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Old 12-30-2015, 09:16 AM   #1
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Expedition Gears: 3.31 or 3.73

I'm in the market for a used Expedition 4WD WITH factory heavy duty tow package. I'm looking for 3.73 gears because we will be doing some mountain driving, but the problem is the selection is limited. The 3.31 gears are easier to find (larger selection). My question is: should I hold out for the PERFECT TV with 3.73 or can I SAFELY get away with 3.31 gears?

24T specs:
Dry - 4845
Gross - 6250
Hitch - 800
w/ WDH

Thanks,
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Old 12-30-2015, 09:31 AM   #2
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Look at the towing specs for the year of TV you are considering at:

Trailer Towing Guides | Trailer Life Magazine

IMO you should be good as long as it's not an Expedition EL. But this can vary depending on what year you are looking at WITH the tow package.
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Old 12-30-2015, 09:37 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by dalebra View Post
Look at the towing specs for the year of TV you are considering at:

Trailer Towing Guides | Trailer Life Magazine

IMO you should be good as long as it's not an Expedition EL. But this can vary depending on what year you are looking at WITH the tow package.
Tow capacity is not not an issue; the Expedition is rated around 9000 (depending on the year). I'm just concerned about the gears while towing in the mountains.
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Old 12-30-2015, 10:55 AM   #4
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We towed with an '03 2WD Expe with the 5.4 and I don't recall which rear end we had but suspect it was the 3.31. We never towed in any "real" mountains but I could tell that the Expe would have been "huffing" on the uphills. On the flat it's towing ability was "adequate".
Our "max tow" number was 8950# and our HTT weighed in at 4420# and we had 540# on the tongue (with the WDH) which left us 328# shy of the Rear GAWR. With just the Bride and I and a bit of gear the rear axle weighed 3100#.
My point is I think you will be close to the Rear GAWR even though you are well below the max tow #. You can see my weight #'s below.
Click image for larger version

Name:	HTT weight.jpg
Views:	22
Size:	288.5 KB
ID:	21320
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Old 12-30-2015, 10:57 AM   #5
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wait and find the 3:73 gears. If you go with the 3:31 you will be pulling your shift lever down to maybe 2nd gear burning more fuel and holding up traffic to boot. Read a article on this forum about in all aspects the 3:73 gear to be the idea gear for towing any TT other than a Ultra-Lite.
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:00 AM   #6
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wait and find the 3:73 gears. If you go with the 3:31 you will be pulling your shift lever down to maybe 2nd gear burning more fuel and holding up traffic to boot. Read a article on this forum about in all aspects the 3:73 gear to be the idea gear for towing any TT other than a Ultra-Lite.
can you show me that article; it doesn't show up in a search?
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:08 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by RedHorse1 View Post
We towed with an '03 2WD Expe with the 5.4 and I don't recall which rear end we had but suspect it was the 3.31. We never towed in any "real" mountains but I could tell that the Expe would have been "huffing" on the uphills. On the flat it's towing ability was "adequate".
Our "max tow" number was 8950# and our HTT weighed in at 4420# and we had 540# on the tongue (with the WDH) which left us 328# shy of the Rear GAWR. With just the Bride and I and a bit of gear the rear axle weighed 3100#.
My point is I think you will be close to the Rear GAWR even though you are well below the max tow #. You can see my weight #'s below.
Attachment 21320
I'm not quite sure what you are saying to me; please elaborate. Thanks
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:14 AM   #8
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A lot depends on the transmission gearing. I'm not as familiar with Ford transmissions, but I posted up on here before about GM gear ratios - in the newer trucks with more gears in the transmission (i.e. 6 speeds) you don't need nearly as low of a rear axle gear as you did with the older 4 speed automatics. It all has to do with the gear ratios in the transmission and how they equate to final drive ratio. Many people overlook that and think you need a 3.73 when you don't in the newer trucks...
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:15 AM   #9
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I'm not quite sure what you are saying to me; please elaborate. Thanks
Hey Jay! I guess I was making 2 points. The first is I think you'd be better off with the 3.73 gears which seems to be the general consensus. The second is I think an Expe will be close on the rear axle weights.
Good luck with your search and let us know what you wind up with.
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:16 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by RedHorse1 View Post
Hey Jay! I guess I was making 2 points. The first is I think you'd be better off with the 3.73 gears which seems to be the general consensus. The second is I think an Expe will be close on the rear axle weights.
Good luck with your search and let us know what you wind up with.
Thanks
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Old 12-30-2015, 11:46 AM   #11
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snip..... I think you'd be better off with the 3.73 gears which seems to be the general consensus......snip
I would agree.

