[Big Dave]

My Sterling 10.25" is factory. Nine inchers got into half-ton trucks.

Overall top gear ratio stacks up like this: (3.08)(0.72)(0.78)

OEM-size rubber 31.7 inches O.D.

70 MPH @ 1310 RPM

You are dead right about one thing. This truck long enough ceased to be an economic exercise. Now it has taken on a new purpose: Show everyone - both consumers and OEMs - that big and MPG are not mutually exclusive.

I'd like to see these truck get a 7 or 8 speed dual clutch transmission (no torque converter) and a 3,31:1 axle ratio. The 8 speeds allows a numerically high initial gear to get a load moving but still spinning slower at road speeds.

The 3,.73 and 4.10 gears usually seen on diesel trucks are mostly there to give the lame automatics a chance to hold together past warranty.