give you a good compromise between towing better and running the truck when you're not towing.
06-30-2015, 03:07 PM
#14
I know the feeling of loving the ecoboost but you may want to consider jumping to a diesel. This is just what they do.
I was in the opposite boat. Tow less than 1/4 of the time 6-7000# and went from the diesel to the ecoboost and never turned back. I loved the diesel while towing but day to day my cummins just ran too rough. The ecoboost is great for the weekend warrior but it wouldn't be my first choice for what you're doing.
And diesels being heavier just make such a nice and sure footed highway vehicle.
I was in the opposite boat. Tow less than 1/4 of the time 6-7000# and went from the diesel to the ecoboost and never turned back. I loved the diesel while towing but day to day my cummins just ran too rough. The ecoboost is great for the weekend warrior but it wouldn't be my first choice for what you're doing.
And diesels being heavier just make such a nice and sure footed highway vehicle.
06-30-2015, 08:23 PM
#15
Opinionated Blowhard
I know the feeling of loving the ecoboost but you may want to consider jumping to a diesel. This is just what they do. I was in the opposite boat. Tow less than 1/4 of the time 6-7000# and went from the diesel to the ecoboost and never turned back. I loved the diesel while towing but day to day my cummins just ran too rough. The ecoboost is great for the weekend warrior but it wouldn't be my first choice for what you're doing. And diesels being heavier just make such a nice and sure footed highway vehicle.
07-02-2015, 11:03 AM
#16
Senior Member
While getting bigger tires certainly doesn't help, I'm a bit surprised to hear of the OP's troubles.
We tow a 6500 lb travel trailer, and our '11 Ecoboost (3.55 gears) tows in 6th gear, 70 mph all day long, even in Utah mountains and elevation. I'm often surprised at how well it can hold 6th, even in moderate hills and lots of wind and stuff.
That said, towing as much as the OP does, I'd go diesel 3/4 ton as well.
We tow a 6500 lb travel trailer, and our '11 Ecoboost (3.55 gears) tows in 6th gear, 70 mph all day long, even in Utah mountains and elevation. I'm often surprised at how well it can hold 6th, even in moderate hills and lots of wind and stuff.
That said, towing as much as the OP does, I'd go diesel 3/4 ton as well.
07-02-2015, 01:51 PM
#17
Hey guys I've done a lot of research here lately and the more I dig the further undecided I become. Hoping someone here has some real world experience with what I will be doing. I'm looking to do a gear change. I'm trying to decide between 4.11 and 4.56 gears. Heres the background: I have a 13 Kingranch. I've owned it for 2 years now and have 80k miles on it. So as you see I drive it A LOT. On top of that at least 40k of those miles have been towing. I race ATVs nationally and I'm usually pulling 1000 mile round trips every other weekend through 3/4 of the year. Bought a new trailer at the beginning of the year as we needed some more room and this thing is a parachute! It's an 8.5 wide x 16 long HD built with 7 ft ceiling. Needless to say this pulls way harder than my old 6x12 enclosed. I'm usually hauling 4 quads, tools, gear, etc. Usually turns out to be about 5000-6000 lb trailer and all and a little more on a few occasions. Biggest factor is wind resistance more than weight though. Tire wise I've upgraded from stock 275/55/r20 to nitto exo grapplers 275/65/r20. Their website calls it a 34in. tire but real world mine measures 33.25 at the pressure I run. I currently have 3.55 gears and and this new trailer really sucked the life out of it. Obviously 6th is not useable, but only on flat ground can I use 5th and at the first sight of incline I've got to drop to 4th. I'm not concerned too much with mpg loaded as I'm always in a hurry I don't expect great mileage anyway. But I would like to get a little back empty. I run interstate between 70 and 80mph empty or towing. With my towing frequency and higher interstate speeds everything seems to point to wanting the 4.56, but when I am unloaded I'm still doing a lot of hwy driving and concerned that cruising 80 empty turning 2500 rpms (what I calculated) might be too much. Would the 4.11s be enough?
Honestly after reconsidering my driving history I probably needed a F250 instead, but I just love my little ecoboost too much! Any real world info to share?
Honestly after reconsidering my driving history I probably needed a F250 instead, but I just love my little ecoboost too much! Any real world info to share?
Just a few ideas, based on what I read. First, slow down a bit while towing. I know you may be in a hurry, but it kills your mileage and it can be very dangerous should you have a blow out or need to stop fast. Second, no way in he!! would I run 4.56 gears in a F150. Third, based on your description...you my son are a candidate for a 3/4 ton diesel. Save your money on the gear swap and move up to a Super Duty.
Good Luck.
