I am not that up on gears myself except for my situation where I tow a 9000 lb fifth wheel camper. cereal Killer on another thread mentioned that 4.88 gears would go great with 37's. Randys Ring and pinion has some good info, good products, and is a good resource in helping you determine where you should go. I'd have to say somewhere at a minimum of 4.10 and maximum of 4.88, probably preferably somewhere close to the middle depending on how you want to use your truck (mudding, highway, just offroading, etc.)

Hope this helps.

 

I'm just running an open gear. Really for what I do, the extra expense of a locker or limited slip is not somehting that I can justify.

 

There is a big difference between gear choice for 285's and 35's. So you should decide what tire you want to run before you change gears. If your staying with 285's, then go with 4.10. If you going with 35's, 4.56.

 

I thought you had to change the rear carrier when you go with a lower gear ?? i could be wrong..

 

I dont think so, I know you have to get a thicker ring for the dana 44

 

If you are currently running3.55 gearsin a Dana 44 you must get the thicker gear to go to 3.90 and above. If you are already have the larger Dana 44 carrier for the 3.90 and above I was told it would work for the higher ratios. The Chrysler 9 1/4 inch can use the same carrier for all ratios. That's why I purchased the 4.10 Dana 44 carrier with the ring and pinion.

 

ohhh , i mist that part...damn still a hell of a deal..

 

Thanks Silver

Let me ask you this...I do plan on going up to 35's eventually. So should I go ahead and get 4.56 gears now while runnin the 285's or stick with stock until then? I ask because I can feel a lag in the performance. Keep in mind that this is a daily driver and I'm concerned with speed and performance, not off-roadin and muddin.

Thanks again

 

I'm not sure how 4.56 and 285's would be.

 

Based upon the replies to this thread, unless you've the extra money to drop in a set of 4.10's right now I'd recommend staying with the factory gears until you really know what you're gonna do with the truck. If you're gonna do a lot of the muddin thing with 35's then yea bump up to 4.56's. If the trucks staying your DD and you just go out and play once in awhile, you're probably better off with a set of 4.10's. They'll improve your daily power while giving you a much better response with 35's than the 3.55 gears will. The 4.10's probably won't kill your gas mileage as bad as the 4.56's will, but if you're mudding alot,fuel economy isnot really a concern.