4.88's or 5.29's Opinions please!!!

[Swede]

So the time has come to do a gear swap but I can't decide on the 4.88's or 5.29's.

Here's what I got:

My initial thought was to go with 4.88's and here's why:
3rd gen, 5-speed, and 35's (for most of the year, and 32" studded tires in the winter)
Daily commute to work of about 10 minutes each way at highway speeds.
Off-roading ranges from steep deactivated logging roads to sand to mud.

However, lately the wife and I decided to by a 19' travel trailer for camping with the kids so I'm now leaning towards the 5.29's.

My only concern is the fact that, come winter time and I change over to the studs, I'll be revving higher than I should be, and I run these tires for anywhere from 4 - 5 months of the year.

So let's have you opinions please!!! What should I do???

[mastacox]

I personally think you should just get the 5.29's. Your revs will only be about 8.5% higher than with 4.88's, 10 minutes at highway speeds won't be that much, and you're only looking at 255 rpms higher at 3000 anyway...

If you figure stock tire size is about 30" (and you're now running 35's) that's a 17% increase in diameter. I'll assume your 4Runner came stock with 4.30's, so going to 4.88's is a 13.5% increase (3.5% short of making up for tire size increase) where as going to 5.29 is a 23% increase (6% higher than stock with 35's). I personally would go on the higher side, but you can decide what you would prefer.

[troyboy162]

find the online gearing calculators and decide how high of rpm you can live with at your desired interstate speed. OD is a .71 (i think) ratio for the 3.4L auto.

after you figure in your towing. id guess you are going to want 5.29. there is no way to run 32" tires and 35" without compromise so you might at well gear for your main tires.

[NakSuKow]

5.29s

[paddlenbike]

How much will you be towing? 5.29s at highway speeds with 32s is really going to rev the engine.

[BruceTS]

since you have a 5-speed I would go 4.88, 5.29's are weaker, I run 4.88 with 35's and my 32's for daily driving. If I had it to do again I'd go with 4.56.

[mastacox]

...5.29's are weaker,

AFAIK, that's a myth. Lot's of people run 5.29's or even 5.71's with bigger tires than 35's...

[Swede]

Going by the figures from this link www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html and in 5th gear, this is what I came up with:

4.10's & 31's (Stock Gears & Tires) = 65mph @ 2426 rpm

4.10's & 32's (Studs) = 65mph @ 2351 rpm ( -75 rpm)
4.10's & 35's (M/T's) = 65mph @ 2149 rpm (-277 rpm)

4.88's & 32's (Studs) = 65mph @ 2798 rpm (+372 rpm)
4.88's & 35's (M/T's) = 65mph @ 2558 rpm (+132 rpm)

5.29's & 32's (Studs) = 65mph @ 3033 rpm (+607 rpm)
5.29's & 35's (M/T's) = 65mph @ 2773 rpm (+347 rpm)

For everyday daily driving it looks like going with the 4.88's is a no-brainer as it's pretty close to the stock rpm's. However, it sure would be nice to have a little extra grunt that the 5.29's may provide while pulling the trailer, as well as having the lower range off-road! Remember too that when camping season comes, I'll be running the 35's only. I guess now what I'm asking is, if I run the 5.29's with the 32" studs at over 600rpm higher (at 65mph), can I live with the extra fuel consumption (if it's noticeable), noise, and general wear and tear? Will running 600rpm higher be too much?

[Crinale]

easy way to guage how much that will bug you, drive on the freeway with over drive off. Should be ~600rpm higher at 65.. if its too much go with 4.88s, if you can deal with it go with 5.29s

[Swede]

How much will you be towing? 5.29s at highway speeds with 32s is really going to rev the engine.

It'll be about 4000lbs dry.

easy way to guage how much that will bug you, drive on the freeway with over drive off. Should be ~600rpm higher at 65.. if its too much go with 4.88s, if you can deal with it go with 5.29s

You know I just thought of that today! I'll try it out tomorrow