Truckguy24
Well-known member
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- #1
Since having my 2024 f150 5.0 with 3.31 rear gears, I have realized that this is one of the best all-around combinations available from Ford I think for most people. It likely explains why it's one of the most common combinations you find on dealer lots.
My OG four-speed 2004 that I have has a 3.55 rear gear as does my '07 Mustang GT 5 speed manual. The manual is peppy due to the nature of the car. My F-150 5.4 with heavy 22" Harley-Davidson edition wheels and 305-45-22 tires is pretty lethargic despite being tuned. That's an example of too tall a rear end with an antiquated four speed transmission and wide ratios. That is a prime candidate for an eventual 4.10 rear gear swap just for driveability.
I see so many posts on forums and Facebook groups on how 3.31 gears are useless with the 10R80, saying they're slow, not good for towing etc. During my research before buying the truck, I was buying into that hype until I did some digging.
When I dug into the transmission gear calculators that show the ratios as well as the effective ratio when paired with the rear end gear, I realized the 10 speed paired with the 3.31 are more aggressive than a six-speed 3.73 end rear truck.
This chart shows on the left hand side, the 10R80 gear ratios. On the right hand side, it shows the six-speed gear ratios.
What I noticed is how much more aggressive the 10R80 is which logically tells you a taller rear-ender ratio when paired with that more aggressive gear, creates an "equalizer effect."
It gets even more interesting when you look at each truck with the aforementioned rear end ratios: 10R80 with the 3.31 on the left and on the right hand side is a 6r80 3.73 gear arrangement.
What I love about this 10-speed and 3.31 combination is it's providing impressive off the line ratios due to the combination of rear gear and transmission gears. But because it's a taller rear end then say 3.55 or 3.73, it gives you the highway and cruising fuel mileage. This allowed me to get over 27 MPG hand calculated on my recent trip from NC to MA and back through the mountains. You're simply not getting that with an old six-speed truck.
If you were towing very heavy, then sure I see the benefits of people opting for the 3.73 rear gears. But from what I'm observing, that's an even more powerful arrangement then a six-speed 3.73 truck...which is awesome. However, I see so much negativity in Facebook groups and forums towards 3.31 rear gears, that seems unfounded because everything I see shows it being on par or better than previous generations that used the much more aggressive 3.73 gear gear set.
If you were putting on larger tires I would certainly opt for the more aggressive rear end ratio. If you were towing very heavy which most users are not, I would opt for the 3.73 rear gears.
Since Ford made essentially a trailer towing package standard on every 2024 F-150, you're no longer limited like you used to be by lower weights. My truck does not have the actual "trailer tow package", and I'm rated for 9,500 lb. Those are 3/4 or 1 ton numbers to me so anything 7000 or below is right in range for what I will eventually be doing. Especially with my just under 2,000 lb of beautiful payload lol.
In summary, if you're towing reasonable weights, daily driving, road trips etc the 3.31 gives you the benefits of the more aggressive trucks of the past paired with the fuel economy benefits of today from the extra transmission gears. This is likely why it's in so many of Ford's trucks.
By no means do I care or I'm saying don't buy an aggressive ratio. It's simply to put it out there that it is not some sluggish combination that so many have peddled it as being. You need to buy what works for you but seeing the actual ratios paired with the rear ends might help someone on the fence.
This is the calculator I played around with https://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
My OG four-speed 2004 that I have has a 3.55 rear gear as does my '07 Mustang GT 5 speed manual. The manual is peppy due to the nature of the car. My F-150 5.4 with heavy 22" Harley-Davidson edition wheels and 305-45-22 tires is pretty lethargic despite being tuned. That's an example of too tall a rear end with an antiquated four speed transmission and wide ratios. That is a prime candidate for an eventual 4.10 rear gear swap just for driveability.
I see so many posts on forums and Facebook groups on how 3.31 gears are useless with the 10R80, saying they're slow, not good for towing etc. During my research before buying the truck, I was buying into that hype until I did some digging.
When I dug into the transmission gear calculators that show the ratios as well as the effective ratio when paired with the rear end gear, I realized the 10 speed paired with the 3.31 are more aggressive than a six-speed 3.73 end rear truck.
This chart shows on the left hand side, the 10R80 gear ratios. On the right hand side, it shows the six-speed gear ratios.
What I noticed is how much more aggressive the 10R80 is which logically tells you a taller rear-ender ratio when paired with that more aggressive gear, creates an "equalizer effect."
It gets even more interesting when you look at each truck with the aforementioned rear end ratios: 10R80 with the 3.31 on the left and on the right hand side is a 6r80 3.73 gear arrangement.
What I love about this 10-speed and 3.31 combination is it's providing impressive off the line ratios due to the combination of rear gear and transmission gears. But because it's a taller rear end then say 3.55 or 3.73, it gives you the highway and cruising fuel mileage. This allowed me to get over 27 MPG hand calculated on my recent trip from NC to MA and back through the mountains. You're simply not getting that with an old six-speed truck.
If you were towing very heavy, then sure I see the benefits of people opting for the 3.73 rear gears. But from what I'm observing, that's an even more powerful arrangement then a six-speed 3.73 truck...which is awesome. However, I see so much negativity in Facebook groups and forums towards 3.31 rear gears, that seems unfounded because everything I see shows it being on par or better than previous generations that used the much more aggressive 3.73 gear gear set.
If you were putting on larger tires I would certainly opt for the more aggressive rear end ratio. If you were towing very heavy which most users are not, I would opt for the 3.73 rear gears.
Since Ford made essentially a trailer towing package standard on every 2024 F-150, you're no longer limited like you used to be by lower weights. My truck does not have the actual "trailer tow package", and I'm rated for 9,500 lb. Those are 3/4 or 1 ton numbers to me so anything 7000 or below is right in range for what I will eventually be doing. Especially with my just under 2,000 lb of beautiful payload lol.
In summary, if you're towing reasonable weights, daily driving, road trips etc the 3.31 gives you the benefits of the more aggressive trucks of the past paired with the fuel economy benefits of today from the extra transmission gears. This is likely why it's in so many of Ford's trucks.
By no means do I care or I'm saying don't buy an aggressive ratio. It's simply to put it out there that it is not some sluggish combination that so many have peddled it as being. You need to buy what works for you but seeing the actual ratios paired with the rear ends might help someone on the fence.
This is the calculator I played around with https://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
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