Will some one please give me a rundown of rear ale gear ratio. each time i think i get it figured out, I get confused. Whats better for what? I just found a sticker on my rear axle that says 3.55. This is one subject i just cant catch on to.

 

Your question is kind of vague....at least the "better for what" part. Usually people only change gears when they change tire sizes. The larger the tire...the higher numerically they go in gear ratio.

I guess an example would be you with your 3.55s. 265 would be the biggest I'd go in tire size with those gears (and an auto transmission), though some go with 285s. In my opinion, you should step up to 4.10s if you plan on going larger in tires. Or 4.56s...or 4.88s depending on how large you'd go in tires.

There are also some that change them for off-roading and some that change them for drag racing. But it all depends on how your vehicle is setup as to what gears you want to go with, and what your goals for the vehicle are.

They also help out GREATLY with towing.

 

well thats part of my question, whick ratio is better for towing, mudding, city travel, highway travel....etc is 3.55 a good ratio for me having 265's. Running at high speeds would be a goal for my vehicle, with the best possible gas mileage. I dont really do any towing and no mudding being 2wd. The rear end is an "anti spin diff", im assuming posi trac.

 

3.55 is fine or that if your looking to get the most hiway milage. 3.73 would be alittle better for off the line and alittle towing. if you tow alot the 4.10

 

Rap. I got the same set up as you for the most part but running the stock 245's. With the 3.55 gears you will do fine for the type driving it sounds like you want to do. It's a real PITA and fairly expensive to change gears for such a little difference. The 3.55's work great for fast rolling on highways. If your truck came with stock 245's, by putting the 265's on, you effectively changed your gears to let's say 3.45's. Your low end acceleration will be a little slower and if you tow a heavy trailer, it will be noticeable perhaps but once you get rolling, 65-80 will be no problem. As for gas consumption, above 75mph trucks really bruise the air. They are not aerodynamically built for traveling high speed and gas mileage suffers but cruising at 70-75 with 3.55's and 265's would be no problem and you will still have plenty of reserve for passing a 4.11 equipped Ford. If cruising around town and towing at low speeds with starts and stops is your type of travel, then I would consider the change to 4.11's if you want to get any bigger tires.

 

Thanx....yes my truck was stock with 245's. Is that larger than most stock tires for the 2nd gen? you guys solved my question. and no Crab i dont plan on going any bigger than what i got. If i try to fill the fender well any more it'll be by lowering the rear end a little but i like it as is. As far as passing the ford, when i do that im thinking of other things than mpg. but i do try to keep my lead foot not quite so deep while daily driving.

 

The 245 was the stock tire for my truck. I would have liked to have gone to 285 but I felt with 3.55's it would be a dog at low speed. I think the 245's look small on the Ram but I'm happy with the ride and mileage so I kept it stock. I was surprised how much better the BFG A/T's rode over the stock Goodyear A/T's. If your going to stick with 265's or smaller, keep your 3.55's until you hit the lottery.