New 2022 Ford F250 Diesel - What axel ratio?

[dhroberts]

We have a 30' Classic. I am about to order a 2022 Ford F250 with a 6.7L diesel engine. What axel ratio should I go with: a) 3.31; or b) 3.55? Thank you.

[SVTRIDE]

Depends....how much weight do you plan to tow? If just the AS or similar weight, 3:31 will provide more than enough acceleration and grunt going up mountains, with little or no downshifts. Note: my comments are based on the 6 speed tranny, you'll have the new 10 speed.

If you plan to tow near or at GCVWR, then go with the shorter gear, 3.55.

The taller gearing (3:31) will also help fuel economy by reducing engine revs at cruise.

I opted for 3:31 e-locker axle option. It's nice to have when on slick surfaces, albeit limited to slow speed driving. Both rear wheels are then tractive, acts like a spool.

[Bcc75]

^^^ Ditto

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Yup !!!

I would agree that the full locking rear axle is the more important choice here. It's (relatively) cheap, and it adds no significant weight to the truck. In some cases it will do a better job than the typical 4x4 setup in terms of getting you unstuck.

Back in the day, going with a "higher number" rear axle was the only way to be able to pull this or that up this or that hill. With the advent of bicycle transmissions on trucks, that's not as big a deal.

Bob

[Capt who]

I have a 2020 F250 ccsb 4x4 6.7ps and 3.31 gear 10sp trans. Pulling a 25 FC I have no trouble even in the mountains. I keep the fresh tank full and carry a 100 lb generator. I think the 3.31 would be fine but if you carry a lot more weight maybe the 3.55 would be better. I think ford got it right with this setup. I also have the rear locker which is nice.

[Foiled Again]

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird, no it's a plane, no ... it's pigs flying!
Has to be flying pigs, because it is a tow vehicle thread with no animosity!
[emoji241][emoji200][emoji201][emoji203]

[uraljohn]

OK here goes...Now this is just a suggestion. If your completely stuck on a oil burner stop reading now. However, if you were to go with a 2022 F250 with the 7.3 gasser you would save some big $$$ and have a more than capable truck. Good friend recently totaled his 2016 F350 Power Stroke. He loved that truck. Daily driver for him as he is in construction and tows heavy trailers all the time. He replaced it with a 2021 F350 Quad Cab Long Bed 4 wheel drive with the "Godzilla" 7.3 Gasser. He is over the moon about the new truck. Way less $$$ upfront. Super quiet. No more $$$ oil and multiple filter changes. Regular gas. One huge benefit to the gasser is Payload rating. Your choice of a F250 oil burner is going to greatly effect Payload rating. With the gasser you will get an additional 700/800 LBS of Payload capacity. If you still want the oil burner at least get the F350. Extra cost is minimal (your already spending a ton with the oil burner) but it will help your Payload rating. My friends truck has a payload rating of just under 4000 LBS. Some food for thought. Happy hunting!

[pjshier]

3:31 is plenty. And the slightly better fuel mileage is nice. Not towing I have seen 24mpg regularly. The 10 speed transmission really does make it easier as there is an appropriate gear for anything you happen to be doing with the truck.

Note: after making a 600 mile round trip last week in a rental Ram 4X4 gasoline rig - and stopping frequently for gasoline - i greatly missed the 60 gallon S&B aftermarket diesel tank for the F250/350. Gasoline between larger cities in Alaska tends to be somewhat pricey. The combo of diesel and large tank usually gets me all the way there. Outside Alaska, maybe not such a big deal. The F250 should be out of the shop and back in our hands Sept 17. If you stay with diesel, take a look at a larger tank just for fun.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Keep in mind that you probably will tow the Classic with a full fresh water tank. It's more stable when you do it that way .... That gets the "minimum tow weight" up a bit. It also means you have water if you pull over someplace odd for the night.

Towing wise, you most certainly can get the job done with the "little" gas engine. The F250 had that engine and even with a 6 speed trans / 3.3 axle it did a fine job in the mountains. Yes you *may* have a need to go from 30 to 90 uphill in under 4 seconds, that was not on my list of requirements. If I can keep up with traffic, that's good enough.

Payload wise, how much ... umm .... errrr .... junk .. errr "needed stuff" will you have along? What is your passenger load?

The Classic likely will pull about 1,100 to 1,300 pounds out of your payload after you get it loaded / ready to go. If you have three large (150 pound) dogs and two "full sized" (no comment .. ) passengers ... you may not have a lot of "room" against a 2900 pound payload number.

