Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives F-350 SD

Have been shopping for one. I want a crew cab with an 8' box 7.3l gas, 4.30 gears. Xlt trim package and other options. Thats the question for you guys, what options would you get one if ordering it made? All ready decided it's to much money to not get exactly what i want. So have at it what options you would not be without? Mb

My 2019 6.2L 6-speed is WAY over-geared with the 4.30 axles. I'd opt for the 3.73 gears with the E-locker if I was doing it again, doubly so with the bigger/better engine & 10-spd transmission.

I'd add the dual battery option too, if there was any chance of ever running a winch or an RV.

With the 10-speed transmission I think you are correct in going with the 4.30 gears. If I remember correctly, and it has been a while since i was considering a new SD, is that the top two gears are both in an overdrive range, although I will fully admit I may be wrong about that.

I agree with tbird86 above that the e-locking rear diff and dual batteries would be high on my list.

@VaHunter convinced me to actually do the math. Let's see if the formatting sticks:

6R140 @ 4.30 axles
R 3.128 - 13.450
1 3.974 - 17.088
2 2.318
3 1.516
4 1.149
5 0.858
6 0.674 - 2.898

10R140 @ 3.73 [4.30] (3.55) axles
R 4.695 - 17.512 [20.189] (16.667)
1 4.615 - 17.214 [19.845] (16.383)
2 2.919
3 2.132
4 1.773
5 1.519
6 1.277
7 1.000
8 0.850
9 0.687
10 0.632 - 2.357 [2.718] (2.244)

Given my experience with my rig & the numbers above (is that enough caveats?), I'd actually try to order the 3.55/E-lock axle setup. That would give a 24% lower effective ratio @ 1st & a 30% better overdrive.

I've done a small test drive of the 7.3l equipped with the 3.73 ratio and the 4.30's, both trucks had 35 " tall tires on 18" wheels. The truck with the 3.73 was running 1600 rpm at 65 mph and the 4.30's at 1800 rpm same spd .sure there are places you can run 75 legally but i will be towing a 30' rv trailer 7500 lbs and don't wish to run more than 65. I am more worried that 1600 rpm figure and resullting lower torque will have the transmission down shifting all the time on less than level road. The power scope mirrors , dual batteries with 2 alts and locking differential allready on the list. My under standing from Ford is that pulling with 3.73's the trans is locked out of 9th and 10th gear. Appreciate any and all input this will be my 1st SD. Mb

Gassers like to run 2000 rpm plus to stay in there torque curve. The 7.3 Godzilla does have a fairly flat torque curve for a gas engine. I would not want to cruise the highway at less than 2000 rpm, especially when towing.

post a pic

Yep! A big gas engine where the stroke is shorter than the bore, 4-something axle ratio every fkn day of the week if yer gonna tow.

If towing heavy, you'd have to be a fkn retard to choose 3-something ratio. You'll be fighting the tranmission the entire time, hunting for gears at the slightest incline. These 7.3 gas engines ain't no diesel.

used to tow near 20000 all the time with a K3500 454 4 speed and 3.73 gearing , and it pulled good

a 7500 lb camper aint what Id call heavy , although the wind resistance prolly makes it pull harder than what the weight indicates


Id not worry too much either way , 3.73 or 4.30 , with a ten speed on board

Well like i said my rv is around 7500 lbs loaded the 350 will have a gvw around 11900# so should have plenty of safety.margin. mb

My previous truck was a 24 F350 SB CC with the 7.3 and 4:30 gears and the Lariat Ultimate package. The Ultimate package gives you the upgraded audio system as well as the auto running boards and a few other goodies. I never regretted ordering the 4:30s. But then again I rarely drove over 70 mph. If your the type who drives 75-80 all the time then stick with the stock 3:73's.
The long bed option will give you the 48 gallon fuel tank option. The only item I regretted not ordering was the fully reclining seats.
I carried 3,000 pounds in the bed and pulled a 7,000 pound trailer from Tennessee to Alaska and averaged 10.4 for the entire journey. Empty and cruising 65 or so expect to hit high 15's. Around town, high 12's.

