4.88 with 33" or 34" tires

[CAN-03runner]

I have an ARB locker, rear 3rd already setup with 4.88 gears ready to go in.

I'm thinking of putting it into my 2003 4th gen V8, but only have 33" tires and might go 34" , but probably not 35"s ( famous last words) I know I need to regear the front to.

Over on expedition portal guys are raving over 4.88 vs 4.56 even with 33s

Anyone here run this setup, 4.88 with 33's or 34s. How's the in town drivability?

I have 4.88 on a 1st gen 3.0 V6. It works decent. But the V8 is a total other ball game, I'm worried it will jerk around like a jack rabbit after every light or stop sign. But it is automatic so maybe it will compensate.

This isn't my main vehicle. I use it for some towing, some offroading and as a second vehicle for when my wife has the car or when we aren't going to the same place. Most trips are local no highway speeds. Except when I head to the trails, I might do 1-2hrs of highway to get there. once a month maybe. In town highway if I need might only last 20 minutes and less.

On highway I might do 60-65, maybe 70 for short stretches or to pass. Yes I'm a slow poke, ( can't get any tickets or I can't drive the work trucks if I need to )

I think I will enjoy the lower gear ratio downhill offroad. And I'm hoping it will require less throttle to climb rocks.

If you've done 4.56 do you regret no doing 4.88 or vice versa with only 33s

 

[t-man]

If there's any chance you are going to go above 33's then my opinion would definitely go with the 4.88's. You don't drive fast enough to worry about the little highway driving you do, and the extra low end oomph is much needed on the trails in my opinion. I have the V8 with 35's and I can't wait to regear with 4.88's cause I really need that low end boost! Once the rpm's are up it's cool, but trying to climb hills is a ***** sometimes.

 

[Bskelton]

I am running 315/75r17's with 4.88 gears and lockers. I would definitely suggest the 4.88's. Off-road I wouldn't mind an even slower crawl speed but for street and off-road it is a very nice balance. Highway rpms at 70 are about 2600-2700 rpm and gaining back some low end torque was very nice. For what you are doing with it you won't regret 4.88's.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I know [MENTION=32177]A10MileHusker[/MENTION] is running 4.88's with 35's maybe he can chime in and shed some light. There's probably some more info on his build as well. I'm interested in this info also cause i'm going to be doing the same set up probably later this year.

On another note, Dude we missed you at FJNE! Or i may very well have talked to you and had no clue haha, i spoke to so many people and didn't realize who i was talking to until they told me their tag name. I think i might have seen your 4runner in passing in all the crazyness on Saturday, it's silver with grey cladding right? Anyways sucks we didn't get to run the trail together but it was a fun run, how did you make out and how was it in the 4th ?

 

[CAN-03runner]

I was there, I was the guy taking all the raffle pictures [MENTION=79132]Nyc-Runner[/MENTION] I was supposed to head out with Lipek on Friday, that's who you went out with right? Too many distractions, I think his group was also looking big, people starting leaving, I jumped in behind a group and the rest is history. We had a good time.

Saturday, I followed Lipek. He took us through "Green " 21 HAHAHA not anymore and Topless for Tatas. Very good rocky trails.

The 4th gen performed great, even with 33's. With skids, rock sliders and HD rear lower arms there isn't too much to worry about unless you are jumping it. It kept up with the built up and locked FJs. So that's good enough for me. I forgot what offroading in comfort was. Working heat and AC/music/no dust inside, no exhasut smell, no hitting my head.... no trailer to tow. But it could use some lower gears for better crawling. I think this is my primary goal. Here let me spend your money....do it!


You need to get in a truck with lower gears or even better a crawler and just have it inch it's way downhill never touching the brakes. I don't trust DAC too much.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I was there, I was the guy taking all the raffle pictures [MENTION=79132]Nyc-Runner[/MENTION] I was supposed to head out with Lipek on Friday, that's who you went out with right? Too many distractions, I think his group was also looking big, people starting leaving, I jumped in behind a group and the rest is history. We had a good time.

Saturday, I followed Lipek. He took us through "Green " 21 HAHAHA not anymore and Topless for Tatas. Very good rocky trails.

The 4th gen performed great, even with 33's. With skids, rock sliders and HD rear lower arms there isn't too much to worry about unless you are jumping it. It kept up with the built up and locked FJs. So that's good enough for me. I forgot what offroading in comfort was. Working heat and AC/music/no dust inside, no exhasut smell, no hitting my head.... no trailer to tow. But it could use some lower gears for better crawling. I think this is my primary goal. Here let me spend your money....do it!


You need to get in a truck with lower gears or even better a crawler and just have it inch it's way downhill never touching the brakes. I don't trust DAC too much.

