The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Hypertech makes an in-line speedo. I think you set tire size only though. If you also set the gear ratio it gets messed up.

 

I’d like to know for certain as well. Here’s my reasoning...There are a bunch of folks here who tow in OD, but Toyota doesn’t recommend it. I believe Toyota’s recommendation is based on the transmission. If so, then I don’t think changing the gears would matter.

 

hmmm well i called hyper tech (because that’s the calibration unit i have when i put on bigger tires) and they said you do need to recalibrate that’s why they have a setting for gear ratio changes...

 

$1250 LABOR to Install:

5.29 Gears
Air lockers F&R, lines and 3 switches (cubby)
Clamshell bush
Twin compressor
ADM
RWD only Low harness and switch (center panel)

$2600 is high but I am letting them make a decent margin on the diffy parts

$850 labor sounds like a great deal

 

Yeah, my labor was around $1100.

 

No. If you change gears ONLY no, no you don't. They are not correct. Now maybe they thought you are changing both. BUT don't trust me, ask others or read what @thefatkid posted.

 

I don’t think any manufacturer recommends towing in OD gears but your performance will obviously be significantly better in 4th, more so for mountain passes and the like.

You probably don’t need 5.29s to tow in Kansas but once you hit the mountains the 5.29s will pull a bit better on the steeps.

You don’t need to recalibrate for gears on the Tacoma. I ran stocks for a while and can confirm as well.

This is why you DONT set the gearing on the hypertech.

 

I'd be interested in more details of that deal and the guys contact info.

 

Send me your diffs in the mail and you can knock the 2 off that price.

 

Same here.

 

That is brutal, I would expect gears included at that price.

 

Anyone in Los Angeles that offers re-gear/air locker installs for a good deal?

 

I'll shoot you a PM

 

You guys can ship to @ZUK as well. He’s highly recommended.

http://gearinstalls.com/harold2018TacoTRD.htm

 

Interesting install pictures. Makes me glad that I had a shop do it although it’s good to have a better understanding. Figuring out the correct shim seems like a challenge

 

Send me that into too, please

Edit: I'm an idiot. Thanks for the info.

 

Adding @taco.fighter feedback.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacofighter-5-29d.637779/

 

I just got mine back, and towed a flatbed with my bike on it to facilitate the drop off for a week. the trailer has a big fold upramp so it tows "heavy" for as light as it is. Towing a bike or two, the tacoma has always dropped to 9mpg, and the drive the mild hills on Interstate 10 through Arizona left the truck hunting between 3rd and 4th gear to pull 75 mph. it sucked. the return trip found the truck cruising in 4th, never 3rd, occasionally 5th, and every so often 6th.

Im sure that Toyota says don't tow in overdrive, but to be fair, the tacoma has no business towing anywhere near what they 'rate' it for, (if you ask me), and I surely should have set the cruise at 65.

in short, the gearing helped, but I still don't think its a good tow vehicle, we have a 3/4 ton for that though.

 

I'd like to chime in here as this topic is fresh on my mind from researching transmission temperatures on my project Jeep.

What I learned is the majority of heat generated in the tranny is from the actual shifting between gears. It's this (heat) that causes the most damage to a tranny and why manufacturers say not to tow in OD.

So when you're towing a load (or even just a heavily armored truck going up and down hills), if you're in OD, your ECU is likely going to shift in and out of OD and not stay in 4th. Reasons are it wants to upshift for eco reasons and then downshift for torque reasons. Do this enough times and your torque converter heats up that fluid and is the primary source of failures.

What I learned was this: if you can tow in OD without having your tranny constantly shifting, then you're good. If it shifts like crazy, just stick it in 4th.

Having 5.29s will certainly help.

I would invest in a trans cooler and temp gauge if truly concerned.

Me, I never tow or haul. The truck is merely a toy, as is most other things.

 

Thanks for the information y’all. As it turns out, I am about to head out on the first of two 2,500 mile towing trips. It’ll be the first with the new gearing.