Any idea's for new gears?

[Ranger5.0]

ok so Im runing a 302 with an aod and 3.27:1 gears and 31" tires. The trucks constantly gaining weight with each addition of armor and when its fully loaded with a weeks worth of camping gear its a total slug on the highway. Using overdrive is out of the question and it constantly hunts between 2/3 gear when getting into any steepish hills. Im not planing on getting much bigger tires if I do It will be a max of 33s. What gear ratio would be best suited to get this thing back in the game. ?

 

[Downey]

4.10s with 33s

 

[4x4junkie]

No... AOD has overdrive. 4.10 isn't enough for that.

4.56 gears should get back the performance you're looking for

 

[Mac]

Well as a point of reference, I'e got the 4.0L with 4.10 and about 29.5" tires, run at about 2200 rpm at 70 mph and get good performance. Keeping with the 31" tires would put you at about 2100 rpm. With the V-8 you sure ought to be able to pull that, depends on what a weeks worth of camping gear weights.
Dave

 

[Ranger5.0]

so whats the lowest factory gear ratio available? Id rather rape some junkyard trucks then buy new gears

 

[4x4junkie]

You're probably stuck with 4.10s then, unless you can find that uber-rare 4.56 axle said to be in some 98-'99 trucks (or something that's already been geared aftermarket).