Gears are good...
 

On my last H2, I did the 4.56 regear immediately when I put bigger tires on it.

4.56's with 37's are the equivalent of 4.11's with factory tires. My last H2 was still too gutless for me so I installed a supercharger.

On my SUT, I skipped the gears, put the bigger tires on and went straight to the supercharger.

I've been driving around for the last almost year with no gears. It sucks. You've all read my tranny issues, the inability to tow and the CRAPPY gas mileage.

I never bought the truck for gas mileage... that's cool. However, averaging less than 8 mpg SUCKS. It's terrible around town and worse when you have to take a loan out to travel 600 miles one way.

So last week I installed the 4.56's.

I've only driven a couple of hundred or so miles but driving 72'ish on the highway and around town, I'm averaging (according to DIC) 12.1 mpg.

Now granted, I'm driving with traffic. I tend to have a lead foot but driving with the rest of the traffic, that's pretty damn good.

I suspect it'll drop down into the 10's when I start driving with my usual heavy foot.

It'll be nice to fill up ever 3rd or 4th day instead of every other day. :D


Mark

Re: Gears are good...
 

Damn I got 37's and was planning on going to 40's. What gearing do you recommend for 40's? I was plannin on doing the 4.56's but if I plan to go to 40's might as well go with the bigger gearing.

Re: Gears are good...
 

4.88's are about as steep as you can go with that housing. Hope you have a bigger than 6" lift. I'm not sure you can get 40's on an H2 with a 6" lift. (without some rubbing)


Mark

Re: Gears are good...
 

Orange Crush did the upgrade help your ability to tow?
I have 37s on my H2 and recently purchased a 6000 lb toy hauler.

MPG while towing is crap, I am assuming around 8 mpg. I am considering buying a diesel truck to tow it around, still debating...

You think the 4.56 gears will substantially help my mpg and power while towing? What is the rough cost of something like that?

Thanks!

Re: Gears are good...
 

Gear are roughly 800 bucks (includes installation kits...)

You will gain roughly 2-3 mpg with gears put back in it.

The ability to tow will definitely increase.

The bigger tires obviously lower your gear ratio. While that may be okay while driving down the highway and it seems like you're turning a lower rpm, then it allows your rpms to be below your powerband of the cam in your engine.... thus no power. (well, less power)

In my case, I had a supercharger. The lower rpms didn't pull so I'd have to step on the gas more.

Stepping on the gas put the supercharger in boost which makes everything run hotter but also eats more gas.

Putting the gears is DEFINITELY worthwhile.

Buying my supercharger will make it even better.


Mark

Re: Gears are good...
 

was that $800 for each end, or for all together?

seems kinda low, or maybe i was just expecting it to cost alot more.
i was thinking along the lines of about $1200 per axle.
gears roughly $300

Re: Gears are good...
 

800 bucks for all....


Check this page...

Trail Duty

You'll see the gears for less than 500 bucks pluss install kits and you'll have less than 800 bucks.

Mark

Re: Gears are good...
 

Local shop wants about $1400 to replace the gears, bearings and some other miscellaneous stuff. $800 for parts and $600 for labor, is that about right?

Re: Gears are good...
 

Yup, that's exactly what it cost me....

Mark

Re: Gears are good...
 

Thanks Mark!
Droppin the bad boy off Monday for new gears and to upgrade the brake lines...

Re: Gears are good...
 

Not a problem. You'll be pleased with the difference. It's a definite improvement in driveability. I did it to my last H2 and decided against it on the SUT I have now.

But once I did it, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner.


Mark