Okay guys, I've got another question to ask. As the summer is approaching, and gas prices the way they are now, I know some of us are probably in for an expensive summer. My truck currently has 285's with I believe stock gears of 3.55. As you could imagine, its quite the sloth. I'm in currently in college living at my dad's house about 45 minutes from where I went to high school/my mom lives. In the summer I like to go back home and hang out with friends a few days a week. But with having a truck that gets on average 13 mpg and regular 87 right now at $3.80/gal by me, with round trip 40 or so miles, it's going to add up. I've even thought about the possibility of selling the truck for a car with better mileage. I know when I first got the truck that I shouldn't be worried with the mileage, but gas back a few years ago also wasn't as bad as this.

So, since I really want to keep the truck, I've been thinking about two things I could do, but I'm not sure which would be the better route to go: 1. Going from 3.55 to 4.10 gears, or going from 285's to 265's. Like I said earlier, I'm currently getting about an average of 13 mpg driving to school (you could call it highway driving, but there are lights so its not like an expressway). Which of the two choices would most likely give me the better increase in mpg? The driving I do consists around 60% highway 40% back roads/normal roads driving. I don't think its that accurate calling it highway because its not like driving on interstates, but more like two lanes with lights every couple of miles. I go into OD very frequently, that is when I finally reach 45 mph. So I'm curious as to whether re-gearing to 4.10 with my 285's will help give me the better boost in acceleration/overall performance and mileage, or will sticking with 3.55 gears and going down to 265's be the better choice? I bought the truck with 285's on them, and they were practically brand new when I bought the truck, about 3 years ago, and plus I didn't know anything about trucks and thought since it looked good, that was what I wanted.

If anyone has any experience on this subject or anyone else wants to comment feel free. I will probably make the decision in about a month/month and a half. Thanks.

 

i've got 4.10 in my 00 offroad and 35's and its gettin bout 16 over all and my old one had stock 3.55 gears and 265 and it got the same but it had a 318 and the new one is a 360

 

Go back to 265's. Cheaper to go down in tire size then spend at least double that cost in gear swaps.

 

I would go with gears, but I like big tires. Even though the cost of gears would be more expensive it would be a permanent change, where the tires will eventually wear out

 

The tires will wear out either way. If you're are looking for mileage 265's would be the best bet. Use the money you would spend on gears and get long tube headers, tune up items, and a sct economy flash. If you keep your foot out of it and drive 65, you can probably squeeze out 17-18 on the highway depending on how many miles are on the motor.

edit: Just read your sig- Another thing you could do that is relatively inexpensive is bumping your t-stat up to 190*

 

I wouldn't do either. If you can't afford gas as it is then spending between $800 and $1500 to squeeze an extra mpg or 2 out of your truck is out of the question. Save the money and put it into gas.

 

Buy a used ricer. Keep the truck. The money you save in gas by using the ricer to work, around town and other times where you don't need to impress the hell out of someonewill pay for the ricer.

But buy one soon the prices for those little Honda's & Hyundai's are going up as gasgets more expensive.

Jeff

 

Yeah, I agree with that as well. If you are in a pinch for money, or are concerned about getting poor gas mileage with gas prices as high as they are today, the best bet would to just hold onto that money and save it for gas. I think upgrading the gears is a great idea, but I wouldn't do it just to save money because it's a pretty expensive job. If you can afford it, 285s with 4.10s is a pretty lethal combination though. I have 4.10 gearing with 35" tires and I get about 12.5mpg city, and 18 highway. At some point down the road I would love to get 4.56s, but for right now, I am better off just cruising nice and slow and saving all the money I can get towards gas. I've just been doing all the small things to save gas. Balance and rotations. Synthetic fluids in the differentials and engine. Installed a k&n intake kit, so little things like that should aid in the gas department, but won't put me out too much to actually pay for gas itself.

 

DODGE360, what do u mean leathal is it good or bad. i have 35' with stock gears, would 4.10 give me better gas milage.summit has dif gears for around 200$ a set so if i get 2mpg more (2x3.50$=7$x20gal=140$x5 fill ups) it will pay for its self. come on no i think im on to somthing, anyone else,is it true,is it true

 

go to 245's or even 225's and/or get a tonneau cover. That's honestly your best/cheapest bet. It'll take 2-3 years to make up the cost of a $450 tonneau cover. $2000 in gears is like 12 years.