3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

[windsors03cobra]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

The Ram boxes do seem nice, the lower bedside toolboxes like old trucks had seem nice as well. The Honda Ridgeline has a built in cooler.....

Buy a TRUCK, Ford wrote the book on great light duty trucks over the last 100 years, Toyota is a Toy. Ram boxes aren't worth buying a truck over.
Cummins is about the only thing worth buy a Dodge for, sadly the "old" 7.3 was the only good Ford diesel ever and into the near future.

 

[skargo]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Isnt the original post regarding gasoline engines??? Thats the only reason i posted it. Yes, a diesel is different especially if its a manual trans.

I don't know, he said Ford F150 and Dodge Ram. You can deduce it was a Ford gasser, but he said nothing about the Ram being one.

Besides, it was just a comment, not trying to get you worked up or anything

BTW, my truck has an automatic and 3:55's are perfect. Of course, it's got billet shafts and other upgrades.

Have a great day.

 

[642mx]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Buy a TRUCK, Ford wrote the book on great light duty trucks over the last 100 years, Toyota is a Toy.

HAHAHAHA Your kidding, right? Just look at the rear ends for example. Ford has what?... a 9.75" ring gear. Tundra has a 10.5" ring gear. Heck a Superduty only has a 10.25".

Lets move on to the engine. Fords got a 310 horse 365 ft lbs of torque... Tundra's got 381 horse with 401 ft lbs of torque.

I guess I could go on and on about how the rotors are over an inch larger than the F-150's and how the Tundra can run a quarter mile in the mid to high 14's while the F-150 can't get out the 16's... but I think I've proved my point. Folks should look past the label when buying something thats 35-45K bucks.

At the end of the day, everyone makes a "good" truck. Are some better than others?...sure! But everyone has to decide what is best for them. I bought a Tundra for multiple reasons... power, brakes, style, and resale value.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

You're always so eager to defend those little tin cans. You could stack 5 of those on the back of an F550 and drive it up the side of a mountain. Page 2......

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I have a 1/2 ton 4x4 Chevy with a 5.3L, 4 Speed auto with a 3.73 with a locking rear. I have found the locking rear extremely useful. If you have the option of a locker get it, much better than a limited slip. Unloaded my truck gets between 17 and 18 MPG. Not hateful, but hurts with a 30 mile commute each way. I've sinced purchased a commuter car.

In my research when buying my truck in 2004, I found that with the 1/2 ton Dodge the transmission was a big weak spot. You may want to look into to see if they got it worked out.

I tow a 19 foot tri-hull with a 90HP outboad. It tows it with no problems at all. I also tow my son's boy scout troop trailer once every couple of months or so, it's a pretty heavy load and the truck seems to do pretty well.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I have a 1/2 ton 4x4 Chevy with a 5.3L, 4 Speed auto with a 3.73 with a locking rear. I have found the locking rear extremely useful. If you have the option of a locker get it, much better than a limited slip.

I can second that! I have the same truck, but 2wd and a V6. Now, my boat is in the ball park of 3000# when on the trailer going down the road, but I gotta say that the locker has proven very important on a steep, wet ramp. I had my doubts when going 2wd( I had 4x4), but I have no doubts anymore thanks to that locker. The v6 pulls fine, even with a 3.42:1 rear ratio, but I will go back to a v8 because the 5.3 mileage isn't much worse supposedly in 2wd format. I get about 22 on the highway towing nothing.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I don't know, he said Ford F150 and Dodge Ram. You can deduce it was a Ford gasser, but he said nothing about the Ram being one.

Besides, it was just a comment, not trying to get you worked up or anything

BTW, my truck has an automatic and 3:55's are perfect. Of course, it's got billet shafts and other upgrades.

Have a great day.

Its all good, im not worked up or anything . his second post is saying the ford is the 5.4 and the dodge is the HEMI, so I figured hes not shopping for diesels since those are both gassers. BTW, the new hemi is unbelievable, 390 hp and around 20 mpg with the variable valve timing and all that. I hope to upgrade to one soon, if not a diesel.
I should have rephrased the 3.55 remark:
3.55 will be fine, as long as you keep the stock size tires on it or something close. any lifting or larger wheels or larger tires will be quickly eating up the neccessary power.
my truck was lifted with 33"s on it, so the 3.55s were a poor match for the truck. my new one has the 3.92s in it with 35" tires.

I was just trying to help, ive done alot of figuring lately on axle ratios and tire sizes related to towing and such.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Sorry about the confusion everyone. Yes, I'm fixing to buy a "gasser". However, I think I am the one confused now... I still can't decide which truck is best-suited to meet my needs. I guess I'll just test drive each one this weekend and decide which one I like then let the wife make the final decision

It may come down to the salesman... A pushy blabbermouth will not get my business though...

