CamFord2018

I will soon be buying a 2018 f150 xlt and I am undecided on what gear is necessary for me. I will be running 305x55R20 Nitto ridge grapplers which translates to 33.2" tall and 12.44" wide. My only hauling will be on weekends when I go hunting or fishing which only involves a 4wheeler on a 5 by 8 trailer and the boat would be an 18 foot fiberglass. Other than that I won't haul much of anything else. Considering tire size and workload what would you guys recommend? Im leaning toward getting the 5.0L v8 because im old school. haven't ruled out the 3.5L v6 yet though.

Also, I have noticed that it is very hard to find a truck with 3.73 on a lot in Mississippi, tons of 3.55.. not sure why. Anyone know why that is?

Ryan_2020

A) Depends on engine.
B) Considering your use, probably doesn't actually matter lol
C) 3.73's are pretty restricted on what they come on without specifically adding it. Not nearly as needed with the 10-speed as it used to be with the 6-speed.
c.1) 2.7 Eco with payload package
c.2) 3.5 Eco with HDPP
c.3) 5.0 with HDPP
Or else it has to be added as an option.

JCR 56

3:73's any day of the week, and I don't care what transmission it has. You won't regret it.

marshallr

Government CAFE standards. The average fuel mileage of every vehicle Ford sells has to be at a certain point. As an individual the 3.73's MIGHT cost you 1 mpg. In the real world it will be a fraction of 1 mpg and there isn't any real downside to going with the 3.73's. But according to the EPA sticker on the truck it could be as much as 2 mpg. And for every truck Ford sells with 3.73 gears, they have to sell a bunch with 3.55's, 3.31's, and 3.15's in order to reach that goal. They simply don't build many for that reason.

That said, with the power of today's engines and the 10 speed transmissions the 3.55's work pretty well. I have no real complaints with that combo in my 2014 even with the older, less powerful engine and 6 speed transmission. Unless you really need the extra 1000-1500 lbs of towing capacity the 3.73's offer I think 3.55's will be enough. But if given the option I'd have still preferred 3.73's. I just never found a truck I wanted that had anything other than 3.55's.

If you go with the 3.5 you'll find most have 3.31 gears, and they seem to work even with some pretty heavy loads.

PerryB

X2.

BareBonesXL

If you want to be rigorous, you could do the math using your transmission's gear ratios, with tire size, and see RPM at MPH, and with the 1st gear ratio, which is where your pulling power comes from. There are free calculators all over the internet. Without the math the numbers don't mean much. What diff ratio other people use and like only really matters if they have your same setup. It's just the way it is.

SteveLord

3.73 easy if you find one with the color and other options you want.

moparado

Nothing below 3:55's but if i had to do it over again, it would be 3:73's for a little more pep out of the gate with my 5.0
.

RiffRaff00

I have a 2011 FX4 Scab
5.0L.
3.73 gears
I averaged 14.9 MPG mixed driving, light towing
Added 35x12.5x17 BFG KO2'S
Averege 13.7 MPG mixed driving, light towing
Hope that helps

whoch

Recently purchased my '18. Has the 3.73 gears. No complaints. I would get those again.