Gearing for Gladiator EcoDiesel

[Dynamic Overland]

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!

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[Jefe1018]

I'm a little confused with what you are asking... are you not happy with stock gears and 37's or are you just asking what other people have experienced or recommend based on professional experience where the grass is greener?

To be honest, I am perfectly content with stock gears and 37's with my eco-diesel. I still get 22-25mpg highway depending on grades and speed and 18-19 city driving. At highway speeds I'm between 1500-2000 RPM, which is right in the sweet spot for torque too.

4Lo still provides plenty of control and torque - I think going up any higher would make it almost unusable. The last time I was out I was going 8mph up a steep-ish hill in 5th gear with plenty of power.

I've seen others comments about the right gearing, but I don't think there would be an ROI that I would be content with.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

If 4.30 ends up being a thing, I will be going that route. I'm on 40's and carry a TONNN of weight, but I can still pull 19mph average on the highway. I don't feel like I NEED to re-gear at all, though. However, I do want to. And I've been back and forth over the 4.10/4.56 gear debacle.

I have no real input for you here, but wanted to hop in and let you know that a lot of us are in this situation, I think.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

I'm a little confused with what you are asking... are you not happy with stock gears and 37's or are you just asking what other people have experienced or recommend based on professional experience where the grass is greener?

To be honest, I am perfectly content with stock gears and 37's with my eco-diesel. I still get 22-25mpg highway depending on grades and speed and 18-19 city driving. At highway speeds I'm between 1500-2000 RPM, which is right in the sweet spot for torque too.

4Lo still provides plenty of control and torque - I think going up any higher would make it almost unusable. The last time I was out I was going 8mph up a steep-ish hill in 5th gear with plenty of power.

I've seen others comments about the right gearing, but I don't think there would be an ROI that I would be content with.

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?

 

[Dynamic Overland]

If 4.30 ends up being a thing, I will be going that route. I'm on 40's and carry a TONNN of weight, but I can still pull 19mph average on the highway. I don't feel like I NEED to re-gear at all, though. However, I do want to. And I've been back and forth over the 4.10/4.56 gear debacle.

I have no real input for you here, but wanted to hop in and let you know that a lot of us are in this situation, I think.

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?

 

[Dynamic Overland]

If 4.30 ends up being a thing, I will be going that route. I'm on 40's and carry a TONNN of weight, but I can still pull 19mph average on the highway. I don't feel like I NEED to re-gear at all, though. However, I do want to. And I've been back and forth over the 4.10/4.56 gear debacle.

I have no real input for you here, but wanted to hop in and let you know that a lot of us are in this situation, I think.

I knew your name looked familiar.... we follow each other on Instagram! LOL

 

[BlueScapegoat]

GrimmJeeper Gear Calculator

The cool thing about gear ratios is it's all just math.

4.56s and 40" tires are a dead match to stock RPM with an EcoD Rubicon. 4.56s on 37s will give you more grunt, about 100 rpms worth at highway speed, if I recall, than the factory setup.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

GrimmJeeper Gear Calculator

The cool thing about gear ratios is it's all just math.

4.56s and 40" tires are a dead match to stock RPM with an EcoD Rubicon. 4.56s on 37s will give you more grunt, about 100 rpms worth at highway speed, if I recall, than the factory setup.

that's a cool page! although i have no idea how to use it lol.
how bout them 37's? debating on where i need to go for my set up! if the 4.56goes with 40's its sounding like 4.10 - 4.30

 

[gecko_rubi]

I have the stock 3.73 and your driving (and location) sound very similar to mine except I don’t have the weight of the rack. For reference, I have 37 KO2s (so lighter) with the 2.5” AEV DS. Right now, I am fine on the 3.73 - towing the offroad trailer (up to Big Bear also) I have noticed I would like a little more but that’s not what I do on a daily basis. I have the Derringer and Pedal Monster which I feel have helped a little … not saying those are a substitute for gearing by any means (making that very clear). 4.30s sound VERY intriguing - I’ll be honest I did not know about those. I’ve thought about getting someone’s stock 4.10 takeoffs to get that extra little but haven’t convinced myself the juice is worth the squeeze.

