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Differential Gear Ratios: How to Pick the Best for Your Off-Road Vehicle

When installing oversize tires on your vehicle, you’ll notice that you’ll lose low-end power when towing, taking off from a stop or even on the trail. To regain this power, you’ll need to re-gear your differentials. The formula to figure out ideal gear ratio is stock tire size divided by the stock gear ratio.

This should be equal to your new tire size divided by your new gear ratio. However, this doesn’t account for extra rotating mass of the tire, just the dimensions.

Going strictly by this formula works well for street driven trucks without heavy aftermarket accessories. If you’re looking to get more torque for carrying heavy loads, towing, or if you spend a lot of time on the trail, you’ll want to pick a ratio that is deeper (numerically higher) by one or two available ratios than what the formula suggests. This typically ends up being between 5% and 15% deeper.

We have put together a chart to make things a little easier: https://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-gearing-chart.html

Once you have your gear ratio calculated, you can get your Nissan truck or SUV gears on order at https://ruggedrocksoffroad.com

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Whats Next? Rugged Rocks Needs Your Input!

About a year ago Rugged Rocks was neck deep in all kinds of new product projects, and over the last year, one by one, new products were released and the list of open projects grew shorter and shorter. Progress!! Below is an updated list of products that were either new last year or were in progress. As you can see the number of open products has shrunk to just a few. Rugged Rocks has always been enthusiast driven and once again needs your input push the Nissan 4×4 aftermarket forward even further. What do you guys need for your trucks? Lets talk about it on the message board and get the ball rolling on some new products.

I really appreciate everyone’s input and everyone’s business.

Lets keep it going.

-Steven Lutz

Founder and President

Rugged Rocks, LLC.

Pathfinder/Hardbody 3.0L HD motor mounts

 Available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=3.0+motor+mount
Xterra / Frontier 3.3L HD Motor mounts.

 available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=3.3L+motor+mount
WD21 Pathfinder Long Arm 4-Link

 available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-pathfinder-long-arm-rear-4link-suspension-bracket-joint-kit-by-rugged-rocks-1988-1995-p-36013.html
H233B/D60 Front Diamond Axle

 available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-h233b-front-axle-housing-by-diamond-axle-p-36077.html
Pathfinder / Hardbody SAS Kit Will be using a H233B/D60 Diamond front axle. Due to be completed by the end of 2012, hopefully before the end of the world!
H233B 31 & 33 spline H233B Chromoly Shafts This project was put on the ‘back-burner’ due to the lack of interest. But I would personally really like to have these made.
H233B 3-link brackets

 available here:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/long-arm-rear-3link-bracket-nissan-h233b-by-rugged-rocks-p-35934.html
H233B Carrier Adjuster Tool

 Currently out of stock, no ETA due to lack of demand.

http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-h233b-differential-carrier-bearing-adjuster-tool-by-rugged-rocks-p-35919.html
Rugged Rocks Winch Fairlead

 Out of stock, no ETA due to lack of demand. If these were to get made again, They would be black anodized before machining the “rugged rocks” text into them which would then show the writing on a black background.
TX-10 transfercase doubler Due to the order minimum with the manufacture, and extended wait times, and lack of demand, this project is currently stalled.
Xterra / Frontier 3.3L V6 Doug Thorley Headers

 Available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=3.3L+headers
H233B Ring and Pinion gears

 5.42 gears canceled due to lack of demand.

4.63 (std & Rev.) 4.9, 5.14, 5.57 & 5.87 ratios are available here:

http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=h233b+ring+and+pinion+gears
pre-’05 Xterra / Frontier / Pathfinder – H233B 33-Spl Lockright Locker Powertrax (maker of lock right lockers) was sold off by Richmond Gear (Previous owner of Powertrax) to Midwest Truck and auto Parts Who has no idea what happened to this project, and the parts I sent into them were lost. The project has vanish into a puff of smoke and probably will not be happening. However, I have mentioned to Randy’s Ring and Pinion that they should make a 33-spline version of their 31-spline locker (similar to lockright) as is available here:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-patrol-spartan-locker-by-randys-ring-pinion-h233b-31spline-p-36117.html
Xterra / Frontier ’05+ C200K Lockright Locker Available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=PTX-9214803100
Advanced Adapters – 4 Cyl Pathfinder / Hardbody Atlas Adapter

 Have tried having AA make this but it hasn’t happened.

I can have the proper spud shaft made elsewhere to complete the 4cyl kit but I haven’t due to lack of demand. If you are interested in this, please speak up!
TJM H233B (31 & 33 spline) Air Lockers

 available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=tjm+locker
ARB (M205) Titan Front Air Locker on the list for production in Australia but currently there is no ETA
Superior 4.10 & 4.56 Gears for Titan Front and Rear Differentials

 available here: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-titan-ring-pinion-gears-c-284_845.html
3.0L Pathfinder and Hardbody Doug Thorley Headers

 Having Doug Thorley put these back into production after their last bactch was made in 2006. They should be available within the next few months.

http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=3.0+header