filmxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Chattanooga
I've got a '98 xj with 4.0, AW-4, 3.55 gears, D-30, Ch 8 1/4, 31' all terrains, a good weight distributing hitch and an aux tranny cooler.
I've been towing a boat that is 3200# plus the trailer - and with other stuff I'm sure is pushing right up close to 5000#.
This all works reasonably well for the most part. My question is this: When towing on the interstate, I'm usually in 3rd gear. Occasionally on a gentle downhill I may nudge it into OD. The thing tows decently, but the MPG is pretty dreadful. I was thinking about going to 4.10 gears, but that would mean I would need OD unless I wound out the engine to get any kind of decent highway speed.
With my current setup I'm right at 2500 rpm in 3rd gear at 65mph. If I regeared I would be at 2889 in 3rd.
Conventional wisdom says get higher gears to make it a better tow vehicle. Am I crazy to think that towing in 3rd with these slightly tall gears is probably better for MPG and for the tranny then thiking about 4.10 gears and using overdrive?
What would you guys do? Leave well enough alone or go to shorter gears?
I've been towing a boat that is 3200# plus the trailer - and with other stuff I'm sure is pushing right up close to 5000#.
This all works reasonably well for the most part. My question is this: When towing on the interstate, I'm usually in 3rd gear. Occasionally on a gentle downhill I may nudge it into OD. The thing tows decently, but the MPG is pretty dreadful. I was thinking about going to 4.10 gears, but that would mean I would need OD unless I wound out the engine to get any kind of decent highway speed.
With my current setup I'm right at 2500 rpm in 3rd gear at 65mph. If I regeared I would be at 2889 in 3rd.
Conventional wisdom says get higher gears to make it a better tow vehicle. Am I crazy to think that towing in 3rd with these slightly tall gears is probably better for MPG and for the tranny then thiking about 4.10 gears and using overdrive?
What would you guys do? Leave well enough alone or go to shorter gears?