3.55s and towing question

[UnlimitedLove]

I know have 4:10s in my truck and get horrid gas milage. This weekend I took a trip down to London, KY from Cincinnati, OH and back and ran 60mph and my mpg's were 20!! At 65 I'm at 16mpg and at 70 it drops all they way to 13mpg.

So, who on here has 3:55s or the higher gears and tow? The only think I tow is my jeep and that's roughly once a month maybe twice 1 our of every 3 months.


If I swap out the gears will I regret it when the Jeep is behind me?



Thanks in advance!

[RobW]

My 95 PSD uses 3.73's and I averaged about 19.1mpg overall until I parked it. Towing, it dropped to about 15mpg w/ a tall trailer, but 16-17 with my car in tow. Pulling a loaded trailer was never a problem for me, seeing that mileage even at 70mph. Low end isn't a problem either, since diesels are torque monsters.

3.55's aren't all that different, but either would be better on fuel then 4.10's, which are fairly steep for road use anyway. Noting the economy differences you have, 60mph might just be a fine answer! In that part of the country, you're not far below speed limits anyway. 3.55's should allow better mileage and no worries towing as you do.

[sirnunya]

it might be worth it if you do the labor yourself. i don't know if you're 4x4, but 3.73 would be as high as you could go if you are. if you're just 2wd, you can go down to i think a 3.08 gear. 3.55 would be fine with a low to the ground 2wd truck. i would spend my money on something else. I've had my gears changed, doesnt really affect mpg much. go too high and you have to rev it hard to get up to speed, go too low and your taching too high at freeway speeds

[99bigred]

3.73s and 35" tires and it towed an 11k 5th no problem.

[Gruss]

I hate my 3.55 for towing. If I tow in OD, I'm below 2000 rpm at 65mph. In drive, I'm turning, about 2400 at 65. I'd like to be at 2100 for towing. So I either stay out of OD and drive 55 mph, or In OD running about 70 mph. I miss my old 4.10's for towing. I think a nice gear would be the 3.743's