Gearing upgrade?? after Leveling kit + 33” tires

[DrummerAmos]

Hello,
I’m curious as to the need to change gearing on my 2019 Ranger 4x4 FX4 after going to 33” tires.

I been following Stage 3 Motors 2019 Ranger build and doing similar mods: https://www.stage3motorsports.com/Stage-3s-2019-Ford-Ranger-2-3L-EcoBoost-Project-Truck-Build.html

Current mods are:
Raptor Grille with lights
RC nerf bars
2.5” Rough Country Leveling kit
Method 17x8.5 and 285 70R/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
Trimmed the front crash bars(not removed) to make room for 33” tires.

I just put new the tires and wheels on this weekend and haven’t driven the truck more than 15miles. Nothing to complain about. I love the look and feel of the truck.

I’m curious if gearing is something I should look into? Any adverse long term drivetrain issues to look for?

Attached pictures of my truck before and after.

Thanks again, let me know what you think.

Amos

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[Jason@Stage3]

Hello,
I’m curious as to the need to change gearing on my 2019 Ranger 4x4 FX4 after going to 33” tires.

I been following Stage 3 Motors 2019 Ranger build and doing similar mods: https://www.stage3motorsports.com/Stage-3s-2019-Ford-Ranger-2-3L-EcoBoost-Project-Truck-Build.html

Current mods are:
Raptor Grille with lights
RC nerf bars
2.5” Rough Country Leveling kit
Method 17x8.5 and 285 70R/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
Trimmed the front crash bars(not removed) to make room for 33” tires.

I just put new the tires and wheels on this weekend and haven’t driven the truck more than 15miles. Nothing to complain about. I love the look and feel of the truck.

I’m curious if gearing is something I should look into? Any adverse long term drivetrain issues to look for?

Attached pictures of my truck before and after.

Thanks again, let me know what you think.

First, truck looks great.

As for the need for gearing, our motto is "EcoBoost Don't Care." Even if front and rear gears and Master Install Kits were available (they're not quite yet), they're not really cost-effective when compared to tuning on the Rangers (or the EcoBoost F150s for that matter). I actually did a writeup on the choice on the F150s, but the same applies here. Granted, unless you notice a drop in acceleration or weird shifting, you may not have to tune either.

I may be a bit of a hypocrite, since my truck got Nitro 4.11s and a TrueTrac not too long ago, but the 5.0L actually has a torque curve instead of just raw torque.

With tuning adding power and adjusting your speedo and shift points back for half the cost of gears and install kits alone (before install), you're better off going the tuning route if you feel like your truck's a bit doggy.

Ideally, you'd be able to do both and have a truck that really rips, but that's not in the cards for everyone.

 

[DrummerAmos]

First, truck looks great.

As for the need for gearing, our motto is "EcoBoost Don't Care." Even if front and rear gears and Master Install Kits were available (they're not quite yet), they're not really cost-effective when compared to tuning on the Rangers (or the EcoBoost F150s for that matter). I actually did a writeup on the choice on the F150s, but the same applies here. Granted, unless you notice a drop in acceleration or weird shifting, you may not have to tune either.

I may be a bit of a hypocrite, since my truck got Nitro 4.11s and a TrueTrac not too long ago, but the 5.0L actually has a torque curve instead of just raw torque.

With tuning adding power and adjusting your speedo and shift points back for half the cost of gears and install kits alone (before install), you're better off going the tuning route if you feel like your truck's a bit doggy.

Ideally, you'd be able to do both and have a truck that really rips, but that's not in the cards for everyone.

Thanks Jason!
Exactly what I was wanting to know.

I hadn’t heard anything regarding gearing from any of the 4x4 shops here in Phoenix as I was shopping for wheels and tires. A coworker who’s an avid Jeep person mentioned it in passing and got me thinking if I had missed anything.
Thanks again!

 

[Stangman570]

I agree, no need for gears. I've been running a -12 offset 17x9 with 295/70/17 with Cooper SST Pro's and I have zero acceleration or the truck being sluggish. I can roast these MT's at any given time with no problem. Trust me these tires are Heavy. Now on my old Tacoma, you bet it was a dog with the same tire/wheel combo. Save the money from gearing and spend it on a tune and other goodies for sure.

 

[Langwilliams]

nice looking trucks there! I've been avoiding the temptation of wheels an tires but you guys make it hard!

 

[DrummerAmos]

I agree, no need for gears. I've been running a -12 offset 17x9 with 295/70/17 with Cooper SST Pro's and I have zero acceleration or the truck being sluggish. I can roast these MT's at any given time with no problem. Trust me these tires are Heavy. Now on my old Tacoma, you bet it was a dog with the same tire/wheel combo. Save the money from gearing and spend it on a tune and other goodies for sure.