Yes, there are always fiddly bits involved. The hitch and shank weigh something, that mostly goes onto the truck payload. That cover you have over the bed might be 100 pounds, it could be more. A cap is heavier still. Box full of tools, box full of spare parts, hundred pounds of generator .... Hundred here / hundred there ... it does add up.

Put a diesel on the 250 and you drop the payload to around 2500 pounds. You *could* go to a 350 and get it up a bit over 4,000 pounds *with* the diesel. Folks have been known to do that ...

Yes, there are a *ton* of assumptions there, 4x4 and King Ranch or Platinum trim, big cab plus a few others. Go down to a 2 door XL and they *do* go up more than a bit. The first numbers are from the sticker on my F250 last one is from the sticker on the F350. What you buy may be *very* different from what I bought. That *will* impact the number on your door sticker.

Lots of choices!!

Note: This is not in any way to say the Ford's are the only way to go. The same sort of thing also applies to RAM and Chevy. Some of the fiddly details change so it does get a bit nutty.

Bob

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by pjshier

3:31 is plenty. And the slightly better fuel mileage is nice. Not towing I have seen 24mpg regularly. The 10 speed transmission really does make it easier as there is an appropriate gear for anything you happen to be doing with the truck.

Note: after making a 600 mile round trip last week in a rental Ram 4X4 gasoline rig - and stopping frequently for gasoline - i greatly missed the 60 gallon S&B aftermarket diesel tank for the F250/350. Gasoline between larger cities in Alaska tends to be somewhat pricey. The combo of diesel and large tank usually gets me all the way there. Outside Alaska, maybe not such a big deal. The F250 should be out of the shop and back in our hands Sept 17. If you stay with diesel, take a look at a larger tank just for fun.

Hi

"887 miles to empty" does look pretty cool after a fill up

It would be nice if that was what you could get while towing. The world doesn't quite work that way unfortunately.

If you stay "stock" (and you certainly do not have to) the big tank only comes on an 8' bed F250 or F350. Bigger is better in some regards. It may not be seen as a great thing in an urban area with small parking spaces everywhere.

Bob

[Capt who]

Just wanted to say I have an XLT not the end trim package. My payload is 2398 lbs. which is enough for what I do.

[dhroberts]

Originally Posted by SVTRIDE

Depends....how much weight do you plan to tow? If just the AS or similar weight, 3:31 will provide more than enough acceleration and grunt going up mountains, with little or no downshifts. Note: my comments are based on the 6 speed tranny, you'll have the new 10 speed.

If you plan to tow near or at GCVWR, then go with the shorter gear, 3.55.

The taller gearing (3:31) will also help fuel economy by reducing engine revs at cruise.

I opted for 3:31 e-locker axle option. It's nice to have when on slick surfaces, albeit limited to slow speed driving. Both rear wheels are then tractive, acts like a spool.

Thank you.

[Spaggs]

I agree with the guy who suggested an F-350. Not a whole lot more in dollars, but you get stronger springs. To me, the extra stability is worth it, regardless of what you are towing. At 30’, I’d even consider a dually if it’s not too much of a strain on the wallet. I have an Excursion and switched out my springs to F-350s. World of difference!

[pwakeling]

[QUOTE=uncle_bob;2533249]Hi

Keep in mind that you probably will tow the Classic with a full fresh water tank. It's more stable when you do it that way .... That gets the "minimum tow weight" up a bit. It also means you have water if you pull over someplace odd for the night.

Towing wise, you most certainly can get the job done with the "little" gas engine. The F250 had that engine and even with a 6 speed trans / 3.3 axle it did a fine job in the mountains. Yes you *may* have a need to go from 30 to 90 uphill in under 4 seconds, that was not on my list of requirements. If I can keep up with traffic, that's good enough.

Payload wise, how much ... umm .... errrr .... junk .. errr "needed stuff" will you have along? What is your passenger load?

The Classic likely will pull about 1,100 to 1,300 pounds out of your payload after you get it loaded / ready to go. If you have three large (150 pound) dogs and two "full sized" (no comment .. ) passengers ... you may not have a lot of "room" against a 2900 pound payload number.

Yes, there are always fiddly bits involved. The hitch and shank weigh something, that mostly goes onto the truck payload. That cover you have over the bed might be 100 pounds, it could be more. A cap is heavier still. Box full of tools, box full of spare parts, hundred pounds of generator .... Hundred here / hundred there ... it does add up.

Put a diesel on the 250 and you drop the payload to around 2500 pounds. You *could* go to a 350 and get it up a bit over 4,000 pounds *with* the diesel. Folks have been known to do that ...

