There has been a lot of good information on this board regarding the HDPP. I know there isn't a huge difference between the 3.55's and the 3.73's but just curious why ford requires the 3.73 for the HDPP?

I could be looking at the 2018 brochure wrong but the max tow non HDPP has a higher GCWR and a higher max trailer capacity with the 3.55's. Can someone help me understand what I am missing?

 

Nobody understands the mind of Ford but Ford itself

You are reading the brochure correctly, the HDPP has a 17,000 (XL) and 17,100 (XLT & Lariat) GCVWR. This is less than the Max tow with 20" wheels which is 18,400 if memory serves correctly. There is absolutely no logical reason for this except that I believe Ford tries to restrict the number of HDPPs sold for some reason. And if I had to guess what that reason is, it's CAFE regulations.

Here's the thing, if the difference between ~11,500 and ~13,200 max towing is important to you, you better make sure that max tow has enough payload and RAWR to handle what you have planned. Most hit some other limit before getting close to that 13K number. I'd even go so far as to say that in most real world scenarios, an HDPP can legally tow more than a Max Tow. GVWR is 800 pounds more on the HDPP and rear axle rating is 750 pounds more than a 2018 Max tow.

The other thing that may come into play is maybe the 20" wheels with lower profile tires have less lateral movement with a trailer than the LT tires on 18" wheels. But chances are that Ford simply has never tested the HDPP at a higher tow rating than the carryover 2017 rating and that's why it's not as high - and that may be intentional.

 

HDPP is for increasing GVWR of the truck, Max Tow is for increasing GCWR of the combo.

 

And as to why 3.73s on the HDPP. My guess is Longevity. The HDPP is geared more towards contractors who haul / tow frequently and often in stop and go environments. So an HDPP may on average need to get a big load moving more often and this is a little be easier with the 3.73 than the 3.55.

 

I would agree with the last post. The max tow is for the recreational rv tower who tows a few times a year. The HDPP trucks mostly are the XL , XLTS and a few Lariats. So mostly work trucks who use the them harder on a daily basis.
That being said, I love my 2013 xlt crew HDPP.

 

I wouldn't want anything else. If 4.10 was available I'd want that, assuming I had an HDPP and was using it for heavy towing. It relieves stress on the drivetrain and gets the gears down where you can use them all.

 

That's a nice package. One of the unicorns.

 

Because 3.73 gears on a 5.0 put the engine in it's sweet spot for payload/towing, and for the EB, you will see that the gears are now 3.55, which puts the EB in it's sweet spot. To get HDPP with EB requires Max Tow which includes 3.55 gears.

Keep in mind where the two engines produce their power bands. On an EB with 3.73 or shorter gears, it will run out of steam long before it is going an optimal speed, while the 5.0 will be hauling *** at the same RPM. Put 4.10 on an EB and it will be screaming going 45 MPH, and the 5.0 will be laughing its *** off as it breezes past.

 

There’s a reason for the two different option packages and gearing differences, it’s called “Best in Class” marketing.

The HDPP is made to grab the “best in class” payload crown. It gets lower gearing, a heavier frame and a higher GVWR and overall 200 lbs more weight then a Max tow. It’s primarily for increasing payload of the vehicle itself for slide in camper use, contractors carrying workers, tools and materials ect. Ford doesn’t want to produce too many of these since the fuel economy is obviously going to be lower. They have a lower yet more realistic TWR than Max tow but still too high for some trailer types.

The Max Tow option is of course marketed to win the “best in class” towing. This is a popular option that’s easier to find, it has higher gearing and lighter weight which makes the MPG counters happy. They add just enough equipment to get through the SAE towing deception test with the big bloated numbers. As someone else here mentioned, they probably run it sitting on the bump stops to keep it stable. Ford knows the HDPP truck tows better but they want you to buy a Max tow, it’s has “best in class” towing!

 

This isn't quite factual. The 2018 HDPP gets the 3.73 gears with the 3.5 EB even though it also has the Max tow package. I know, because I own one.