Curious what does yours run at 65 mph with 3.31? They are supposed to be a good cruising gear. My tach sits @1,700 rpm in 6th gear with the 3.73 ratio at 65, at 75 mph it runs an even 2,000 rpm.
Regular WB vs. EL/MAX for towing
- Thread starter LovinPSDs
- Start date
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Curious what does yours run at 65 mph with 3.31? They are supposed to be a good cruising gear. My tach sits @1,700 rpm in 6th gear with the 3.73 ratio at 65, at 75 mph it runs an even 2,000 rpm.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Twelve percent difference in gearing so twelve percent difference in RPM.
Boostedbus
Full Access Members
This is why I’d definitely recommend 3.73’s for towing. Remember max torque on these gen. 1 EcoBoost’s is at 2,500 rpm’s. The closer you are to the engines sweet spot in the power band during cruise,the better the power and fuel economy. Work smarter not harder theory.
Most rental fleets don't offer SUVs that they ordered with tow packages. They are sourced to be body movers, so watch out when hunting there...
Scott Hunter
Member
Make sure you get the 3.73 axle ratio. I tow a 33' trailer and did so with a 2004 Expy. With 210,000 miles on it, I decided to get a new one. The EL/Max models are rated at about 200 - 300 lbs less for towing. My trailer weighs 8500 loaded, so decided against the EL. I use an Equalizer WD hitch and have never had a problem with sway. Finding a truck with the 3.73 axle and HD Tow pkg was not easy. There were only 6 in California. Most of the new models are 3.31 axles, which drop the tow rating to a ridiculous 6,000 lbs or something. I am not happy that they dropped the gas tank from 28 gals in 2004 to 23 gals in the new 2019. After market expanded gas tanks just aren't available on the market.
JasonH
Full Access Members
I think most of the 2017 Limited models all came with HD Tow. When I was shopping for an Expedition EL at Carmax, nearly every vehicle I looked at had it. Interestingly, it's a 4x2 so it's 3.31 gearing instead of 3.73. But it tows my 7K trailer with no problem. Never had an issue with acceleration or keeping up with traffic. Most of the time it's in 6th gear and even passing isn't an issue. And since I don't tow that often, I get the added benefit of slightly improved MPG when not towing.
All Limited models are HD tow unless it was deleted. It was only not standard on XLT trim.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Whelp, that would explain why finding a fleet w/ HD tow was easy. They were all Limiteds when I was searching. Should make the choice easier for anyone else.
LovinPSDs
Full Access Members
Sorry, late to respond!! I don’t drive the truck much, it’s my wife’s.
65 is about dead nuts 1500rpm. She is a highway beast, I run in the high 70s pretty often and it just eats up the miles.
shane_th_ee
Full Access Members
Careful with assuming options on fleet units. Fleet buyers can get custom builds unavailable to retail buyers. For example, there are a lot of rental F-150s that do NOT have a receiver, which is standing on all retail F-150s.
