Gearing for Gladiator EcoDiesel

[Jefe1018]

Thanks for the response! I think if i didn't have the rack it may be ok? really where i feel the drag and lack of gearing is when I'm fully loaded with camp gear, a slight incline it starts to hunt for gears, which makes me think it cant be to far off from where it needs to be?

that's great MPG with 37s! mine declined to 18ish on highway averaging 70 mph city driving is really good oddly, its 22-25 40MPH

do you have anything on the jeep when driving? any gear or added weight?

That does happen to me when towing from time to time. I’ll usually just manually leave it in a gear, it’s never a lack of power, the trans just can’t seem to decide which is the best gear. Regearing might fix it, but that’s a lot of wasted warranty, extra expense, etc. for something that might affect drivability even more adversely.

Your mpgs will vary greatly depending on the altitude, Big Bear is quite the climb isn’t it? The rack also likely affects aerodynamics I’m thinking.

I don’t like racks, not a fan of the overlander look. I don’t overland, I camp 3 times a year and need a pickup 2-4 times a month for pick up truck things. I wheel somewhat difficult trails 1-2 times a month. I usually have my tonneau cover shut with my stuff inside for two people and two dogs. Storage has never been an issue. The bed closed is like 2x the space I had in my Xterra so if it doesn’t fit, I don’t need it. Not saying it should be that way for everyone, just how it’s worked out for me and my use case.

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[stickshifter]

I think re-gearing makes a ton of sense. The diesel engine has a fairly narrow power-band, and I would think you would want to keep the ratio between gear size and tire size as close to the factory spec as possible. I would guess something like this for the 3.0 Ecodiesel:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 3.73
37 / 4.10 or 4.30
40 / 4.56

If you want to maximize low-end grunt for towing or off-road crawling, you could adjust:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 4.10
37 / 4.30 or 4.56
40 / 4.56 or 4.88

Does this sound right to folks with experience?

 

[Dynamic Overland]

I think re-gearing makes a ton of sense. The diesel engine has a fairly narrow power-band, and I would think you would want to keep the ratio between gear size and tire size as close to the factory spec as possible. I would guess something like this for the 3.0 Ecodiesel:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 3.73
37 / 4.10 or 4.30
40 / 4.56

If you want to maximize low-end grunt for towing or off-road crawling, you could adjust:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 4.10
37 / 4.30 or 4.56
40 / 4.56 or 4.88

Does this sound right to folks with experience?

I think your right.
I think that accurately matches the gearing tool that Bluescapegoats posted, the 4.10 and 4.30 are really best options to retain factory gearing performance,

now we just all need to call Nitro gear and get these things pushed out already... lol

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

I have been patiently waiting..... maybe if we get enough of us to call them they would hurry it up!! they actually have the ring and pinion for the rear but no the front, apparently once they have them in they can make some gear sets... if you do call Nitro gear... speak with Al, ext 157... hes been my POC over there.....

unfortunately i spoke with Revolution/Yukon and i don't think anyone else will be manufacturing this gear...

Nice set up!! are you running the D44s or did you up to tons? so 40's you'd go 4.30 and not 4.56? i take it your trying to retain as much as i am with the range?
I think my rack is heavier than the jeep LOL (Joking) but it is very heavy.... do you have a rack?

I may just do that! I'll message them first on IG and see what the deal is.
I'm still on the stock 44's and 3.73's. If I was going to do it, I would do 4.10 and not 4.56.
But since I'm running real heavy all the time (I keep everything ready to go), I was contemplating 4.56 but was worried it would be too low for my liking.

I mean, even right now it's not a big deal. I have the pedal commander and its got plenty of get-up-and-go and doesn't really hunt for gears unless its super windy. But, I wouldn't mind getting the RPM's back closer to a stock range and maybe snag another 1mpg

 

[Burghardphotography]

Man I’d kill for a set of 4.30’s. I maybe should even go 4.56 anyways, I’m on my way to being a pretty heavy rig.

 

[Vtur]

I'm on 37s with 4.10 and really like it. I'm not too heavy, f/r steel bumpers and winch. 105lbs each wheels.

 

[Jteakus]

I have a set of 4.10 take outs from a Rubicon gasser. I am on 37 KO2 BFG's. Was dead set to regear until I drove it home from tire shop. It does great with the 3.73's and clicks into 8th at exactly 55. These 4.30's you speak of though......

 

[Jefe1018]

I think re-gearing makes a ton of sense. The diesel engine has a fairly narrow power-band, and I would think you would want to keep the ratio between gear size and tire size as close to the factory spec as possible. I would guess something like this for the 3.0 Ecodiesel:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 3.73
37 / 4.10 or 4.30
40 / 4.56

If you want to maximize low-end grunt for towing or off-road crawling, you could adjust:

Tire / Gear
33 / 3.73
35 / 4.10
37 / 4.30 or 4.56
40 / 4.56 or 4.88

Does this sound right to folks with experience?

You may think that... until you drive one. I'm still under impression that it would still be a stretch.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

I have a set of 4.10 take outs from a Rubicon gasser. I am on 37 KO2 BFG's. Was dead set to regear until I drove it home from tire shop. It does great with the 3.73's and clicks into 8th at exactly 55. These 4.30's you speak of though......

Were all ready for the Nitro 4.30s...... LOL

 

[guarnibl]

Hello everyone!

