Im running 32's on my 96 xj with 3.55 gears and At transmission. I tow a small popup camper in very hilly country. She does everything I need her to do until I load her down. I need someone to explain to me how regearing works beside the proverbial "it raises your rpm's". If I'm towing up hill and downshift to 2nd gear to get my rpm's up. Is it really going to make that much difference to switch to 4.56 gears and turn the same amount of rpm's in 3rd gear? I hope i asked that correctly?
Thanks,
Don

 

Your gears controll how fast your tires spin at certain rpms. like the gears on a bicycle. 1st gear on a bike has less teeth on the sprocket so the chain grabs teeth less often as your peddling (peddling fast, going slow, makes it easy uphill because you leggs are pumping more times per tire turn) where 5th gear has more (peddling fast, going fast, more work up hill because every time you pump your legs, the tire turns with resistance)

That being said, in your jeep, if your pulling uphill with lower gears, it will be easier on the engine (every turn of tire has more revolutions of the engine behind it) so you will get better millage/power (esspecially with larger tires (more resistance) and you shouldnt have to downshift at all, but your top speed will drop a little bit (no bicycle 5th gear

so yes it will make a difference

 

Adding to what is said above, it will be easier on your motor and transmission. If you're towing along with the added weight of the tires you're creating a lot of stress.

I wouldn't tow anything without lower gears and a transmission cooler. Also with proper fluid in the rear differential.

 

Will take stress off your engine, and change your effective final drive ratio.. Definitely worth it. Or, if you swap a V8 in, 3.55s will be fine. Ha.

 

You wont even feel that trailer. Look into a cooler for sure

 

with the gear change you'll shift to 2nd automatically when needed

 

Thanks folks! I did put a cooler on it when I first bought the jeep and it has helped dramatically. It was burning the fluid quick when I first bought the jeep. I've got an old j series jeep pickup for parts but it looks like it will be more trouble than it's worth to use the differentials. But i do have a 258 crank when the day comes for an engine rebuild. My motor just runs to good to change right now and it looks like the other threads I've read have a mutual consensus that even a stroker needs lower gears with 3.55 gears.
Thanks,
Don

 

I found an 8.8 rearend in my brother's salvage yard today with a 4.10 gear out of a 2000 ranger. I don't see anything to keep me from installing it. But I'll have to install the gears in my front D30. I've seen the ring and pinions for sale on-line for as little as $160. Are there certain brands to stay away from?

 

I had to change my carrier to use the 4.10s on the D30. You prolly already know this but make sure your the R&P you get is for a HP.