This one is wide open 4:10

[dansdad]

What does anyone think the difference between 3:73 and 4:10 in gas mileage would be. Just driving around and pulling a 7000# loaded trailer? Thanks Dave Oh yeah engine is a 5.4 Ford 150

[HowieE]

I don't think it is the gas mileage you should be considering. That is a small engine for that load and if you are in the hill it will need all the help it can get.

Go for the 4.10

If you want the best of both worlds add a Gear Vendors, set as an OD to bring you back to 3.73 while not towing. Or the GV set as an underdrive if you start out with the 3.73.

It is really nice to have 8 speed forward when towing.

When I was towing with a 700r4 trans that did not like to tow in OD and a 3.73. I installed the GV as an OD and only used 1,2,2 over 3rd, and 3rd over

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by dansdad

What does anyone think the difference between 3:73 and 4:10 in gas mileage would be. Just driving around and pulling a 7000# loaded trailer? Thanks Dave Oh yeah engine is a 5.4 Ford 150

Where are you going to be doing most of your towing? Our primary flat land tow vehicle is a 2003 F150 4.6l with 3.73 and a factory towing package. It gets around 20mpg on the highway and 15 around town. Towing to the beach and back (mostly flat) drops us to around 12mpg. For mountain towing we use the F350 which gets 15mpg doing just about anything as long as you stay under 65 mph. It has 4:10's in it. Our AS runs in the mid 6k# range when towing.

I suspect the difference in gas mileage will be around 10%. 3:55 and lower are usually the mileage gears.

Aaron

[dansdad]

Never heard of a gear vendor..I'll look it up and Wahoonc....most towing will be in coastal areas but some in hilly, thats why I want to be able to do what I need to do as far as pulling ability. I dont want problems, I did pull the Grapevine with same trailer, but that was a diesel. I know...not the same thing but the 4:10 should help.

[jcanavera]

I'm pulling with a 4.10 axle on my 6 liter GMC Savana van. Towing capacity 9,900 lbs. Previous tow vehicle was a 3.73 axle on my 5.7 liter Chevy van. Towing capacity 6,500 lbs.

You suffer on city mileage but towing is a different matter. On my Chevy I had to tow in 3rd, no overdrive. 6,000 lb. 27' Safari. Towing mileage was 11-13 mpg.

With the GMC I can tow in overdrive. 8,400 lbs 30' Classic Slide out. Towing mileage 11-13 mpg. I love this vehicle as a tow vehicle. Thankfully it's not my primary vehicle at home and is limited to towing or hauling big things at home.

Jack

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by dansdad

What does anyone think the difference between 3:73 and 4:10 in gas mileage would be. Just driving around and pulling a 7000# loaded trailer? Thanks Dave Oh yeah engine is a 5.4 Ford 150

I recently changed a 5.3L GM truck from 3.73 to 4.10 gears, and my overall fuel mileage increased about a half a mile per gallon. Towing mileage was about the same, but around town mileage increased as did highway mileage, and that was up to about 75 MPH.

[zigzagguzzi]

Went to 410 from 355 in ford van 5.4. About 2.5 mpg less, but it towed anything that I had anywhere I wanted to go. zz

[dansdad]

I talked to a mechanic that works on my cars and he said because the truck has OD and is a 2007 it be a real pandoras box and I was best to just leave it as a 4:10 which it what I think I will do.After allthats what it is made for. Dave