Cord

Personally, I'm a deep gear guy. 3.73's are the shallowest I'd ever go. If there was a way I could have gotten the 4.10's, I would have (no max tow). But I'm also frequently towing 10,000lbs. For your weights, you can get by with the 3.55's. For pulling the 'stang, I'd go 3.73 for a little better snap off the line.

You'll love the boosted engine for 6th gear passing on the freeway. Once I get over 8,000lb I still find 6th gear to be lugging a bit. Manually shift down to 5 and the boost goes down by several pounds.

Oh, and buy an extended warranty!

BlueFlameMetallicFX4

I think you'd be fine with either 3:55s or 3:73s...I personally liked how the 3:73s felt with the ratio of the transmission gears. The trans felt smooth (matched) throughout the power band and gears...I now own a 5.0 with 3:55s, it feels ok and tows ok, but nothing like the Eco with 3:73s.

apochromat

2014 S-crew 4x4 FX4 with 3.73 gears, lightly loaded. The trip was from Houston to Dallas, much of it at 77-78 on the Interstate. 70-72 the rest of the time.

Tystevens

My truck has 3.55 gears and I don't wish I had gone lower (numerically higher). Tows my 6500# travel trailer like a champ. The towing mirrors on the max tow package would be nice, though.

06H0040

Thanks for all the input guys. I have not been on here in a day or two. The difference between 3.55's and 3.73's is so miniscule, I think I would go with the 3.73's. I have been talking to a few dealers the last day or two and both of the trucks they have in stock on the lot are equipped with 3.73's. What I have it narrowed down to so far is a 14 XLT 302A package supercrew 4x4 in oxford white with leather and HID upgrades. With my Grandpas plan and all the rebates minus trade, I would be financing almost $23,000. I love my 04 Super crew but it's not getting any younger and figured maybe while I can still get something out of it I would. On the flip side I am not looking forward to between a $400-$500 payment. I paid $14,500 for my 04 with 62K on it. The best offer I had on it so far was $11,500 for trade ( I don't know if that is including the $1,500 retail trade help that ford is putting out there or not)
$2500 of the total $5500 are set to expire on September 2nd so it looks like its time to **** or get off the pot. Now to go sell the wife on it.

cecoboost

what's the sticker on the truck and how much are they selling it to you for. Our local dealers advertise up to 14k off xlt's regularly but it seems like at least 10k is standard. I got 10k off the sticker of my fx4 and there were better deals on the xlt's.

cecoboost

and for the record I have a 13 screw fx4 w/3.73's 20" rims and just took a trip from Louisiana to Colorado (2500 miles round trip) and averaged 16.5 according to trip computer. I had 3 people and 3 bicycles and very rarely broke the speed limit. I checked one tank by hand and it was slightly lower than the trip computer so it was probably closer to 16.2 mpg average

06H0040

I have not even set foot on the dealers lot as of yet. If I remember right he said it stickered for somewhere between $42 & $44. Talking to the wife soon as my daughter just went to bed. They have a late night Thursday so maybe we will head up. We have bought other vehicles from this dealership in the past and they are pretty straight up. Everything has been done over email and phone since they are 45 minutes away. It works for me cause the old 5.4 likes its fuel so not having to drive all over gods creation to get a trade value is all right. When we are there in person and they drive it we can haggle over actual price. They were the highest offer over email pics. Even higher than the first dealer that actually saw it in person and drove it

Stu Cazzo

I have a 2013 FX4 with ecoboost. If I had read all the negative eco threads before I bought it I would have probably gotten the 5.0

That said, I love my ecoboost and I am extremely happy with it. I get good mileage highway and towing. My truck has all options except the max tow, I didn't think I needed it as it only adds an extra 1K pounds or so towability.
I also tow a couple of boats around with the heaviest around 4600lbs. I have the 3:55 gears which I find to be a very happy medium.

When towing, keep it at 60 and you will usually get really good mileage.

I also insist on staying with P rated tires...for the ride and mpg.

Good luck.

06H0040

I have read quite a lot of the negative threads. It does make me somewhat Leary. On the flip side though when ever I have approached a ecoboost driver/owner at a gas station or parking lot to inquire about their experience I always hear great reviews from them. Rarely ever hear anything negative. I spoke to a guy up north this weekend. He pulled up to the pump next to me while I was feeding the old 5.4. He complimented me on my truck and said he used to have one similar. I asked him how he liked his boost and his response was it makes his old 5.4 screw look stupid. I laughed and agreed. We both agreed that the 04-08 were better looking rigs (in our opinion) but he wouldn't go back. As far as towing at 60mph where we go you would get blown off the road. I am that A-hole in the hammer lane dragging a boat to the lake at 80mph. I don't have the patience to run 60 on the highway. I would love to take a dealers truck for the weekend to see how it would do and what the fuel economy would be hauling my boat to where we go driving the way I drive. That would seal the deal or put a nail in the coffin.