SuperCharger OR Gears... Which One?

Which one is better?


  • Total voters
    69

SnowLizard

New member
Like the title asks...

Super Charger

OR

Gears


Which is more important/useful/beneficial/practical
Which one can you live without the longest?
discuss price points (shop install gears vs self install super)
 
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Gears will move your RPMS to make the truck feel like it did with stock tires.

Supercharger will make it so much more fun to drive!!!!!!!
 
I will answer your question with many questions.

Coffee or tea??

Ford, Chevy, or Dodge??

Brunette or Blonde?

Up or down? Left or Right??

I have a S/C and have never done gears. Gears would be nice, but having that low end torque is like, really nice. I can take the hills out here on I-70 at 80mph fully armored on 305's on stock gearing. I can also crawl all the trails in Moab.

Someday I'll do gears, but for now a S/C is all I needed.

I'll say what everyone else is thinking... Both. You need both. But which came first, the chicken or the egg??
 
Gears. A supercharger will amplify drivetrain wear
A gearswap (given you have oversized tires) will prolong your drivetrain


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It depends what you have and what you're after. If you do have larger tires, the only reason to get lower gears is to regain your crawl ratio in first gear, both low and high range. They have zero effect relating to power or gas mileage. I've run 285s with 4.88s since 2003. I never installed the supercharger, but power is what it addresses. The only drawback to 4.88s for me has been only being able to top out 60-62 MPH (in 2nd and 3rd) on the steepest sections of Eisenhower Tunnel approaches and Vail Pass along I-70 with no passing power, whereas with 285s and stock gearing (a brief period) it was able to maintain 70 MPH in 2nd gear. No other sections of road in the country that I've been on have been a problem.
 
Given your location, I would go with gears. The SC is going to add quite a bit of heat, and you may be surprised how little extra power you will have.

If you decide to go with gears, call Arizona Driveshaft & Differential in Mesa, ask for Kyle. He will give you the straight scoop on which ratio to go with; he owns two 3rd gens. :)
 
Gears
Get back the power you lost and I think keeping boost off the motor will keep it lasting longer.
Not to mention the proper tuning and what not that should be done as well as higher octane gas.

These were never fast and I'm pretty sure you didn't buy a 4runner for speed.
 
wow, I really thought this would be 'way' lop-sided... towards super... kinda hoping it was... but it's even...

all the points are 'very' valid, the super is nice, but it sounds like the gears are more practical in my case.

I'm running Nitto...
LT285/70R16 E (31.89x11.50) 62.91 lbs
and will go... when these wear out
LT285/75R16 E (33.03x11.73) 70.21 lbs

figured I'd be looking at a super... but guess I'm looking for gears...

I am in HOT climate in summer, 110+ 'easy' the gears would help the engine and trans not work as hard to turn the 'heavier' tires, so less work = less heat produced...

I'm thinking 4.88's to raise my RPM higher than stock... currently running 4.30's
 
Supercharger.... Regearing for anything under 35s is almost pointless, or better yet lockers.


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Last edited:
Supercharger.... Regearing for anything under 35s is almost pointless, or better yet lockers.


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I agree. Gearing you will barely notice a change in anything unless you are on 35s or 37s. Also would need to go at least 5.29s to get a drastic change but hurts highway mileage.

SC you will definitely feel and make you smile everytime you turn the key. Gears will make you say I really spent that much money for my tach to move a few hundred rpms.
 
I say gears. Superchargers are cool, but like others said they will increase wear and tear, it's another failure point, and you have to run premium. It seems like premium is running about $.50 more than regular at least now versus the $.20 more it used to be a few years ago. If you drive 20k miles a year, at 17 MPG, and gas is $2.00 for regular and $2.50 for premium you're spending $600 more a year on gas. And that's assuming you can get premium for only $.50 more. I've been seeing $.70-.80 even in some gas stations along interstates and stuff.

I like gears, less wear and tear and it'll make the truck drive like stock. These trucks aren't fast stock, but they have plenty of power to get out of their own way. Plus if you throw a locker in the front and rear you're basically unstoppable. You don't gain any more off road ability with a SC.

If I had the chance to pick up a SC cheap I certainly would, but I'd be torn on putting it on my truck, or selling it for a quick profit and throwing that money towards gears, other truck stuff, or just pocketing it.
 
Supercharger.... Regearing for anything under 35s is almost pointless, or better yet lockers.


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I don't agree that anything under 35s is pointless I'm running 4.88s with 33s and it makes a huge difference especially when towing.

But I wouldn't regear and not put lockers in, that would almost be pointless.

If you are gonna do it, do it right.
 
It seems like premium is running about $.50 more than regular at least now versus the $.20 more it used to be a few years ago. If you drive 20k miles a year, at 17 MPG, and gas is $2.00 for regular and $2.50 for premium you're spending $600 more a year on gas. And that's assuming you can get premium for only $.50 more. I've been seeing $.70-.80 even in some gas stations along interstates and stuff

Oh it's easily a dollar higher here in Houston

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