Starting to DD 4Runner, gearing

What gears for DD on 35's?

  • 4.88

    Votes: 8 44.4%

  • 5.29

    Votes: 10 55.6%
  • Total voters
    18
C

cdrewferd

New member
So I've built my 4Runner up a decent amount. Front and rear bumpers are happening this winter, as well as full skid plates. Maybe a roof rack as well. Here's my current setup as it pertains to my question:

99 4Runner V6 auto
34" tires
stock 4.30's with rear locker

I've been searching for the past couple days and everything seems to be split on 4.88 or 5.29.

This has been a second vehicle for me and I haven't worried about gearing it as I've driven it a whole 4k miles in 2 years. Well it's now going to become my DD for the foreseeable future. I know to make it easier on the 265k mile motor I should regear, and maybe get a little gas mileage back in the process.

My commute is about 30 miles a day. Stop and go for part, but hopefully when construction is done it'll get better. Speed limit is 65, though I don't mind going just a bit slower.

I know that most say with 35's, my next tire and current are close, that you should go 5.29. I'm just not sure if this will make my RPM's too high for all the highway mileage.

I don't mind getting 15-17mpg, but would hate to go below that. So vote, let me know what you guys think for my situation.

If you happen to have 4.88 or 5.29 and running 35's, could you post your RPM at 70mph?
 
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The gears will also depend on how heavy/ wide of a tire you go with. Just like with 33s - a 12' wide tire is a lot heavier than a 10" wide tire and the gears will tell it quickly.

If it was my money - I would go 5.29s for the added pep and help with added weight (passengers or body armor).

You also might be able to recoup some cost by selling your factory gear set with locker.
 
I think 4.88s will be more than enough for you.

BUT... how much do you wheel? If your taking this thing on the trails consistently then I would just go 5.29s once you get up to speed you wont notice a difference between the two gear sets.
 
Go 5.29 and never look back. That way when you go 36's or 37's (and you will ;)) you won't have to re-gear again. I'll confirm RPM's next time out but I think it's around 2500 at 70 mph. I'm 14-15 mpg, but on 37's and beadlocks.
 
I would vote 5.29s which is what I plan to jump to. Especially since in Colorado you already have the 15% power loss from elevation and that's before you even drive into the mountains.
 
I vote 4:88 if DD and hitting highway like you said. If just climbing mountain passes than go big but they will cause a little high rpm at high speeds.
 
I think for some reason, most people forget about low range for trails...

I say 4.88, it's a DD with big tires and heavy bumpers... it will help gas mileage. 5.29 is if you know you will go a true 35 or bigger, you mentioned you're on 34's.

I had a 75 bronco v8 with 4.11 gears, off road, I stayed in 4high, never need the low gear. and highway was 3k+ rpm at 65-70. (33's) If I did it again, I'd make sure I gear for HW, so I can use low for off road.

but I also see the agruement on 5.29's cause of the added weight you have yet to put in, this will increase RPM, inturn increasing air flow through radiator and keeping everything cool. so IF you're in a hot climate, I would go the 5.29's. If you are in cool climate 4.88's.

maybe you can go in the middle, I don't know ratio's but is there anything in-between?
 
I have a bit of a different take on this whole thing. In my opinion, you're looking at the situation a bit backwards. For lots of daily driving, 4.30's and 34's seems totally fine to me. The power around town is good enough, and you'll spin nice low rpm's on the highway. For wheeling however, stock gearing and big tires blows.

I have the manual transmission so we aren't quite comparing apples to apples, but my combination of 4.10's, 285's and lots of added weight feels perfect on the street. In fact, I wouldn't want any lower gearing for street driving. I've thought about regearing to 4.88's for better off road performance but I can't justify the on-road compromise of doing 3000+ rpm on the highway
 
BrandonF said:
I have a bit of a different take on this whole thing. In my opinion, you're looking at the situation a bit backwards. For lots of daily driving, 4.30's and 34's seems totally fine to me. The power around town is good enough, and you'll spin nice low rpm's on the highway. For wheeling however, stock gearing and big tires blows.

I have the manual transmission so we aren't quite comparing apples to apples, but my combination of 4.10's, 285's and lots of added weight feels perfect on the street. In fact, I wouldn't want any lower gearing for street driving. I've thought about regearing to 4.88's for better off road performance but I can't justify the on-road compromise of doing 3000+ rpm on the highway
Click to expand...

This is because you are manual. My 305's, front bumper and winch make my 4:10's almost unbearable climbing the mountain pass. A lot of work on the trans even with overdrive off. With AC on the car will lose speed in overdrive and hitting the gas even on pretty much a flat road or slight grade.

On the trail I pretty much have to stay in 4x4 low. Cant even use high. She wont climb a curb in high.
 
JayRolla said:
This is because you are manual. My 305's, front bumper and winch make my 4:10's almost unbearable climbing the mountain pass. A lot of work on the trans even with overdrive off. With AC on the car will lose speed in overdrive and hitting the gas even on pretty much a flat road or slight grade.

On the trail I pretty much have to stay in 4x4 low. Cant even use high. She wont climb a curb in high.
Click to expand...

Same problem here with 4.10s and 265's. OD is useless.
 
I voted 5.29's. That's what I have with 35" tires. It is definitely not too much gear. I checked my RPM's at 70MPH today and it was right at 2600.

Oh, And I can't wait to see those bumpers!
 
Thanks everyone. I am leaning to the 5.29s as once I get bumpers, skids and a winch I'll add probably 400+lbs. Then wheeling gear, camping gear and hopefully a trailer in a year or so.

Now to get up the guts to drop $3000 on gears and front locker.
 
It is a big pill to swallow, dropping coin on the gear-set. Keep in mind, 4:30 to 4:88 is not a big change, and probably not worth the money. Besides, you have all the reasons in the world to go 5:29. I know it's hard to spend the money on a mod that you can't see or hear but a properly chosen gear-set and locker may very well be the most important mod you can do.
the juice is sooo worth the squeeze!

P.S.
If you search around the forums and such, you can find what you want for about half that...
 
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