Ahh ok yeah i know who you are haha see i told you there's so many people! Yeah that was a fun day on Friday when we went with Karol it was a decent sized group. Things always get jumbled when everybody jumping in their groups.

Yeah a lot of the trails were pretty washed out! Some of the greens were more like blues and blues like blacks etc. Topless for Tatas was a fun trail.

Nice that's great! These trucks are beasts off road, all my buddies who wheel older rigs are always amazed at how well it does. It's the best of both worlds,it's not a solid axle but can definitely keep up, so i'm sure with the lower gear it's going to be perfect. I'm planning on re gearing and doing lockers for sure, I'm just trying to figure out if i should do 4.56's or 4.88's? Because i do a lot of highway, especially to get to most wheeling spots and still want to be able to in the future,being more of a expedition rig with awesome wheeling capabilities. So i'm wondering how 4.88's would be going long distances?

 

[A10MileHusker]

Well unfortunately I dont have a ton of information for you.

What I can tell you is that I love my 4.88s in my v8. Its quick on the gas and perfect on and off the trail.

With my 35s, 4.88s front and rear, and v8, I am able to have the slow but responsive throttle i want on the trail. And when I'm on downhill descents I can shift it down and I'm actually having to gas it to move. The control is unbelievable with 4.88s.

Until just recently, i used my 4runner for my work as well. I manage 10 restaurants of which are spread across the state. I was able to get to highway speeds and just cruise with them. If i was in a situation that needed gas, it was there more than it was with stock gearing and 35s.

The only other option I considered when regearing was going with 5.29s. I have heard great things about those as well.

There are some great threads on it on toyota120.com about gearing our v8's with all different sorts of tire sizes and those guys really know what they are talking about. But make sure you search thoroughly before asking a question as they will hound you for it. haha!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[CAN-03runner]

With my 35s, 4.88s front and rear, and v8, I am able to have the slow but responsive throttle i want on the trail. And when I'm on downhill descents I can shift it down and I'm actually having to gas it to move. The control is unbelievable with 4.88s.


There are some great threads on it on toyota120.com about gearing our v8's with all different sorts of tire sizes and those guys really know what they are talking about. But make sure you search thoroughly before asking a question as they will hound you for it. haha!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

If that's what it does on downhill in "L" I'm in. That's what I'm looking for, plus the fact that the set I have is ARB with 4.88 doesn't make it cost effective if I need to regear it again.

Toyota120... I go there from time to time. Good technical info. But T4R.org is more lively, has become more technical and is less critical. I respect those guys from giving us the foundation they did a lot of the leg work for everyone else. But there are just too many forums to be checking, you gotta stick to 1 or 2. Last night I thought I finished reading the internet, then this morning there was more....:smashputer:

 

[A10MileHusker]

If that's what it does on downhill in "L" I'm in. That's what I'm looking for, plus the fact that the set I have is ARB with 4.88 doesn't make it cost effective if I need to regear it again.

Toyota120... I go there from time to time. Good technical info. But T4R.org is more lively, has become more technical and is less critical. I respect those guys from giving us the foundation they did a lot of the leg work for everyone else. But there are just too many forums to be checking, you gotta stick to 1 or 2. Last night I thought I finished reading the internet, then this morning there was more....:smashputer:

When I regeared and was looking on the internet regarding information, i can't tell you how frustrated I was. Its very frustrating.

I think you will love the 4.88s. Ya in 4Lo and in "L" it is extremely helpful on downhill obstacles.

I'm super jealous you have the ARB locker. Thats one thing I really wanted to do too but just didn't have the cash flow to do all of it at one time.

I was actually forced into regearing because I completely grenaded my rear axle wheeling. Completely stripped it of its teeth and so I had to get the cash ready in a hurry. 35's on stock gearing is not good. Haha

Good luck on the decision! Let us know what you end up with.

Doug

 

[CAN-03runner]

I know what you mean$. I bought a couple of ARBs a few years ago when money was a little looser from a friend who sold his FJ and never got to install them for very cheap. Pre-job change, pre second child. But I never installed them either. Cause part of the debate was save $ and keep the current gear size and bearings or go all out. Today, I don't think I would be going out to buy 2 ARBs and a compressor. This all makes sense as I gather a couple of buddies to help remove my 3rd and insert the rear already setup 3rd, and remove the front diff, bring to installer to setup and then we pop it back under my truck. If I had more than just one set of gears and installation to buy I don't think I'd be doing it. And my just because it's open...I might spring for the master install kit to get new bearings and stuff but I don't think I have any issue with them. I have 200,000km that's about 120,000miles. They're just breaking in. The rear 3rd already has the master install kit treatment.