[Editor’s note: This article has been updated since its original post in August 2015.]
We had a caller last Saturday on the Car Pro Show who was unhappy with the fuel economy of his truck. This is one of two common problems I hear all the time: 1). My pickup gets horrible fuel economy, or 2). My pickup doesn’t do a good job towing my trailer.
When I get these questions, I always ask which rear axle ratio the caller has, and I would guess 90% of the time, the caller doesn’t know. People go to dealerships way too often focused on color, comfort, engine size, etc. The rear axle ratio should be at the top of the list, no matter what you are going to use your pickup for. If not towing, you want the best fuel economy you can get, and if you are towing, you want to make sure your truck will do the job.
Automakers Offer Variety of Axle Ratios
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There is good reason automakers offer a variety of different axle ratios. The axle ratio refers to the gears in the truck’s differential, which is a mechanical device that links the rear axle to the driveshaft and then the engine. Four-wheel-drive trucks will have a matching ratio in the front axle’s differential.
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Step one in understanding axle ratios is to know what the numbers signify. The lower the number, the better fuel economy, and the higher the number the more towing power you have, but fuel economy suffers. For instance, a 3:31 gets better fuel economy than a 3:73. On the other hand, a 3:73 or perhaps a 4:10 will tow much more, while fuel economy greatly drops. The most popular rear end ratio in trucks today is the 3:55, which sort of averages towing…