Yes, there are a *ton* of assumptions there, 4x4 and King Ranch or Platinum trim, big cab plus a few others. Go down to a 2 door XL and they *do* go up more than a bit. The first numbers are from the sticker on my F250 last one is from the sticker on the F350. What you buy may be *very* different from what I bought. That *will* impact the number on your door sticker.

Lots of choices!!

Note: This is not in any way to say the Ford's are the only way to go. The same sort of thing also applies to RAM and Chevy. Some of the fiddly details change so it does get a bit nutty.

Bob[/QUOTE

So, I’ve attached the door stickers for my totally tricked out 2020 F250 Limited short bed. It’s a generation 3 powerstroke with updated max gross weight and max tow package. The payload is not 2500 pounds. I tow a 2021 Classic RBQ.

The max tow package comes with the 3.55 differential. I am completely satisfied with the flat road and mountain performance of this setup.

In tow haul mode, the transmission doesn’t shift to 10th until you reach 60mph on flat roads, and a climb has to get pretty steep before it downshifts. For those of you in the southeast that a familiar with I24 from Chattanooga to Nashville, it pulls my trailer westbound up Monteagle at 65mph in 10th. (Speed limit is 55). I feel that if I has the taller diff ratio, I’d spend much more time in lower, less efficient gears. I just spent 4 weeks in the Rockys and averaged 13 mpg for the 6500 mile trip.

If I were ordering my truck again, I’d still get the powerstroke and 3.55 diff.

[Gigler]

Originally Posted by dhroberts

We have a 30' Classic. I am about to order a 2022 Ford F250 with a 6.7L diesel engine. What axel ratio should I go with: a) 3.31; or b) 3.55? Thank you.

I have towed with both gear ratios and I am currently pulling a 33 Classic with the 3:31. We have been all over the COUNTRY have plenty of get up and go up 8%-9% grades on cruise control. I suggest though that you order a long bed.

[davidrrand]

Order your 250 like pwakeling did and you will get a sufficient payload like he did. Many diesel 250s on the lot (I know, none on the lot now) will have the 10K GCWR that gives you a smaller payload on nicely trimmed models given the heavy weight of the diesel. Or get the gas option(s) like uraljohn mentioned and get a 10K GCWR with around 3K payload on nicely trimmed model (Lariat). Or go 350 with diesel.

[Doc Foster]

Yes, as others have stated 3.31, should do the trick. Now I have a loaded 2016 F250 4x4, Crewcab, Lariat with 6.7 diesel, 6 speed trans. (bought it off the lot that way) While towing my 2015 30' International, I can accelerate with ease up most mountain grades, maintain 65 mph as well up steep grades if I wish, but I believe my mpg suffers a bit with that 3.55. On 2022, the 3.31 is the factory default axle, but I don't know if really means anything.
My next tow vehicle will be a 2022-23 F350 6.7 L diesel, but will probably go with the 3.31 ratio for better mpg. F350 for the increased payload, as I really load up my vehicle, and currently am maxing out my payload with the F250.

[xyzabe]

I have a 2020 F-250 Lariat Ultimate with 6.7L, max tow w/3.55 and RWD. My payload is 3386 lb. Mileage in a 7500 mile trip out west, towing a 8250 lb travel trailer I was able to get about 13.6mpg at 65mph. That includes a lot of mountain driving. Running in the mountains without the trailer was able 20.2 mpg.

One thing everyone missed is how large a truck you can have before it's considered commercial. Vehicle weight is what they use. Example..in AZ a F-250 is the largest truck you can register as car (lower cost plates). A F-350 is a 1 ton truck and considered by a lot of states as commercial no matter what you use it for. Same for insurance. You need to have that information in hand when you make your decision.

[mikeinca]

I towed a 30' Classic with my 2017 F250 diesel with the 3.55 locker before I got our Globetrotter and IMHO it was an excellent match. Plenty of power in 6th gear without downshifting on most grades and yet the engine was still loafing at 65mph.

Keep in mind that the new 10 speed transmission has a taller overdrive top gear than the 6 speed in my truck and some others who are posting on this issue. (0.63 vs 0.69). You could get the benefit of a bit more pulling power in 10th gear with the 3.55 when needed yet still experience low revs and good mileage the rest of the time. Given the torque output of the 6.7L I don't know how much it matters but it's something to consider.

[RedSHED]

Ford's towing selector looks like you're good with either ratio up to twenty thousand pounds with the diesel. Unless you intend to daisy chain 2 (two) 10000 pound trailers together, I don't think I'd worry about it.