Thanks all for the input. I ended up with a preowned 2023 f350 7.3l with 3.73's will see how it works. Mb

I have a 24 f350 with 7.3 and 3.73 I talked to my buddy who’s a mechanic and a gear head which gears I should get 4.30 or 3.73? He said 3.73 was the way to go. With the 4.30 you get a Dana rear end with 3.73’s you get the Sterling rear end. I was towing with it this past weekend and far as I remember I was never locked out 9th or 10th gear. So far this truck is impressive I got 10.4 towing and it was a lot hills to pull.

Well it drives and run nice. 79s you are right it is the 6.8l that locks out in 9 & 10 towing. Mb

I've been running an F-350 with the 7.3 and 3.73 gears since 2020. I've grossed over 20k several times. Unless your going to run oversized tires, the 3.73's will do fine. The 10 speed makes a big difference.

I have a 2022 Ford F250 with the 7.3 and 4.30 rear because of the Tremor package. Bought it to pull our travel trailer. 10k max.
I like everything about it except the mpg. I knew I wasn’t buying it for the mpg. I’ve had two diesels from Ford and decided gas was more than enough this time.

I ordered mine from Granger Ford in IOWA. 3% under invoice. Two months to build then flew out and drove it home.
I’d buy from them again.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Willhunt4, thanks, i bought a preowned 2023 F350 cc,4wd,7.3l with 3.73's. It runs good my rv is at 7500 lbs loaded. Std 275 70r 18e tires Desert Dueler AT's. Mb

79s, so what is good or bad about Sterling and or Dana rear ends, Dana was always the best growing up, I’m thinking about buying a Ford over a Ram diesel, do not like Def.

Will, I did that same Granger deal back in 2022 but got in line after you. Mine took about 7 months but F250 Lariat I bought is still only about $5,000 under what I paid for it. I wanted a heavy half ton basically as I am not a heavy puller but needed more than a standard half ton. Mine is the 7.3 with the now no longer available 3.55 rear. I get 15 mpg doing about everything. If I am hitting a heavy headwind its less. But again, I don't pull big loads just wanted more capability than a half ton.

I drive a 6.2 with 3.73s and drove one with the 4.30s for work for a while. Both with the 6sp trans. I don’t pull more than about 10k at the most but haven’t found either truck lacking. Just ignore the tac and let it eat. I’ll lock out 6th and maybe occasionally 5th if I’m in the hills or mountains.

The 7.3s and 10 speeds are even better and more powerful.

I think guys are so spoiled with the power pickups make today that it’s easy to get caught up in it and worry about it when you don’t really need to. If your pickup will pull your camper down I40 at 75 without issue you probably don’t have a lack of power.

Less than a generation ago guys were bragging about how hard their 454s and 460s pulled. Those were 240hp and didn’t pull as well as many common halfton power plants do today. Tractor trailer rigs made less torque than common diesel pickup engines today.

Enjoy your new rig MB. I hope it’s reliable and trouble free for you.

Thanks Kid, i hope its trouble free also but bought an extended warrantee on it just in case. I don't figure on driving it with rv trailer on behind clear to I-40 but figure it will go around SD, WYO, and MT just fine. Point well taken on those old big block gas engines at one time i had an 84 3500 4x4 chevy silverado 8' box 454 4spd and 4.11's. It could pass anything but a gas station. So far getting use to the 7.3 it's running 12+ mpg. I like it. Mb

According to my buddy nothing wrong with the Sterling rear end as he said he’s never broke one. It comes down to if you want 4.30 gears or not. They are both good rear ends. I pulled with mine today and it this truck continues to impress.

If I got one for pulling 36’ toy hauler full of toys with gas and water full, it would have to be 430 gears in mountains, if pulling 20-k stock trailer it would have to be 430, but I would want a good rear end too, I know a big strong rear end with a underpowered V8 will make truck performance like a much bigger motor. My Power Wagon has a 5.7 hemi with a 456 rear end and amazing what it will pull in tow haul and not hurt anything , I just don’t want DEF or I would buy another diesel all day long.