Boulevard

Sorry bud. Max Tow means different bumper, brake controller and tow mirrors. Basically its more money for something that should already be in the truck. The truly sick part is that if you really want to safely and effectively use the Max Tow package than you have to order the Heavy Duty Payload package which gives you the upgraded suspension and the bigger differential.....more upselling. I really like my FORD but I have to say that the upselling at FO-MO-CO shows me just how much contempt FORD has for its customers.

missionman

i thought max tow was EB only?

there is no reason for that big a difference in GCWR between the 3.73 and 3.55 5.0

BRUTE448

i got 373 for the 33" tires i plan on getting becuz it will numerically reduce my gearing to 355 yet ill still be able to pull 6000 in comfort

rahtreelimbs

I live in Pittsburgh also. I just sold an '01 1500 Silverado extend cab 8 Ft. bed with the 5.3 motor, tow package with 3.73 gears. According to my manual the max tow was 7800 lbs.

I did my share of towing and while the Chevy did OK it was nothing to write home about. If I was towing 6000 lb. or better with Pittsburgh hills it would not have been pleasant.

The low end power of the 5.3 sucked.........only when you revved it over 3500 would the power come on!

I have yet to tow with my '08 F-150.

nihilus

Hello there! I'm guessing you had to be removed from the Chevrolet forums because you were just too awesome, but that is ok. We will be your friends.
Yeah it seems you planned it well. I chose 3.55 gears thinking I would take advantage of the good gas mileage with stock tires, then burn those up and replace with new tires and 4.10 gears and bigger tires after the first tires wore out. I figured 3.55 to 4.10 will be a nicer boost, but with the lockout ability, I am thinking 3.55 gears will be just fine up to 35" tires. Either way, 3.73 is only 5% bigger than 3.55 - that is nothing really, especially with a 6-speed.

Wannafbody

The Eco is pushing 100 ft lbs more torque down lower in the rpm range so it's way faster than the 5.3. Otherwise, the trucks are more similar than dissimilar.

nihilus

BRUTE448

ya id love to have gotten stock 410's but ford didnt put that in the cards. r u sayin ud be content w/ 35" tires an 355's? also are you goimg to tune?

BIG Laing

Go with the 3.15's, slap some dodge flip up mirrors on it and call it a day. You will be good for 15k.

acadianbob

Incorrect. It also includes a heavier radiator, heavier duty suspension bushings, a slight different rear axle, heavier rear leaf springs. It is not a different bumper, it is a different receiver with totally different design and mounting. GVW goes up 500 lbs but it only adds about 350 lbs to the payload; so there is something there.

But this is off topic and has been gone over a million times.

3.55 vs 3.73 is a 5% difference. Therefore 5% more leverage and 5% higher rpm for a given road speed. If you don't tow a lot or don't tow heavy, you can just use 5th gear to compensate. But I'd go 3.73 if you tow heavy.