I have a different approach than the other posters. In the diesel world, Cummins has a program called Powerspec. What it does is based on the criteria you put in (towing weight, payloads, etc.), it will tell you the best axle ration for your towing needs while keeping the engine RPMs in its peek and efficient powerband.
I would first discover what your engine's RPM powerband is, then work the math for your transmission output ratio and the various axle ratios available to you to find what you need. You may discover you can keep a higher axle ratio for fuel efficiency and still get the power you need on hills using a transmission gear.