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I personally like the 09 rams with the hemi. lots of room, lots of power and they are dealing pretty good on them right now. the ford has lots of little towing "options" that the average joe (i.e. myself) could do without. Trailer boats magazine has a sponsor thing with Ford (so does Mike Rowe) so they get pushed as a tow vehicle alot. but yeah, i hate buying new or newer vehicles.....what a pain. they all tow ALOT of weight though, compared to what the older trucks were rated for.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Sorry about the confusion everyone. Yes, I'm fixing to buy a "gasser". However, I think I am the one confused now... I still can't decide which truck is best-suited to meet my needs. I guess I'll just test drive each one this weekend and decide which one I like then let the wife make the final decision

It may come down to the salesman... A pushy blabbermouth will not get my business though...

In my honest opinion, assuming all the half tons were equally equipped, they can all do the job just as good as the other. If it were me, I would go for the best deal.

 

[his1911]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I mentioned the actual fuel mileage of my diesel pick-ups as opposed to a gas engine because the only gas engine I have is a 78 Dodge Power Wagon with a 400 Big Block LOL
If I were planning on buying a new 1/2t truck it'd be a toss up for sure , My mother worked for toyota for a long time, good cars, but the ones she drove had higher service costs at the dealer and the dealerships where farther from home. The Ford Dodges Chevys and GMCs in my mind all are about a toss up for the most part , what one excels in a different lacks!
I'd shop all of them, and buy the best deal i could find on the truck that I wanted, not the truck that everyone else thinks I should own! lol

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

yea, I go for whatever truck is the best deal, and looks the best. That seems to vary from year to year so....right now for me its a toss up between chevy and ford.....no way on dodge. One thing that would sway me to chevy is that my experience is they usually get better gas mileage.

 

[tpcowfish]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Ive had my 09 Ram hemi for a year, just pulled boat home about 130 miles, mostly flat, few small grades, did great, plenty of power smooth shifts on grades , not the passing gear feeling.Gas mileage is not great, 15 around town, 19 -21 on highway unloaded at 70 mph. Only thing is coil springs in rear seem a little weaker than leafs, but then again last truck was 2500.Take trucks home for a day, pull boat a little , see what you like, most places(dealers) are willing to let you do this. I liked the power my ram had towing.

 

[recce43]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

I HAVE the 2009 f150 with the tow package there is lots of power 6 speed tranny built in electric brake controller i have the super crew which has the most back seat room i tow a fithwheel and my boat

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

A 3.73 LS axle should cost a few hundred dollars..I believe 275 is the number..Do not let that get in your way unless that is.. your pulling in excess of 5000 lbs...One great difference in a Ford truck is the suspension it is by far leaps and bounds ahead of the competion..Now theres a opinion..

On a serious note i have been with ford for about 15yrs...above 5000 customers do not like a 3.55 axle..And again you need to be in some mountains to feel the difference

 

[cwhite6]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Sorry about the confusion everyone. Yes, I'm fixing to buy a "gasser". However, I think I am the one confused now... I still can't decide which truck is best-suited to meet my needs. I guess I'll just test drive each one this weekend and decide which one I like then let the wife make the final decision

It may come down to the salesman... A pushy blabbermouth will not get my business though...

Do what a buddy of mine did. Bring your boat with you and tow the boat with each for a little ways. That can tell you real world performance. Dealer should allow you to do this if he knows you are serious about buying. Had another one who test drove each vehicle (by himself with no salesman) to his house, hooked up and towed around a little. Gave him a small snapshot of towing for each. BTW, the Ford has built in sway control standard if that concerns you.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Ive had my 09 Ram hemi for a year, just pulled boat home about 130 miles, mostly flat, few small grades, did great, plenty of power smooth shifts on grades , not the passing gear feeling.Gas mileage is not great, 15 around town, 19 -21 on highway unloaded at 70 mph. Only thing is coil springs in rear seem a little weaker than leafs, but then again last truck was 2500.Take trucks home for a day, pull boat a little , see what you like, most places(dealers) are willing to let you do this. I liked the power my ram had towing.

Only thing is coil springs in rear seem a little weaker than leafs,

Well said that is a real difference between Ford and Dodge

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Do what a buddy of mine did. Bring your boat with you and tow the boat with each for a little ways...

Jack,

The Chevy dealer is so close, you could drive it home and hook it up. The Ford dealer, you might have to warn them that you'll need the thing for an hour, or so! The Dodge dealer, you'd have to take the boat with you!

 

[jacknbella]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

Yeah, I can see the local Chevy dealer from my back yard but I have no interest in a Goverment Motors vehicle, especially since the wife drives a 2008 Tahoe and I'm not fond of it. Uftring Ford is just down the hill so I could feasibly drive a test truck home and try-out its pulling prowless in less than an hour. I would be trading in a 2006 Ford Fusion so that may have its advantages as well, maybe not though. The closest Dodge dealer would be more of a challenge because I'm not thrilled about towing my 5500 lb rig thru Peoria traffic on a Saturday

The 3.55 does worry me based on the above comments though. My boat is quite heavy and lengthy and we do make occassional boating excursions out of state so I want to be sure I have the right power to ground when I need it most.

Please keep the comments and opinions coming!!! Believe it or not, it is helping me!!!

 

[642mx]

Re: 3.55 vs 3.73 diff ratio

but I have no interest in a Goverment Motors vehicle

I'm with you on this! Keep in mind that Dodge stole a bunch of tax money too... BILLIONS!