bchampion
Active Member
Towing a 7000lb travel trailer occasionally. I won't be traveling all over the US with it. If I really get into the camping seen, I'll purchase and F250 SD PowerStroke so I can tow anything under the sun.
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What he really wants is an Expedition that will safely and reliably tow 8000lbs. Ford says he needs the 3.73 rear axle. Ford knows that the 3.73 has a higher weight rating than the 3.31. They also know that you can only get the 3.73 rear axle with a different center differential...Hold on now, he doesn't need all the other stuff like the limited slip and the transfer case etc. He just wants new gears. As long as someone makes a 3.73 gear ring for the carrier you can slap the gear in there. The only thing that needs to be flashed is the gear ratio, so the computer understands what is going on and can run the correct calculations. On my jeep you just had to have an aftermarket programmer and it would allow you to input the new ratio and all was good. He doesn't need to have the limited slip and 4 low, he just wants a 3.73 ratio which should be doable, he just needs to find out if someone can flash the new ratio. Front and rear ring and pinion install (parts and labor) should be somewhere around 2-3k total plus a flash. I know 5star is adjusting shifting so there is a very good chance they can also adjust the gear selection if needed. It should be easier to do that then mess with shifting.
What he really wants is an Expedition that will safely and reliably tow 8000lbs. Ford says he needs the 3.73 rear axle. Ford knows that the 3.73 has a higher weight rating than the 3.31. They also know that you can only get the 3.73 rear axle with a different center differential...
Can he safely and reliably tow 8000lbs by swapping just the rear axle ratio? Some other mod to increase the axle weight rating? Does he also need to swap the center differential? Does he need to add the heavy duty radiator? Trailer brake controller? Etc, etc?
It sucks, but this is what the automotive industry calls progress.
Just make sure you add the trailer brake controller. It's even available as a dealer installed option (dealer install includes the software upgrade to enable it). Or just pick your favorite aftermarket TBC.I think I'm just going to say screw it and tow with what I got.
Towing a 7000lb travel trailer occasionally. I won't be traveling all over the US with it. If I really get into the camping seen, I'll purchase and F250 SD PowerStroke so I can tow anything under the sun.