Regear for 2003 V6/4spd with skinny 32’s or 33’s.

[f250ben]

Hey everybody! I’ve done quite a bit of searching on this, but am coming up a bit short. Haven’t found a lot of 4spd specific threads apart from the ones discussing the basic driveability difference between the 4spd and 5spd.

Planning on going with 255/80/17’s. Probably Cooper ST Maxx’s. Which are barely a 32” tire. But I’m also doing a full 3” lift. So I could end up with larger tires down the road.

Will I ever need to regear? I don’t see myself ever doing 35’s. Not happening. I don’t wheel like that. Most I would go is a 285. I will have some serious weight in the truck tho. This year it’s getting a rack, rtt and drawer system with a bunch of equipment, survival supplies and tools. Next year prob at least a rear bumper, plus some undercarriage armor.

From what I can tell, many members are happy with stock ratios and this type of equipment, on 255’s, without regearing. Most of them have a 5 speed though. Trying to gauge if this will be significantly different with my 4 speed.


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[CO_Fletch]

I have an '03 V6 with 4 speed auto, 3" lift and 32" (255/75/17). For the most part, the gearing is fine. When I head to the mountains, it shifts back and forth searching for the right gear while climbing or stays in 3rd. Most passes around here are 60MPH or less and I've never felt like it wouldn't hold the speed I wanted. I don't generally have a lot of weight in it though, just passengers and some camping gear, I do occasionally run with a car top carrier which is more wind drag, not so much weight and it still does ok

Around town / on the freeway it works well. At 70mph+, it will downshift on hills and inclines so I tend to avoid using cruise control if the road or highway is rolling and not very flat and speed limit is high.

Hope that helps.

 

[f250ben]

I have an '03 V6 with 4 speed auto, 3" lift and 32" (255/75/17). For the most part, the gearing is fine. When I head to the mountains, it shifts back and forth searching for the right gear while climbing or stays in 3rd. Most passes around here are 60MPH or less and I've never felt like it wouldn't hold the speed I wanted. I don't generally have a lot of weight in it though, just passengers and some camping gear, I do occasionally run with a car top carrier which is more wind drag, not so much weight and it still does ok

Around town / on the freeway it works well. At 70mph+, it will downshift on hills and inclines so I tend to avoid using cruise control if the road or highway is rolling and not very flat and speed limit is high.

Hope that helps.

Very helpful. Honestly, your described experience is sort of what I’m imagining would be mine as well.

If nothing else, that means I probably have a couple years to slowly bolt heavy crap to my 4runner before it becomes so much of a dog that I need to consider regearing.

Also, I don’t know a ton about this, but I’m pretty sure that regearing and installing a locker would be better if it all happened at the same time? Not ready to even think about a locker yet, still have street tires on it.


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[Johnny4runner]

I regeared to 4.88s and think that is perfect for what i do. Maybe if you are doing more highway miles 4.56 would be good. I was questioning whether I needed to regear also, but was very happy once it was done. It's a fairly easy DIY if you have someone setup the 3rd members for you.

Best, J4R

 

[Mike07SE]

I regeared for 4.56. Did front ARB locker and rear Detroit TT at the same time. Went with this ratio for overall balance on tire size (285/70R17), weight (no heavy add-ons), and highway driveability. For me this was a good overall balance on & offroad, especially around town (which is where it spends most of the time lately).

Now, compared to you, I do have the 5 spd auto vs. 4 spd. I forget what the OD ratio difference is between the two. Regardless, my transmission hunts gears far far less than what it did prior. In the past even slight inclines were annoying on a road trip. Now it holds OD gear pretty long before it downshifts.

 

[f250ben]

I’ve been doing some more research. And everything I’m reading is telling me that I’m probably going to want to regear eventually.

I’m pretty positive the OD is very similar between 4 speed and 5 speed for 4th gens. Biggest difference is gears 1-3 are much taller, so around town driveability is not great. Most people say the 4 speed is not great even when stock.

All this means is I have more reason to want to re-gear, for good around town driving (most of what I do with occasional long road trips), even BEFORE I start adding heavy crap.

