I have a Stock 94 F150 Extended Cab, 5.0, Automatic, 4X4, long tube Hooker Headers, 2 1/4 dual exhaust, 3.55 open, 31 1050 x 15. Here's what I need if anyone is sure, unfortunately guesses or might won't help at this point. I tow a 25' fifth wheel (4350 lbs), I am getting ready to put in 4.10's with the idea of getting a better low end. Flat land I can do 75 towing, but when it hits the hills its down to 2nd gear in no time. Does anyone have a answer, so long as I can do 65MPH I'm good. By all calculations 65 MPH with 4.10s, I'll be taching 2089 RPM's which I feel that is within range.

 

4.10s would make it much easier towing. They'll let the 5.0 rev quicker to make its power

 

From personal experience 4.10 will tow great but limits top speed when doing it. 65 mph will be closer to 3000 rpm's give or take a bit, but I lock out overdrive when towing.

 

Thank you, tat is the answer I was looking for. I am assuming that you have a 5.0 with Over drive

 

I can't give you any tach numbers, but according to the Ford printout, trucks with 4:10 gears have a GCVW that's 1000 lbs higher than with 3:55's, which is just a good thing to know if you're towing heavy things.

 

I recently changed the gears from 4.10 back to 3.31. I had the 4.10's in for sport not towing. For general non towing highway driving they don't perform well. Say I have the cruise set at 80, the speed needs to drop to about 68 before it downshifts automatically. So to hold closer to 80 I need to downshift manually when speed starts dropping, but rpm's are 4000 plus.

3.73 would be the optimal gear to use but when moving from 3.55 that's a pretty steep price tag for that small move. Installing a decent RV cam, an air intake and rebuilding the heads so they are nice and crisp/tight would be my route in your situation. If you could gear swap for reasonable money I'd add some 3.73's from Ford Racing. They would most likely swap using the same shims/spacers as what is currently in the axles.

 

Thanks for your experience, but did you do any towing in the hills

 

Yes my dad has used it to tow his 24 ft travel trailer. Said it held speed fine up grades, he usually only tows at 65 but dropped down to 60 or below. He felt the higher rpm's were using too much fuel.

Aside from the 302 I just put together a 95 F250 351 with 3.55 gears for my son in law. If you used this truck once with the 351 you wouldn't waste another minute trying to setup a 302 to tow. It's just a complete night and day difference.