Anybody ever run 5.29 gears with 33's?

[white_n_slow]

In a 3.4 5-speed (although I'll take input from auto folks too). I'm not looking to do this permanently, but perhaps for a couple years until my 33's wear out. Ultimately I plan on running 35" tires, but my 33's are near new and I'm too cheap not to use them.

I considered 4.88 gears as it would be a happy medium between the two tire sizes. But I'm afraid after running 4.88 with 33's and getting used to it, it will make the truck feel sluggish with 35's. If I were going straight to 35's, there is no question I would run the 5.29 - I prefer lower gearing as I do a lot of mountain driving and live at high altitude, not to mention the better crawl ratio.

According to the gear ratio calculator 5.29 and 33's would turn 3400 rpm at 75mph compared to 2800 with the stock setup. Pretty high, but not nuts.

Does anyone here have personal experience with this combination?

:edit: Scroll down to post #15

 

[Coastal616]

Years ago I did 4.88's in a 22r powered toyota with 33's....man what a let down. It was hardly noticeably from the 4.10's.

I would just go with the 5.29s, tires are easily replaceable. Sell yours and get some used 35's or something?

 

[snow junky]

yes, dont do it..... keep your 4;10s until you go to 35s. put lockers in while your at it too

 

[aphat426]

I bought mine with the 5.29's already done. The PO was planning on 35's but had new 33's on it. At first it was a little bit annoying if I had to be on the interstate, but after a few months I actually really like the setup better. So much so that I have no plan on going bigger. I don't do a lot of interstate driving but when I do I just hit the right lane and roll on. The advantage around town and for the back road driving I do is really nice, I don't have to shift nearly as much and hills don't require me to drop out of 5th. Mine is fully armored and has about 200lbs of gear in the back all the time but with this setup the added weight is no problem. Just my opinion.

 

[white_n_slow]

yes, dont do it..... keep your 4;10s until you go to 35s. put lockers in while your at it too

Lockers are already taken care of. E-locked rear and going for an ARB front when I do gears. I've been rolling on 33's and 4.10s for a while and really don't care for it. So what was your main gripe about 33's and 5.29?

 

[white_n_slow]

I bought mine with the 5.29's already done. The PO was planning on 35's but had new 33's on it. At first it was a little bit annoying if I had to be on the interstate, but after a few months I actually really like the setup better. So much so that I have no plan on going bigger. I don't do a lot of interstate driving but when I do I just hit the right lane and roll on. The advantage around town and for the back road driving I do is really nice, I don't have to shift nearly as much and hills don't require me to drop out of 5th. Mine is fully armored and has about 200lbs of gear in the back all the time but with this setup the added weight is no problem. Just my opinion.

This is encouraging. Especially since you live near me. Not knocking anyone, but reading the forums, it seems most people who say "big tires and stock gears are fine" live somewhere flat and low altitude.

 

[KidVermicious]

In a 3.4 5-speed (although I'll take input from auto folks too). I'm not looking to do this permanently, but perhaps for a couple years until my 33's wear out. Ultimately I plan on running 35" tires, but my 33's are near new and I'm too cheap not to use them.

I considered 4.88 gears as it would be a happy medium between the two tire sizes. But I'm afraid after running 4.88 with 33's and getting used to it, it will make the truck feel sluggish with 35's. If I were going straight to 35's, there is no question I would run the 5.29 - I prefer lower gearing as I do a lot of mountain driving and live at high altitude, not to mention the better crawl ratio.

According to the gear ratio calculator 5.29 and 33's would turn 3400 rpm at 75mph compared to 2800 with the stock setup. Pretty high, but not nuts.

Does anyone here have personal experience with this combination?

My 85 is on 33s, and I just finished putting 5.29s in. I'm at about your altitude. I gotta say, it's NICE being able to accelerate in 4th gear and maintain 65 on the hills without having to downshift. RPMs are definitely high, and it's going to take me a while to get used to that.

The '99 is on slightly smaller 33s with stock 4.30 gears and it sucks.

