• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

The Horse with no name...


-Nathan-

Well-Known Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Messages
1,919
Reaction score
39
Points
48
Location
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Vehicle Year
1993 / 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
HO 5.0 / 7.3 PSD
Transmission
Manual
My rule of thumb with 4.0 RBV's is 33's=4.56 gears, 35's=4.88 gears. And thats with a 4.0, with anything smaller than that, go lower. Even with 4.56's and 33's on my first ranger I wished I had gone with 4.88's. Very rarely do you ever hear people complaining of their gearing being too low, everyone always wants more gearing. If youre going to go through the hassle of re-gearing, go low and do it right the first time.
 


86MUDRCJ

Active Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
1,377
Reaction score
8
Points
38
Location
Sheridan, CA
Vehicle Year
1986
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
I plan to run 5.13 with 37's and a 2.9. But thats as far as id like to go with it being a dd.
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
My rule of thumb with 4.0 RBV's is 33's=4.56 gears, 35's=4.88 gears. And thats with a 4.0, with anything smaller than that, go lower. Even with 4.56's and 33's on my first ranger I wished I had gone with 4.88's. Very rarely do you ever hear people complaining of their gearing being too low, everyone always wants more gearing. If youre going to go through the hassle of re-gearing, go low and do it right the first time.
I would like to take the gear low. But being my DD eventually, when is going low going too low? I need to figure out which gears to run and still make it streetable.
 

kryptonitecb

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
1,313
Reaction score
19
Points
0
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
Search google for a jeep gear calculator. There's a really good one that gives you 2 columns to compare against. I put the stock 4.0 numbers against the tire size I want to run to find the best matchup. In the end I found the 4.0 with 37's ran closest to stock rpm's with 5.13 or 5.38 gears.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic
 

dhkonrad

2013 Offroad TOTY
Supporting Member
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
2013 Truck of The Year
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Nov 8, 2010
Messages
890
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
Auburn California/ Boise Idaho
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
Mines a DD and the 5.13s really aren't that bad. A little low if you do a lot of freeway diving, but I don't mind driving a little slower on the freeway. I think it came out to be like 2800 rpm at 65mph
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
Mines a DD and the 5.13s really aren't that bad. A little low if you do a lot of freeway diving, but I don't mind driving a little slower on the freeway. I think it came out to be like 2800 rpm at 65mph
2800?!? Seriously? I wouldn't be able to keep it on the road if I had to buy fuel for those gears. I need to keep the RPM's down.
 

kryptonitecb

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
1,313
Reaction score
19
Points
0
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
At 65 that's about right

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
Not the cars and trucks I've been driving. 2100-2200 should be the max rpm speed at 65 mph.
 

kryptonitecb

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
1,313
Reaction score
19
Points
0
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
Each engine has its own optimum rpm. You can't use a generic rpm range to determine your gearing needs.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic
 

dhkonrad

2013 Offroad TOTY
Supporting Member
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
2013 Truck of The Year
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Nov 8, 2010
Messages
890
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
Auburn California/ Boise Idaho
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
And lower rpm doesn't NECESSARILY mean better mpg... before gearing I could pull 85 mph and be at like 2600 rpm. I got like 12 mpg...
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
And lower rpm doesn't NECESSARILY mean better mpg... before gearing I could pull 85 mph and be at like 2600 rpm. I got like 12 mpg...
And after gearing, what's your fuel mileage like at 85 mph?
 

6.2

Active Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
1,287
Reaction score
11
Points
38
Location
Rural Manitoba, Canada
Vehicle Year
2006
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2800 is high for freeway at 65 mph.

I'm sitting at around 2200 ish at 65 mph and get 19 MPG.... 2800 is to high For mpg purposes.

Before my tire size increase (in only on 32's now) I was doing 65 @ 2400 or so. And getting 17-18 mpg.

4.88's would probably be pretty good for 37's and a 4.0 IMO.
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
But imho the maximum size tire that I think a D30 will handle is 35's. And even then I'll probably have to weld a truss on it. I've got a set of 31's but eventually I'd like to throw some 33's on. Still need to build some Ironman 4x4 arms. Hopefully my shipments from eBay and Currie get here soon.
 

86MUDRCJ

Active Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
1,377
Reaction score
8
Points
38
Location
Sheridan, CA
Vehicle Year
1986
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
One of my buddies is running 35's on his d30 without a truss, but to each their own. Ive never seen justification to build a truss on such a small axle. As far as gearing he put 4.88 and as soon as he broke the gears in he was talking about going up to 5.13, bit again its all up to what you wanna do. Its your truck.
 

Flash Gordan

Savior of the Universe!!!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
563
Reaction score
7
Points
0
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
One of my buddies is running 35's on his d30 without a truss, but to each their own. Ive never seen justification to build a truss on such a small axle. As far as gearing he put 4.88 and as soon as he broke the gears in he was talking about going up to 5.13, bit again its all up to what you wanna do. Its your truck.
Can I ask, what exactly was he doing when his gears broke?
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Mudtruggy
May Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top