dan3jeeps

How is the 3.21 gearing with a 6 speed tranny for mild off road use and mountain trail exploring with a stock jeep? I have been looking for a JK with the tow package but all I have to choose from around where I live is the 3.21 gearing. No jeeps for sale around here with the TT package to get the lower gear.

I have found a very nice 2009 with the 6 speed but it is a 3.21 geared axle. I am not planning on towing with it nor am I going to build it up into anything. I will pretty much be leaving it stock.

How is your experience with the 3.21 and a stock JK? Are the gears OK for trail riding or are they just "too high"?

Thanks!

KDBinAZ

Lots of hate for the 3.21 gears on this forum but I don't mind em. I have a '09 6 speed and am running stock rubi (32") tires with no complaints.

Mostly mild to moderate off road with no issue other than wanting to replace my transfer case as the crawl ratio in 4L is way too fast with the X transfer case.

On the road I get 19-20 mpg around town and 22-24 hwy. At 70 mph right at 2K rpm in 6th gear. I will have to drop into 5th (or 4th) when climbing bigger hills here in southern AZ but that's not an issue for me.

Overall I think that the 3.21 gears are a great setup on a 6 speed running up to a 32" (stock) tire.

JeepPilot10

The 3.21's are ok for around town and bridges. The 6 speed allows me to get up to speed easily, but not fast. 4 lo will get you around trails. Not bad in sand and mud. But if you have anything more than 33 inch tires I think you may be unhappy. Any mountains or rocks will push the 3.21's even with smaller tires.

slider_68

running 3.21's with a six speed on 265-75-16's and except for having to downshift on hills its not too bad, I'm running light to medium trails and TN mountain backroads mainly. If you go to larger tires you'll want more but if your keeping it stock or close to stock you'll be okay

tpm152

My experience is pretty much that same as KDBin. High teens around town and low 20s on the highway. I take my Jeep on hunting trails and it does great...very seldom do I need to put it in 4-low....but when I do it will go anywhere that I would want to take a stock JK

carloslopez63

same here......no problem offroad with the 3.21 and good milage rubicon tires 6 speeds

EarlyJk

I have the 3.73s in my 2dr Auto, never had any issues wheeling with my 33s. Also Im one of the few who think it actually moves along pretty well on the highway.

dan3jeeps

What brand of cargo rack issat?

Freewill

I have 3.73 in a Sport tudor automatic with 32" tires. It feels like very tall gearing to me. Hard to imagine 3.21. This from a guy who usually prefers tall gearing.

In 3rd gear (1:1) the engine runs about 2400 at 60. In fourth (O.D.) it only turns about 1650. I assume that similar 1:1 and O.D. gears are in the 6 speed.

3.21 probably works not bad with the smallest wheels and tires. Or, if it is very flat and there is always a tail wind in "The Middle of Nowhere", then 3.21 might work out with larger tires.

tpm152

OD with the 6-speed and the 4-speed auto are much different ratios. If memory serves, OD with the auto with 3.73 gears equals OD in the 6-speed (6th gear) with 3.21 gears have equal RPMs at equal speed. For instance at 70 mph my engine RPM is almost exactly 2000 RPM with the 6-speed and 3.21 gears.