Gears for 31's with 4 cyl.

[trailblazr81]

Hey guys Im looking for a 93-95 Ranger 2wd 4 cylinder 5 speed to commute to work in. The hot rodded Mustang is killing me on gas. It will be just a commuter truck with a few runs to dump, Home Depot, camping. But I can never leave good enough alone. I plan to do some air intake and exhaust work to try and free up a few hp and maybe help mileage. I was also thinking of maybe lifting it 2-3" and running some 31" tires and adding a cheap locker. Make it look a little better and help me out when Im camping or fishing at the lake. So after reading all this heres the question. What would be the best gears for the 31's? And also is this gearset a factory option so that maybe I can get lucky and find a complete axle at a junkyard, or a gearset on ebay cheap?

Thanks guys!!

[MAKG]

You want a commuter truck for mileage?

I'd suggest rethinking that. For mileage, you get something small and light. Like a Prius.

[trailblazr81]

Well commuter for me is something getting 22-26 MPG. The 15-19 MPG the Mustang is getting is not great.

[BDAB]

you wont get 22-26 with a ranger on 31's with a 4 cyl .... sorry dude ........ buy the truck camping, put 31's on it with 4.56 or 4.88 gears no smaller than 4.10 and buy a $1500 saturn SL2 tat gets 37 mpg to comute in.

[linuxman2003]

+1 on the mileage issue. My truck with 4.56 gears and 30" tires only averages about 20~21 mpg. (almost entirely highway)

[4x4junkie]

31s on a 4cyl = 4.56 gears.

My Ranger with 4.0L on 33s gets 21 MPG on the highway, I can't see why a little 4cyl couldn't do at least 23-24 :confused:
I would agree though, a small to mid-size car (Ford Focus, Honda Civic, etc) would do much better

[brendank]

I think that's a reasonable range for that truck. I consistently get low 20's in my s/c ranger with a 4.0L, 4.56's, and 35's. On occasion I've gotten as high as 26mpg.

[AngloSaxon]

I get 26-27 with 4cyl + 4.56 + 31's

[Wicked_Sludge]

your mustang gets 19MPG....your truck will get 26 MPG at most.

accounting for the cost of the initial purchase of the truck, $4-500 for tires, $500 or so for gears, and say $400 for intake and other bolt-on goodies...it is going to take you a VERY long time for this truck to be cost effective. but to each his own i guess...

i paid $600 for my escort, it gets 34 (as high as 39) MPG, paid for itself in 5 months, and its continuing to save me money, even considering some PM here and there and my upcoming tire purchase for it.

[BDAB]

I don't know what you guys are doing differently, my explorer never got more than 21 and usually got 16. that was with 31x10.50/15, 3.73 L/S, non functioning A/C (ofcource it had 498,xxx when it met an early demise in the spokane river)

I did consistently get 23 with an 89 base 2wd with a 4cyl/5spd/ stock tires/ no A/C but that was on a 75 mile oneway commute. I had a 91 with a 4.0L/ automatic/2wd/ with the A/C on all the time/ on stock tires with 3.73 open that got 22 on the hwy and 17 around town.

[LearjetMinako]

+1 with everyone else.

If you're looking for a communter truck, best to revise your thinking a few notches down. A good start would be a new 2002+ Ranger with a 2.3 Duratech. Or a good used older model with a 4-cyl. 31" tires, I would recommend at least a 4.56 rear end. I have 225/70R15 tires on a 3.73, 1" over stock, and I get around 21-22mpg city, and 24-27mpg highway (speedometer is corrected).

[4Banger]

Before i sold mine i was getting anywhere between 24-26 with my 4 cyl on 30's and that was with stock gears.

[Roger]

Before I took my 90 Ranger 4x4 with 2.3 and 31s, 5 speed and 4.10s off the streets, I was getting 28 or so MPG with my commute. 45 miles each way. Now, you won't win any speed competitions, the mountain pass I crossed each way wasn't in a hurry either. Would be better with 4.56s, and since it is getting some rebuild work and 35s, I will be looking for axles with 4.88s... But doubt it will be commuting...