4.10 or 4.56 for prerunner/woodsrunner?

[skrape]

Starting Point: 1994-7 Ranger ext cab 4x4, V6.

Running gear:V6 (4.0 is what I hope to find), auto trans, D44 TTB transplant, Exploder 8.8 rear axle transplant with a locker, 33-inch tires.

The Goal: sporty prerunner/woodsrunner, fun in the city, fun on fire roads etc, still capable of minor rockcrawling. (I already have a rockcrawler and it's too slow everywhere else.) Basically an off-road sports car with a bed.

The question: 4.10 or 4.56 gears?

Assuming a stock ratio of 3.55 (I guessed), the calculator http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Gear_Tire_RatioChange.html suggests between 4.18 and 4.56 for 33" tires...

My rockcrawler has 5.29's and that's just way too low for everything that's not crazy rocks. I'm a little paranoid of gearing too low, especially with an auto trans to smooth things out.

What sayeth the forum?

 

[getrdone52]

Hmm... Think you would be happy with both and both have benefits. I would go with 4.56. That way you can go 35's if you decided to go bigger

 

[brinker88]

4.56's definitely. I love mine with 33s AND 35s. It's pretty much a perfect all around gear ratio.

 

[4x4junkie]

I have 4.10s w/33s on mine. It's OK, but that's about it.

Given that, I think your question should instead be between 4.56 or 4.88 gears. With 4.88s, you still should have no issue hitting 100 MPH if you so choose to do so. 4.56 might give you a very slight MPG benefit on the road however.

If less than a 4.0L, then it's between 4.88 & 5.13 gears.

 

[Bennybooster]

If its almost all off road use I would go 5.13 to keep it up in the gears and rpms.

Most desert race trucks with 4.0's and 33's or 35's run in the 6.0 gear range

 

[legoms013]

I have 4.10s w/33s on mine. It's OK, but that's about it.

Given that, I think your question should instead be between 4.56 or 4.88 gears. With 4.88s, you still should have no issue hitting 100 MPH if you so choose to do so. 4.56 might give you a very slight MPG benefit on the road however.

If less than a 4.0L, then it's between 4.88 & 5.13 gears.

^This times a billionity

I have 4.88's and 33's and it is awesome offroad, and perfect for towing. I would consider 4.56's the MINIMUM and 4.10s out of the question.

4.56s would be perfect for 33s, and not quite enough gear "for me" with 35's.

with 4.88s you have the extra grunt for towing or crawling AND have the option to go to 35's comfortably later.

Just for reference, I get 17-19mpg on the highway all day long, and never lower than 16 around town, and I am never light on the throttle.

The extra gear off road is amazing, and it helps here too:

 

[4.0B2]

in my b2.. 4.0/auto/4.56's/33's.. i LOVE it. i started to go 4.10's but Legoms talked me out of it and I'm glad he did.. even for around town, i like the 4.56's.

 

[6.2]

For what you want to do with it, 4.56 for sure imo

 

[gw33gp]

I have been running 4.10 gears with 32" tires. Those gears are at the limit for those tires. If I eventually switch to 33" tires, will definitely be installing 4.56 gears.

 

[6.2]

I'll be running 33's with my stock 4.10's

But I do mostly highway so it only makes sense to stick with em.

 

[skrape]

wow, thanks all - I've been doing more research that backs up the choice of 4.56 or 4.88 for what I'm building.
Thanks for supporting the planning stage... someday soon I'll actually get to start posting a build thread.