For what it’s worth, I am a firm believer in regearing when it’s appropriate - I threw 5.13s on my LJ over 12 years ago and at that time that was not common but I knew the benefits. At this time, I can’t see throwing 4.56s or 4.88s on my JT

 

[BlueScapegoat]

that's a cool page! although i have no idea how to use it lol.
how bout them 37's? debating on where i need to go for my set up! if the 4.56goes with 40's its sounding like 4.10 - 4.30

Just fill in the drop downs. You've got a ZF 8HP75 for the transmission, put it in both sides, it'll auto populate the gear ratios.
Then your transfercase if you want to see 4lo ratios, NVG241OR.

Then you can say put stock tire size (285/70R17) and gear ratio (3.73) on one side, and new tire size and try out different ratios on the right side and compare RPM at various speed, or speeds at RPMs, etc.

All the way at the bottom it should show you RPM in eighth gear at 70 mph by default.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

I have the stock 3.73 and your driving (and location) sound very similar to mine except I don’t have the weight of the rack. For reference, I have 37 KO2s (so lighter) with the 2.5” AEV DS. Right now, I am fine on the 3.73 - towing the offroad trailer (up to Big Bear also) I have noticed I would like a little more but that’s not what I do on a daily basis. I have the Derringer and Pedal Monster which I feel have helped a little … not saying those are a substitute for gearing by any means (making that very clear). 4.30s sound VERY intriguing - I’ll be honest I did not know about those. I’ve thought about getting someone’s stock 4.10 takeoffs to get that extra little but haven’t convinced myself the juice is worth the squeeze.

For what it’s worth, I am a firm believer in regearing when it’s appropriate - I threw 5.13s on my LJ over 12 years ago and at that time that was not common but I knew the benefits. At this time, I can’t see throwing 4.56s or 4.88s on my JT

Im glad you said it!! i spoke with a couple shops... it seems like the local shops are just used to hearing, jeep gears = 4.88-5.13 without any knowledge of diesels.
i was heavily debating just going with the 4.10 as you mentioned but t doesn't seem enough for what the install cost. im really hoping they get these 4.30s in.... it seems like the magic number after what people are saying in here.

that grade up to bear when im loaded is strenuous...

I had figured if i geared better i may get a little better fuel economy .... fingers crossed lol

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I also have 5.13s in my TJ with 37s, btw. @gecko_rubi is right, people just default to the gasser.

And I also still just have 3.73s in my Glad EcoD with 37s. Hard to justify regearing at the moment but eventually I will, and I'll probably go 4.56s and 40s.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

Just fill in the drop downs. You've got a ZF 8HP75 for the transmission, put it in both sides, it'll auto populate the gear ratios.
Then your transfercase if you want to see 4lo ratios, NVG241OR.

Then you can say put stock tire size (285/70R17) and gear ratio (3.73) on one side, and new tire size and try out different ratios on the right side and compare RPM at various speed, or speeds at RPMs, etc.

All the way at the bottom it should show you RPM in eighth gear at 70 mph by default.

damn that is a cool tool!!!!
so i plugged everything in.... from its calculations 4.30 is the absolute closest to factory when compared to the 4.10 and 4.56 in my jeeps scenario..... it seems only off by 100-130 RPM

the 4.10 seems really close, slightly under!
Thanks for this!!! great info!!!

 

[Jocww]

Im on 37s and stock gearing. and use my JTRD mostly for long road trips to wheeling destinations and in the 18k miles im still at 23mpg. Only a handful of times I wish I had more gear, but then i just throttled it out.

 

[Dynamic Overland]

Im on 37s and stock gearing. and use my JTRD mostly for long road trips to wheeling destinations and in the 18k miles im still at 23mpg. Only a handful of times I wish I had more gear, but then i just throttled it out.

My weight must be restricting my MPG lol there's no way i can get more than 18-19 Highway currently, at least not in my area/freeways ill have to do an average on my next long trip

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