2000 2500 4x4 diesel auto.
So, with my 35" tires and my super terrible ****ty 3.55 ratio, I really need some damn gears. I need my pulling power back. I have no torque until I hit 45. Also, I bought this truck with the 35"s.

I have Dana 70 rear, 35" tires. Do I want 4.10's or 4.56's? I need to keep some mpg's, but I gatta get my torque to the pavement. I was pulling maybe 3500 lbs at the most, and it sucked. But as soon as I was on the highway, I had all the power I could even want.
So, I've never even looked at gears before. Don't know anything about what brands, where to get them, what the cost is for installing them, what else I need to install them. I may be good with a wrench, but I know I'm good enough to NOT tackle a gear swap to set pinion depth, or pre-load, or shim it right, or any of that, so I'm gonna have someone else do it.

Also, I'm gonna be moving half way across the country here in 2 months and I'll be towing my car behind my truck. If I dont get the gears before that, what am I looking at here for possible issues with the transmission? I've got a nice sized tranny cooler, but I dont want to break anything in the middle of no where when I'm moving.

What is this **** gonna cost me? Rough estimate. I mean I hate it when guys come on and ask, yeah whats this gonna cost me, what's this gonna cost me, but in all honesty, I've been googling for days, and searching on here and while. I read the gears sticky in the DIY section. I see gear sets go for anywhere from $200-$400, I'm just looking for a daily driver here. No lockers, nothing special, just pull my **** as I need too and have some damn power again.
Also, is it a bad idea to buy used gears? Like if I find a 2500 at the junk yard with a 70 rear and 4.10's can I get those or is that generally a no no.

If this is gonna cost me more than $700 I'm just gonna get smaller tires. I want to do this as inexpensively as possible (notice I said inexpensively, not cheap), used parts where I can. I'm no rich guy, but I won't sacrifice my rig for my shallow pockets.

Tell me anything else I'm gonna need to know. And what is this about 4x4's having to have to same ratio in the front and rear? If thats the case, then I'm just getting smaller tires. It'll be cheaper.

 

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500, parts and labor. With the 35" tires, normally I would suggest the 4.56 gears, but, you have der diesel...... so, you could conceivably get away with 4.10s.... but, I still think you would be happier with the 4.56. (gets engine RPM back into the range it was when it stock tires.)

Yukon gears, or, most any other brand that the gears are actually made right here in the states will do ya.

If you don't change gears before the move, keep it out of overdrive. aside from that, your trans is MUCH stouter than any of the gas powered trucks, prolly not much to worry about.

 

Yes if you have a 4x4 you need to do the front gears as well as the rears otherwise when you put it in 4wd you will break something but if you keep it in 2wd it'll be fine just to do the reads then come back to it later....

 

Hmm, so I should probably just downsize the tires then. I mean I don't wheel much and if I do any, its easy stuff, and usually to pul out my dumb *** buddy that purposely gets stuck cause he knows I can get him out, lol.

Too bad though, these tires are all brand new now. I had to buy them 2 at a time.

As for keeping it out of overdrive, I already knew that trick from my previous 1500's. But If i'm doing 65 on mostly straight highway's, this is still gonna be a problem?

Also, Heyyou, thanks a lot, You always reply to my threads and my dumb questions. Your the man bud.

 

The problem with O/D, and towing isn't speed... it's heat. Running in O/D warms the fluid quite nicely even without a load..... with the added weight, comes added heat.... I am unsure if it is as much of an issue with the heavier duty transmissions.... but, I think I would rather pay for a bit more fuel, than a trans rebuild. Could always install a trans temp gauge. If temp starts going over 180 or so, take it out of O/D.

So, how much did you spend on tires? Just doing the rear gears, and ignoring the expensive stick until you can afford the fronts isn't a bad idea either.

Happy to be of service.

 

My wholesale cost on the tires was ~ $1100 total for all 4. BF Goodrich All terrains.

I think I'm gonna go dig into the savings buy a good set of used 265's and sell these 35's. Should have done a lot more homework before i jumped the gun, but ya gatta learn somehow right?

I'm sure I can sell these on craigslist. Somebody will want them. Too bad I'll lose some of the height of this rig. I do love being tall.

 

Where ya at? I might be interested in your 35's.

 

Haha I'm in NY. Albany area. That's a hell of a drive man!

Although I'll be honest, for you man I'll meet you in buffalo, ny.

 

Yeah, that's quite cruise for tires. Ah well.

 

Yes it is.

So if I bump my size down to a 285/75/16, I should be fine with the 3.55's, correct? Thats a 32.8 so I'm losing 3 inches, but I think She'll still have the look I want.