Ron, Have you measured your existing axle from WMS to WMS (Wheel Mounting Surface)? If you can give us that number, it would make it easier to try and suggest a possible later open drive (but still 6 lug) axle that will fit your 17" Artillery wheels. It will probably help for us to know what the wheel offset is on the 17" wheels as changes to the axle width will affect where your wheel/tire combo sits inside the fenders.
Others with more personal experience on what gears would work best with your 235/T5 combo will probably chime in here soon.
My axle is 59" from WMS to WMS. Spring perches are 41" center-to-center, but I don't expect to find something that already has the proper perches at the proper spacing. Just thought I'd throw that in there in case anyone asks.
As for wheel offset, I'll have to measure. I will say that my tire centerline sits a little to the outside in the fender, so I probably wouldn't want to go much wider on an axle. There's a little wiggle room there but probably not much. Maybe 60" total WMS to WMS width max.