 

[4Running Daily]

The '99 is on slightly smaller 33s with stock 4.30 gears and it sucks.

I just high-fived myself for living at sea level.

I stuck my buddies 33's on my 96 a while back and could barely tell the difference from 31's. I have a 5-speed and 4.10s.

 

[Monkeybutt2000]

5.29s no doubt,don't fear the gear! My 01' is on 32's with stcok gears and it's a turd.

 

[KidVermicious]

I just high-fived myself for living at sea level.

Oh hush. Nobody likes you.

:moon:

 

[Gerdo]

You could do the 5.29s, sell your 33s and buy your 35s.

 

[FrankM23]

get 5.29's. don't drive past 65 lol.

 

[JohnsD90]

What about getting a set of 235/85/R16 or 255/85/R16? You get the same size but without the width so its a bit less weight the motor has to turn, you could try them and see how you like it, and then decide whether you want to regear or not.

 

[Swede]

If you do a lot of highway driving, I'd hold off on the 5.29's. If you don't do a lot of highway driving then definitely swap them in. In the winter I run a set of 32" studs and with my 4.88's, I'm turning about 3100 rpm at 65 mph (5-speed too) and that is revving a little too much for my liking. I can't imagine 3500 rpm! However, when I run my 35's with the 4.88's, I wish that I had the 5.29's for sure. :shrug:

 

[white_n_slow]

Reviving this thread because it now seems I have my choice between 4.88 (for VERY cheap) or 5.29 (for only slightly less cheap). Another factor: I recently bought a 2005 Acura TL for a DD, so the runner will now be more of a leisure vehicle. However it is a 6-hour drive to Moab, so there will still be plenty of highway use.

SCrunner12 is not allowed to post in this thread!

 

[Doc2012]

Go 4.88.

4.88s will be fine for anything up to and including 37.

I'm running 4.88, and while yes, off the line has suffered with the 37s, these aren't race cars.

One I'm rolling, doing 65-75 isn't a problem.

If you have the 2.7, Id say 5.29. But the 3.4 is big enough to push the tires just fine.

FWIT, my brother has a 99 taco, locked, lifted, armored, and runs 35s with 4.88. While it does lack on the hills, it's fine everywhere else. BUT, he's running the 2.7L.

 

[Jon]

4.88's are plenty. If I were to start over, I'd keep the 4.30 for hwy (to the trail) and just dual case it. But 5.29 on the hwy are going to be retarded.

2nd gear 4lo
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[UnderFire]

My dad's truck (89 3.0 5-Speed) runs 5.29's and 35's, and the Revs are around 2500 at 65, I would never run 5.29 on anything smaller.

 

[Singtoe]

Take the money and buy a supercharger. Or I would wait for one of the diffs to blow up before regearing.

On a side note. I have 4.10's on my Taco and I run 37's and I have no drivability problems. I can spin tires on asphalt. Braking sucks but going forward is not an issue. I was able to keep up with DOUS and his TRD blown runner with no issues.


On a side note, My speedo is way off. If it reads 50 MPH, but I am really traveling 60 MPH.

 

[4est5speed]

Please excuse the necropost...

I know I'm bringing this up from the dead, but at least yall know I can use the search! Plus it's not like good info expires...

Why do people not like the higher rpms? I understand if it's a long distance hwy commuter but is 3-3500 rpm that bad? I just picked up a '98 4Runner with a 3.4 and the 5 speed and am looking to regear to 5.29s with 33s or MAYBE 35s in the future. On the grimjeeper gear calculator 5.29 and 285s put me at like 2975 @ 65mph and about 3200 @70. These trucks don't make peak torque till 3600 or so anyway, so what's the issue?

I had a built first gen for almost 10 years, 3 of which I was running 5.71s on 35s with the 22re and it was awesome power-wise. I also just did a trip to Tahoe in the '98 where I had it on cruise control in 4th gear @3k rpm/65mph on the way there and I averaged 16mpg with mountain driving and wheeling. Doesn't seem too bad to me?

Just looking for some feedback, thanks in advance yall!