303 with F-250 6.2

**fastalkintn** · 04-07-2019, 07:57 PM

This is my first post but have been reading for days. We have decided on a 303rls which will require a new truck. I have read lots of posts of folks pulling a 303 with a F-250 with the 6.2 but very few have commented on gearing. The 3.73 is only rated for 12,500 towing and the 303 has a gvwr of 11,995. Are you pulling this with 3.73 or do you have the 4.30 gears? If so, how does it perform? The reason I ask is I can’t find a 6.2 with the 4.20 anywhere and I’m not sure I can stand the wait to order. Thanks in advance for any input.

**jasonl78** · 04-07-2019, 08:12 PM

This is a tough one! A lot is going to depend on where and how often you pull. For my personal situation, I decided to go 6.4L Hemi and 3.73s. I pull like 5 times a year and mostly on relatively flat roads. Most miles on my truck are empty so I chose 3.73s for the mileage. My fifthwheel is 11k loaded. I average around 8-9 mpg pulling. Empty I get 15 up to 19 mpg. I'm pretty light footed though. My truck handles it well.

If I lived somewhere else where there were hills or mountains, I'd at least consider 4.30s but would suggest diesel first. Gas is viable in many circumstances but those who went diesel certainly appreciate the broad torque band.

Let us know what you decide.

**ksbowman** · 04-07-2019, 08:14 PM

I pull my 303rls with a Dodge ram 2500 5.9 diesel and a 3.54 rear gears and it pulls it great. Mountains and plains. Set the cruise normally unless it's really hilly. I would expect the same with the Ford. Surprised the 3.73 is only rated for 12,500.

**Cate&Rob** · 04-07-2019, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by fastalkintn

This is my first post but have been reading for days. We have decided on a 303rls which will require a new truck. I have read lots of posts of folks pulling a 303 with a F-250 with the 6.2 but very few have commented on gearing. The 3.73 is only rated for 12,500 towing and the 303 has a gvwr of 11,995. Are you pulling this with 3.73 or do you have the 4.30 gears? If so, how does it perform? The reason I ask is I can’t find a 6.2 with the 4.20 anywhere and I’m not sure I can stand the wait to order. Thanks in advance for any input.

Hi fastalkintn,

Something to consider is that (if you tow with empty tanks) you would have a difficult time loading a 303RLS to GVWR. We purposely pack lightly, but “snowbird” for 5 months with about 1200 lbs of “stuff” above the UVW. So, less than 10,500 lbs.

We have a much broader torque curve with the 3.5L Ecoboost than you will have with the 6.2L but similar max HP and torque. Ours with the 3.73 axle does just fine. Remember that most of the miles on your truck (maybe 80%+) will be non-towing. You really don’t want to be paying the fuel price penalty of the 4.20 for all those miles.

Rob

**GeoffnCheri** · 04-07-2019, 08:23 PM

I will weigh in although I have a F-250 6.7L with a 3.31 gearing. Although there is an obvious difference in the torque (gas vs diesel), I have had no issues with the 3.31 gearing and pulling the 303 and I would think you would be fine with 3.73. You would overload the 303's GVWR before you exceeded the 3.73 towing rating. Your gas F-250 will likely have a higher payload capacity than a diesel F-250.

We had our F-250 prior to purchasing our 303. If I were going to purchase again, I would go with an F-350 as there is virtually no difference in cost between the two, however the payload gained is about 1000 pounds on a SRW. I think a DRW forces a diesel option. The gearing on these new trucks is plenty to pull a 303, especially 3.73 gearing for a 303.

I'm not making this a gas vs diesel reply, but I if you are wanting to stay with gas, my recommendation would be to strongly consider and F-350 SRW based on pretty much the same cost as an F-250, while gaining another 1000 pounds in payload which you would likely find handy.

**jasonl78** · 04-07-2019, 08:39 PM

Fastalkintn,

Can you tell us what configuration truck you're looking at? We know its an F250. Crew cab? Super cab? Regular cab? What box length? Is it 4x4 or 4x2? All of those have an impact on your tow rating.

I personally 2nd the notion for going to the F350 but be aware that in certain configurations that an F350 is rated to tow less than an F250. For instance an F250 Crew Cab 4x4 with 6.2L gas and 3.73s is rated to tow 12,500. The same F350 is only rated for 12,200. You gain a good amount of payload but the added weight seems to sacrifice some on towing. Maybe it's a non issue for you right now but perhaps you choose to upgrade and go bigger in the future.

Another forum member here runs an F350 with 6.2L and 4.30s and believes it's really only about 0.5 mpg different. Trucks today have more gears to help improve economy. If I did it again, I'd consider going 4.10s in my Ram. But as I have said and others too, no real complaints with 3.73s.

**MarkRizRV** · 04-08-2019, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by fastalkintn

This is my first post but have been reading for days. We have decided on a 303rls which will require a new truck. I have read lots of posts of folks pulling a 303 with a F-250 with the 6.2 but very few have commented on gearing. The 3.73 is only rated for 12,500 towing and the 303 has a gvwr of 11,995. Are you pulling this with 3.73 or do you have the 4.30 gears? If so, how does it perform? The reason I ask is I can’t find a 6.2 with the 4.20 anywhere and I’m not sure I can stand the wait to order. Thanks in advance for any input.

I had to order the ford with the 4.30 gears from the factory, it took 4 week to get which is not to bad. The 4.30 tows up to 15,000 lbs. Gas mileage on 80 % highway about 14.5, I hope it gets better mpg with summer blend premium gas. It tows the current rig great and it should have no problem with a 303 in the future
Mark

**Russ Olin** · 04-08-2019, 07:44 AM

If you are going with the 6.2 gas the best way to go is 430 gears. I have this set up in my 2012 F-250. And I pull in the mountains in south west Colo every where I go.
I would not consider 373 gears where I live. I also pull a 1000 gal. water trailer that weight 10500 lbs loaded. And the 430 gears work well for pulling that much weight.
With gas engines & heavier loads always run the low gears. I have pulled RV trailers years ago over all the mountain passes in southwest Colo. With a 460 V-8 4 speed manual & 410 rear end gears.
Long before there were high powered diesels.

**Jerryr** · 04-08-2019, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by fastalkintn

This is my first post but have been reading for days. We have decided on a 303rls which will require a new truck. I have read lots of posts of folks pulling a 303 with a F-250 with the 6.2 but very few have commented on gearing. The 3.73 is only rated for 12,500 towing and the 303 has a gvwr of 11,995. Are you pulling this with 3.73 or do you have the 4.30 gears? If so, how does it perform? The reason I ask is I can’t find a 6.2 with the 4.20 anywhere and I’m not sure I can stand the wait to order. Thanks in advance for any input.

Brandon Ford has lots of F250s in stock with 6.2L and 4.3 gears.
https://www.brandonford.com/new-ford...y-srw-tampa-fl

Here’s a nice one. STX pkg, 4x4 https://www.brandonford.com/vehicle-...fl-id-29556164 MSRP $48.3k sale price $39.7k

Jerry

**Bamaman** · 04-08-2019, 07:58 AM

You didn't say how often and how far you will be towing your 303. If you're going to be a travelin' man, go the diesel. If you're just towing short distances or relatively close to your home, go with the 6.2 and the 3.73 gear.