Do I need to re-gear?

[D_JT]

We've run both stock and regeared and I can tell you for a fact it was a waste of $3k period. Gained 1 mpg around town, lost 2-3 at freeway speeds. We roadtrip and wheel our Jeeps all over the country so I need the top end as much as the bottom. Like I said, technically you have more torque in a given gear, but outside of 1st gear the auto will run whatever gear you need for the load. Who cares if I'm pulling a trailer up a steep grade in 4th gear with stock gears or 5th gear with deeper gears? The torque is the same at that point and the engine doesn't know the difference of where the final drive ratio is coming from.

$3000?! Holy moly! Is that what a regear costs now-a-days?? Make me happy that I can regear my own Jeeps.

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[Gladiatorx2]

At my elevation in East Tennessee, yes the would help. We are from 900 to 5900 feet above sea level. Not the Rockies. The issues are like on Jellico Mountain where you little meander uphill for 19 miles. I do it every week. I will drop slowly from 8 to 7 to 6th gear going up the mountain and lose almost 2 mpg. I will gain almost the same coming back down the mountain.

One of my previous Gladiator's was a Max Tow and with the 315/70R17 would only drop from 8 to 7th gear. The rpm difference alone for that distance traveled there is a noticeable difference in economy.

So I agree that in Colorado like elevation you are correct. But, in my elevation I stand by my experience.

I also agree with forced induction being of value . I have considered that more so than a gear change.

As far as the op's question I still say that a gear change would help in overall drivability, performance and economy, but only if you drove it for economy. In my case, I just don't see it justified by the expense.

 

[Tommyd]

We've run both stock and regeared and I can tell you for a fact it was a waste of $3k period. Gained 1 mpg around town, lost 2-3 at freeway speeds. We roadtrip and wheel our Jeeps all over the country so I need the top end as much as the bottom. Like I said, technically you have more torque in a given gear, but outside of 1st gear the auto will run whatever gear you need for the load. Who cares if I'm pulling a trailer up a steep grade in 4th gear with stock gears or 5th gear with deeper gears? The torque is the same at that point and the engine doesn't know the difference of where the final drive ratio is coming from.

Good for you. I run a lot of hard trails and which stock gears and 37s 1st and second are to tall and even in 4L it’s much better with 5:13s. 1st is way more crawl friendly. But I guess you just ties yours on the road. That’s ok

 

[Zachanadandy]

Good for you. I run a lot of hard trails and which stock gears and 37s 1st and second are to tall and even in 4L it’s much better with 5:13s. 1st is way more crawl friendly. But I guess you just ties yours on the road. That’s ok

Just mall crawling along...


Mine also sees the top speed governor in the dirt regularly so no I don't need lower gears. Our 4.7-1 1st gear is plenty low enough. My xj needed 4.88s for 35s because it had a 2.84-1 1st gear. With the 8 speed auto you already have the crawl ratio of a TJ, XJ, or early JK with 6.72 axle gears just with my stock 4.10s. If you need more than that you just can't drive in my opinon. How did all those older rigs do it without the 66-1 crawl ratio you think you need? The JLUR is even more ridiculous as it's stock crawl ratio is already 86-1 which is why it will never get regeared from the 4.56s it came with. Even on 39s it's got so much gearing that I rarely even use 1st gear in low range.

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