Need help with installing the right gears.

Hey everyone,

I'm new to trucks (kinda, first car up to this point was a '69 El Camino)so be easy on me. I just put on a set of BFG A/T KO2 265/75r16 and was wondering what gear ratio would be best to help push her along a little better. I see 4.10, 4.56 and 4.88 mentioned. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

 

A few links...
Search GEAR CALCULATOR
http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
http://ringandpinionservice.com/differential-gear-calculators

 

What size were your original tires, and what are your current gears?

 

Thank you for these links, I'll check them out.

 

They were the original 245/75r16. As far as I know the gears are stock as well; don't know though.

 

The 'axle code' that indicates what gear ratio you have, should be on the information plate on the driver-side door pillar. At least thats where it is on my 1st gen. For example: my axle code is B04A. The '04' means I have 4.56 gears.

 

Your truck has 4.10s stock. 4.88 is the only ratio I'd consider. Anything less won't be worth the money and effort.

 

Whether it's worth the money and effort may be true for you, but it is completely subjective. I changed from 4.10s to 4.56s and added a true trac. It was certainly worth the money and effort for me. My truck is a daily driver that sees at least 2 roundtrips a year over 3,000 miles each at interstate speeds. It is a base model. I have upgraded suspension and gears and am still well below what many paid for their TRDs. For me, it is still well worth the effort for a truck I drive every day and plan to drive for many more years. If it was a weekend or trail rig, I would have gone lower.

What gears you need really depends on tire size and driving conditions. Is it a daily driver? Will you be driving at interstate speeds every day? Do you plan on going bigger than 265/75/16s? Do you tow? What are your expectations?

 

OP,
Since you have a manual trans, the tire size you specified will be awesome w/ 4.56's. If you had an auto trans like I do, 4.88's. Been there, done that with that tire size.
I currently have 285-75-16's and still have the auto trans. That combo is perfect w/ 5.29's which I also have. If you decide to up-grade to the same tire size as I, you will be fine w/ 4.88's.

Your motor/ trans configuration would also be fine w/ 35's which would be awesome w/ 5.29's.

Hope this helps you.

 

Thank you all for the great advice. I think I'm going to go with 4.56's and will look into the TrueTrac addition as well. This truck is mainly a daily with light off-roading to escort clients on and off the firing range. Again, thanks all for the help!