I agree, no need for gears. I've been running a -12 offset 17x9 with 295/70/17 with Cooper SST Pro's and I have zero acceleration or the truck being sluggish. I can roast these MT's at any given time with no problem. Trust me these tires are Heavy. Now on my old Tacoma, you bet it was a dog with the same tire/wheel combo. Save the money from gearing and spend it on a tune and other goodies for sure.

Nice truck! I gotta get fender flares now!

I wasn’t too concerned about gearing. I hadn’t heard or seen anything about needing it while searching for wheels and tires. I figured the guys at Stage 3 would have mentioned it.

My next thing is the Rousch cold air intake with tune + Awe cat-back exhaust.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Abjectwoe]

I think long-term, if you're running 33+ you should regear for the sake of the transmission.

I'll be running 255/80/17 soon, so regearing will be on my radar. I wouldn't even mind taking the plunge and being the first to do it.

 

[Stangman570]

I think long-term, if you're running 33+ you should regear for the sake of the transmission.

I'll be running 255/80/17 soon, so regearing will be on my radar. I wouldn't even mind taking the plunge and being the first to do it.

Absolutely no need to put gears in with 33's. I run 295/70/17's that are slightly larger than 33"s with zero issues on or off road. The gears are perfectly matched to this transmission even with the larger tires. However, nothing wrong with modding to your liking. What size gears are you considering for both the front and rear diff?

 

[DrummerAmos]

I agree with Stangman570.

I’ve talked with a handful of people mechanics at Ford and different aftermarket companies. The consensus is “eco-boost drivetrain just doesn’t care” what you throw at it.

check out the “Fun Runner” 2019 Ranger build. They turned the Ranger into a baja truck. They are running 37” Nitto ridge grapplers.


Vaughn Gittin’s Ranger

If you find a new gears and out them in, let us know how it goes. It’s very costly right now to regear because there really aren’t any options unless yo here hoping custom.

Let us know what you decide on. It’s always cool to see what mods people do.

 

[DrummerAmos]

Forgot to mention. They didn’t change the drive train at all!

 

[DrummerAmos]

I agree with Stangman570.

I’ve talked with a handful of people mechanics at Ford and different aftermarket companies. The consensus is “eco-boost drivetrain just doesn’t care” what you throw at it.

check out the “Fun Runner” 2019 Ranger build. They turned the Ranger into a baja truck. They are running 37” Nitto ridge grapplers.


Vaughn Gittin’s Ranger

If you find a new gears and out them in, let us know how it goes. It’s very costly right now to regear because there really aren’t any options unless yo here hoping custom.

Let us know what you decide on. It’s always cool to see what mods people do.

Sorry for typos. Unless your going custom not sure there are many options if any at the moment.

 

[Abjectwoe]

What size gears are you considering for both the front and rear diff?

If this was the old ranger that'd be simple. I honestly have not thought about it much until I decided to go with 33s, which was yesterday haha.

I'll update yall when (if?) i get it figured out somewhat.

 

[Abjectwoe]

I agree with Stangman570.

I’ve talked with a handful of people mechanics at Ford and different aftermarket companies. The consensus is “eco-boost drivetrain just doesn’t care” what you throw at it.

check out the “Fun Runner” 2019 Ranger build. They turned the Ranger into a baja truck. They are running 37” Nitto ridge grapplers.


Vaughn Gittin’s Ranger

If you find a new gears and out them in, let us know how it goes. It’s very costly right now to regear because there really aren’t any options unless yo here hoping custom.

Let us know what you decide on. It’s always cool to see what mods people do.

Yea, saw this awhile back. We all know from driving this thing it can handle alot. I'd simply want to regear to make things easier long term.

 

[Abjectwoe]

I think we may be getting some new gearing soon... FYI:

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-4210-R

 

[ndwgolf]

I agree, no need for gears. I've been running a -12 offset 17x9 with 295/70/17 with Cooper SST Pro's and I have zero acceleration or the truck being sluggish. I can roast these MT's at any given time with no problem. Trust me these tires are Heavy. Now on my old Tacoma, you bet it was a dog with the same tire/wheel combo. Save the money from gearing and spend it on a tune and other goodies for sure.

I very nearly put the same SST Pro Cooper tires on my truck in a 305/55/20 but when I saw them I just thought they were to chunky so ended up with Bridgestone KO2's instead.......are the above tires loud???

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