I'm in need of some assistance and insight from the fellow jeep community on gearing, there has been many different answers on this topic for the at least the 3.6. I used to have a gas 3.6 gladiator Rubicon on 37'S and ran 4.88 from a performance aspect it did great, i did lose some functionality in range and MPG as to be suspected. but was well worth it!,
Many people that i have seen on YouTube as well as local shops have recommend what seems to be odd, 2 very popular youtubers whos name i wont mention, one of which has 5.13 gears and the other said he sees no need to regear the EcoDiesel (Which from what I have experienced is silly) in addition a very popular shop here in California recommended 5.13's, 5.13 in my opinion is way to much at least for my use.... Diesels do not like high RPM 5.13 on the ecodiesel does not seem like a good idea, neither does 4.88.... hoping someone can shed some light on this or maybe provided some professional insight as top why I may be wrong there...


With that being said my primary use for the my jeep is the following,
travel out of the state, off-road, camping. hence why i bought the jeep LOL
-I want Functional MPG, pre lift and tires here in CA i could easily obtain a 23 MPG, after the lift and other items, I am at 18 MPG (Not terrible), which is almost close to the gas 3.6 i was getting 12/15MPG.
I take this vehicle out of the state on long trips and want to retain that ability and functionality of range, in addition occasionally driving 85MPH LOL.
- My wife and I are usually camping at least 2 weekends out of every month, sometimes less sometimes more! during these trips we usually hit some fun trails here in CA (Big Bear) and obviously want my lower range of gears.
-I also have no intention on trailering this jeep, i also have no intention to go 40's.... (Although it would be great!)

Build
I have a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon EcoDiesel, as many of us know comes factory with 3.73 gears.
it has been installed with the following
- 37x12.5x17" Nitto Trail grapplers
- 17" KMC Grenade crawl bead locks
- 4.5" Rock Krawler X Factor Lift
- Front/Rear Adams 1350 Driveshafts
- Factory steel bumpers
-Warn Winch
-Rebel Off-road Mid height bed rack (Has been fitted with goodies) Heavy. weight is not provided on site
-Roam 95L case (Packed) at least 100lbs

Gears
some of you may not know.... but Nitro gear is coming out with a 4.30 Gear set for the M210/M220 Jeep JL/JT its specifically made for the ecodiesel since they states "What you need is really between a 4.10 and 4.56"
i am heavily debating waiting longer for this gear to be released, i have been waiting and informed since October of 2022.
the gears i am debating in my mind are 4.10s 4.56, or continue to wait for the 4.30s my concern is 4.10 is not enough (Or is it?) is 4.56 to high? I want the ability to go 85 still... to some of you that may sound funny... but here in CA people drive fast.... very fast.... at least here in Ventura county not to mention leaving the state and all the open desert 85MPH is comfortable for me.

curious what you guys have done! any insight helps!

Good looking Jeep. If you have quite a bit of weight — along with those heavy 37’s, 4.56’s seem justified to me. I think 4.30’s would be perfect for 37’s. Diesel doesn’t need a lot of gear. IMO even less so than the 392 or at least that’s how it feels to me.

My Gladiator holds 8th gear on 37’s BUT only with no weight. These are 37” KO2’s on stock wheels so quite light. So with weight and elevation change it does drop down from time to time. Not all the time though. I drove an ecodiesel on 40’s and with 4.88’s and it was bliss.

I probably wouldn’t regear to 4.10’s though. I think 4.30 ( once available ) or 4.56 would be ideal. Seems like more of a want than a need though.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I’m running 4.88 gears on 39” ko2s. It drives like stock. Holds 8th gear going 75mph up steep grades.

 

[Rusty PW]

I've been looking into gears for a while because I'm going to 37's. The 4.30's would be the sweet spot with 37's. The 4.10's are just a little short. and the 4.56's are a tad too much. Glad to see someone is going to fill the void.

 

[Chief_jeep]

For my weight: Steel bumpers f/r, steel sliders, winch, Dana 60/70, 1350 drive shafts, 39s w/ beadlocks and a very light artec aluminum rack. If you’re on 40s and heavy I’d recommend 4.88s.

 

[Mbryson]

For my weight: Steel bumpers f/r, steel sliders, winch, Dana 60/70, 1350 drive shafts, 39s w/ beadlocks and a very light artec aluminum rack. If you’re on 40s and heavy I’d recommend 4.88s.

I'm just 4000' down the hill from you. Interesting that you pipe in as I have a set of KM3 on my trail Jeep that I keep trying to put on my JT that's on Mickey Thompson 37" MTZ. It sounds like we have a similar build except I'm on stock axles and the 3.73 gears. I'm in 8th gear all the time but I can't believe swapping to 39" will keep that. (then there's the whole should I even trust the axle joints/housings at that point as well) I'm sure we drive the same roads and ride a lot of the same trails?

In low range, my 3.73 are plenty low. 2wd high, I observe the same as a lot of other folks. I don't "need" gears as I'm in 8th at freeway speeds. However, if I'm running 37" tires when stock was 33", shouldn't I correct to that + a half a gear spread for the weight/wind resistance from the lift/tires?

The opposite of that is thinking of a JK with the 4.10 gears from the factory. Then there's the stock Sport JK that come with the 3.21.

I do think you can run the 37" and 3.73 successfully. A lot of us do. I do wonder how the truck would be with it corrected to "factory"+ half a gear spread.

I have put 10k miles on my 37" tires. I'm pretty comfortable with how the truck runs with the 3.73. I do think it would have better mileage (maybe 1-2 mpg?) and likely better longevity with "corrected" gear ratio to stock?

 

[Steven_B]

My Gladiator is heavy and I am happy with 4.10's and 37" Nitto Recons. Nitro actually did a batch of the 4.30s, but I barely missed the boat when shopping for the gears. I would have gone that way, but again, I am happy with the 4.10s. The Jeep holds 8th gear on everything except the steeper hills. Fuel milage will range from 21-23 on the highway if I try (based on last trip from WA to Southern CAL). Not bad for a Jeep Motorhome ?

Here are some RPM ranges for reference from a couple of days ago.

And the size of the Jeep for reference.

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