How much did you guys end up spending on a front and rear re-gear? You do have to do both axles at the same time right?


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[BackOff]

I am on 285's and armored up.
I don't have any issues with the stock gears.
If at some point I break I might gear down.

Mine shifted more like you guys are saying on hills, hunting for the gear, until I did that URD MAF.
https://www.urdusa.com/urd-maf-sensor-calibrator-plug-n-play-version-1/

It seemed to move the shift points. It doesn't do that weird 1st to 2nd low speed surge shift now either (like in a parking lot).

 

[Inv4drZm]

My 5spd V8 laughed at my 285/70/17s even with all my weight. I wouldn't think it would be bad with a 4spd V6 especially with only your 32's to start with.

If you add full armor/lift/tent and heavy 35's the 4.88 ratio is your best bet.

But gears seem to be a highly-preferential thing not everybody agrees on.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Double check the tire specs for the 255/80r17 Cooper ST Maxx, those are 32.8”. The 255/75r17 is 32”.

Your rig will feel those tires big time! I went from the 255/75r17 BFG KM to the 255/80 Cooper and they really slowed down my 5 speed V6.

 

[bombventure]

It doesn't do that weird 1st to 2nd low speed surge shift now either (like in a parking lot).

I noticed something similar a few days ago with mine. I was starting to think something might be wrong. It’s almost like it has a hard time finding the 2nd gear or don’t know whether to stay in 1st or shift in to 2nd, but I have only noticed it if I’m driving on a side street or parking lot, the rpm’s will be sitting a little higher then a few seconds later it’ll (usually) go into 2nd and back down to normal rpms. It’s not rough at all (it don’t feel like it slips) but it got me a bit worried when I first noticed it.




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[f250ben]

So, this is giving me a lot to think about.

I was wrong with my tire specs for the cooper maxx too...I really want to go with the 255/80/17 which IS 33”. I will probably end up doing wheels too, to offset some of the increased weight from the heavier tires. Those are a heavy tire too.

FWIW, I’m starting slow and it’s going to probably be a year before I’m at the point where I’m feeling weighed down. Lift is happening in the next month along with a ton of maintenance stuff, rack and tent happening late this year. Drawers and tools happening late this year. Tires, wheels and armor won’t start till mid next year.

From how you guys are talking, I think I’m going to just not worry about it now, but I expect to want to regear almost immediately after I go up in tire size. I like being able to tow a trailer and do heavy truck stuff with my truck. I towed 5-6k loads once or twice a year with my Tacoma. My 4runner isn’t a primary working vehicle anymore but I’m still going to do stuff like that with it as I need to. All reasons re-gearing would probably be helpful.


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[atalarico]

So, this is giving me a lot to think about.

I was wrong with my tire specs for the cooper maxx too...I really want to go with the 255/80/17 which IS 33”. I will probably end up doing wheels too, to offset some of the increased weight from the heavier tires. Those are a heavy tire too.

FWIW, I’m starting slow and it’s going to probably be a year before I’m at the point where I’m feeling weighed down. Lift is happening in the next month along with a ton of maintenance stuff, rack and tent happening late this year. Drawers and tools happening late this year. Tires, wheels and armor won’t start till mid next year.

From how you guys are talking, I think I’m going to just not worry about it now, but I expect to want to regear almost immediately after I go up in tire size. I like being able to tow a trailer and do heavy truck stuff with my truck. I towed 5-6k loads once or twice a year with my Tacoma. My 4runner isn’t a primary working vehicle anymore but I’m still going to do stuff like that with it as I need to. All reasons re-gearing would probably be helpful.


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Tiresize.com is your friend in this quest. The Cooper isn't 33" in that size, as the listing for Cooper ST Maxx in that size is 32.8". There are variations between manufacturers and stated sizes, so be careful and research on sites that list the individual measurements.

https://tiresize.com/tires/Cooper/Discoverer-ST-MAXX.htm

"LT 255/80R17
121Q E BSW 32.8" 10.2" 6.5-8.5" 7" 18.5/32" E 3195 lbs 80 psi 58 lbs 634"


Also I'd be looking at tire weights if I had a V6 with plans to add a lot of other weight. There are huge variations there between manufacturers and even load ratings, so keep an eye out. A few extra pounds per tire really adds up.