The 3.31 is an effective highway gear, but the 3.73 tends to be a good all around gear when under load and/or towing with a gasser. The 3.73 gear will reduce transmission shift point "hunting" when towing in the hills/mountains, also reducing an "unlocked" torque convertor condition which can increase transmission operating temps (especially with the older 4 speed tranny's..., 1st/2nd gear "unlocked").

Bob
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Old 12-30-2015, 12:16 PM   #12
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What year are you looking at? I just did a search on the specs and the newer ones come with a 6 speed transmission that has ratios very similar to the 6 speed in my Silverado. I have 3.42 gears in mine and pull a TT very similar in weight to yours. I would not want 3.73 gears in my truck... I would do some more research before you rule out the 3.31 gears... like I said earlier, too many people jump all over needing 3.73 gears based on old technology.
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Old 12-30-2015, 12:22 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Gone campin View Post
What year are you looking at? I just did a search on the specs and the newer ones come with a 6 speed transmission that has ratios very similar to the 6 speed in my Silverado. I have 3.42 gears in mine and pull a TT very similar in weight to yours. I would not want 3.73 gears in my truck... I would do some more research before you rule out the 3.31 gears... like I said earlier, too many people jump all over needing 3.73 gears based on old technology.
Ford went from a 4 speed to 6 speed in 2007. So you are saying a 3.31 with a 6 speed would be acceptable? And a, say 2006, 4 speed would require a 3.73?
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Old 12-30-2015, 12:42 PM   #14
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Just my opinion Go with the 3.73 rear.
I currently have a 2001 Expy A4WD with HD tow package 5.4 engine and 3.55 rear Towing a 2004 25E dry weight 4125 gross 5800. Towing is not a problem here in PA with the above combination. The older expys didn't have the tow ratings as high as the newer expys. and also the 2001 A4WD wasn't available with a 3.73 rear. The 3.31 most likely will get the job done but a 3.73 will do it much better with less strain and less stress on the driver.


And to be honest even with my current set-up I am looking towards an Excursion with the V-10 and 3.73 rear. Something you may want to consider.


As to what Gone campin states I would neither agree or disagree but it does make sense that the new technology is better than the old. But past experience with the old taught me that the higher the number on the rear axel equals better pulling power. But then that also equals lower MPG when not towing. I would be more concerned with have more power when towing and not worry about MPG's when not towing. Just my 2 cents worth
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Old 12-30-2015, 12:42 PM   #15
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Ford went from a 4 speed to 6 speed in 2007. So you are saying a 3.31 with a 6 speed would be acceptable? And a, say 2006, 4 speed would require a 3.73?
IMO, yes. Personally, I wouldn't go with a 4 speed now... I went from an 06 Tahoe with a 4 speed trans and 3.73 gears to a 10 Silverado with a 6 speed trans and 3.42 gears - the Silverado tows the same TT night and day better. The Tahoe would have to go as far down as 2nd gear on some mountains (VA, WV, MD - not the Rockies) and I would be taching over 4k rpm and doing 45 mph - you couldn't get enough speed to shift to 3rd. With more gears in the Silverado, I can pull the same mountains at 55 to 60 and be turning a lot less rpm to do it. More gears and the spacing makes a world of difference. Those are both 5.3L engines BTW.
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Old 12-30-2015, 01:23 PM   #16
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Here, I added a column to a table I had and filled in the Ford ratios for your info (hopefully you can follow it). If you look at the spacing, you can see why I would never go back to a 4 speed... I'm not saying make any decisions based off of my input alone - just saying I would do some more research before you rule out the 3.31's (which opens your choices up). I know that we are planning a trip out west in a couple years when our kids get a little bigger, and I am confident in my truck doing just fine - that is part of what drove me to pay a little more and get into a newer one with a 6 speed... just my 2 cents...
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Old 12-30-2015, 01:28 PM   #17
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Thanks, Gone!!
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Old 12-30-2015, 02:47 PM   #18
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Hold out for the 3.73's. If you find a truck you really want and it has 3.31's, you can swap out the ring and pinion and have your truck flashed to accept the 3.73's. The dealer shouldn't have a problem doing this. We've done this for customers that don't want to wait for 3.73's stock. Everything is the same. The carrier, axles, bearings, seals, everything. The only difference is the ring and pinion. But I would check with your dealer to see how your warranty is affected.
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Old 12-30-2015, 02:57 PM   #19
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The bad news is, the ring and pinion's on backorder with no off backorder date.


Assuming you mean a new Exped.
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Old 12-30-2015, 03:17 PM   #20
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Assuming you mean a new Exped.
Used. Who do you work for?
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