Good luck!

 

[BackOff]

I noticed something similar a few days ago with mine. I was starting to think something might be wrong. It’s almost like it has a hard time finding the 2nd gear or don’t know whether to stay in 1st or shift in to 2nd, but I have only noticed it if I’m driving on a side street or parking lot, the rpm’s will be sitting a little higher then a few seconds later it’ll (usually) go into 2nd and back down to normal rpms. It’s not rough at all (it don’t feel like it slips) but it got me a bit worried when I first noticed it.




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Mine allways did that, I think its just a CPU thing...had a '89 Supra that did it too.
URD for the win.

Something else to add...I am a SR5 with NO extras. At 5100k lbs. some of you guys are reporting 5800k after all the add ons. Maybe the extra weight is an issue?

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Another tire to consider is the 285/70r17 KO2 in load C, it’s only 50 pounds. That will be my next tire. Granted I’ve been super happy with the tall/skinny tires and the Cooper ST Maxx has been great in everything from Moab to deep snow and ice. But saving 8 pounds per tire would probably offset the negatives of the extra width.

Why doesn’t anyone make a 265/75r17?! That would be a great size for a DD 4runner that goes on trails.

 

[Drunner97]

I was running 4.88s on 33s (in anticipation of moving up to 35s) and the highway rpms are super high. 3k at 77ish.

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[Johnny4runner]

Oddly enough, the 4 speed has a slightly higher overdrive than the 5 speed, if iirc. But really on a lifted rig with oversized tires, you might want to reconsider your max mph--78 mph is kind of pushing it.

Stock gears on a 4 speed will work, but regearing makes it drive much better. I regeared more for the low end, rather than highway. If you are going to use your 33' to offroad, regearing is worth it. If you just like look of big tires, don't sweat it, just keep it stock.

Best, J4R

 

[f250ben]

Oddly enough, the 4 speed has a slightly higher overdrive than the 5 speed, if iirc. But really on a lifted rig with oversized tires, you might want to reconsider your max mph--78 mph is kind of pushing it.



Stock gears on a 4 speed will work, but regearing makes it drive much better. I regeared more for the low end, rather than highway. If you are going to use your 33' to offroad, regearing is worth it. If you just like look of big tires, don't sweat it, just keep it stock.



Best, J4R

You regeared and you have a 4speed correct?

My PLAN is to use my rig off-road. My wife and I like camping, and our goal is to move more to off-road/vehicle based exploring and camping since that is easier with a kid. That said, we’ll have to see how much I actually end up off pavement.

Either way, I think I’m leaning towards 4.56’s after I’ve finished the bulk of my other addons and mods. Seems to be a good split between low end power and highway speed rpms.


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[Johnny4runner]

You regeared and you have a 4speed correct?

Correct. My 4Runner is mostly for offroad / recreational use now too. 4.88s have worked great, even on the highway.

The real weakness of the 4 speed is the high first gear. The 5 speed has a much lower first gear.

Best, J4R

 

[f250ben]

Correct. My 4Runner is mostly for offroad / recreational use now too. 4.88s have worked great, even on the highway.

The real weakness of the 4 speed is the high first gear. The 5 speed has a much lower first gear.

Best, J4R

Totally agree. Compared to all the 5 speed v6's I've driven, that first gear is where the difference lies.

Your input is helpful, I guess confirmation of what I already sort of knew. 4 speed is slightly annoying, big tires will make that worse, regearing helps.

 

[BackOff]

Thought I would add a thought I had.
In most general driving conditions I never felt the need for lower gears on this 4spd. The only time it might be lacking in my limited experience (first 4x4 was a 1980 toy PU back in 1985) is extreme rock-crawling type driving (dragging the under carriage style), lots of 4wd low to 4wd high stop and go shifting. However If you just learn how to drive, get out and do it...that's worth all the extras you could bolt
on these 4th gen...just my opinion.