Advice on gear ratio

hello fellow Taco fans. I have a 2007 4x4 double cab I purchased last year. Previous owner had the gears changed to 4.88 due to the fact that he was pulling a camping trailer alot. Tires and wheels have been upgraded to LT275/65R20 size.
Gas mileage sucks on this thing, especially on the highway. I get probably 10 MPG and the speedometer shows about 5 mph slower than actual speed.

I am considering options of looking at getting the gears change on this thing. Something closer to stock to improve MPG and speedometer accuracy.

I do most work on my cars but am completely unfamiliar with changing gears or how to determine proper gear ratios. How complicated of job is that?

Advice needed on proper gear ratio and difficulty of change out!

 

E rated or C rated tires? What tires do you want to run? For that size 4.3 or 4.56 if you run bigger tires similar to that but 4.88 is probably too much.

tires alone will kill your mpg.

 

The speedometer reads off the right rear wheel speed sensor, so changing gears doesn’t affect the speedometer.

Since the speedometer is off, so is the odometer. You are actually getting better gas mileage than you think you are.

 

I am not sure about the E or C rating, I will have to look at that. Is that a weight rating?
I will likely continue to run the tires that are on it or same size different brand when it comes to replacement time.

 

...yeah. You will need to pay someone to install your gears

 

I figured my MPG's might be a bit better than what mileage is showing with the speedometer being off but this thing drinks gas like it is nobody's business.

Is there a way to adjust the speedometer to get it more accurate?

 

I li

I live in a small town and no shops here that specialize in 4x4's for gear replacement. Is that something a normal garage can do? Curious as to what to expect cost-wise for that service?

 

I don’t mean to be rude, but buying a truck with a 6” drop bracket lift and giant tires, you can’t expect it to get 20 MPG.

 

I don't expect to get OEM gas mileage on this thing but I am pretty confident the low gears in it are running my RPM way too high on the highway for decent MPG

 

What RPM is your truck's engine at 70 mph? Around 2600?

 

I understand if I changed wheels and tires it would boost fuel economy however I love my lift and my wheels and tires on this thing. Also if I drove 5 miles under the speed limit it would help as well (ain't happening!)

If I wanted something stock I would've bought one that way. I don't expect to get 20 mpg on it. Just looking for ways to get some better fuel economy without changing the cosmetic appearance of the truck. Hence the questions about gear ratio. I understand there are trade outs for certain things. It is plenty peppy as it sits right now but I am sure the lower gear ratio has something to do with that.

She is a beauty to be sure and I take exceptional care of her.
Last year I sold my 1996 Tacoma ext. cab with about 270,000 miles on it and it still ran like a top. Burnt no oil and was in exceptional condition when I sold it last year. I was pulled over by a cop just prior to selling it and he just wanted to know how I kept a truck that age in such good shape.
These Tacomas are beautiful beasts. Add some aftermarket fender flares, billet grill, nice tires and wheels and they are quite impressive.

 

I will check that out as soon as I can and get back to you on it. Don't remember off the top of my head

 

What is the difference between the E rated and C rated tires?

 

Get over it, accept the gas mileage your getting since you’re really no willing to do what it will take to get 3-5mpg more.

 

What the hell? Get over what? I am looking at various options here and trying to learn. Just because I don't wanna change tires here I need not ask any questions or look at any other options?

 

I was told by the guy who I bought the truck from that he was told by the mechanic who did the gear change to 4.88 that the 4.56 would be more like the stock tire gear ratio (but he was looking for something more suited to hauling a camping trailer all the time thus the 4.88). I just like to confirm things and get more info to make sure the info I get is accurate. Some of the info I have gotten off this forum has been invaluable to me over the years as a Tacoma lover.

 

changing gears to 456s or 410s probably isn't going to change much fuel wise. plus once you down grade from 488s your going to miss having 488s.

 

E rated tires are heavier (both weight and construction wise). E-rated "10 ply tires" or sometimes called truck tires are heavier like I said. Makes them better suited to off-roading, but worse on economy and ride comfort. C or P rated tires are lighter tires and more typical of passenger cars or light trucks. The rating of a tire is stamped in the sidewall near the size and other info.

 

stick to 4:88
If you really want to swap gears, go 4:56
Best method would be to contact ECGS send them your diffs in exchange of built ones.
If you do it locally, they will charge you an insane amount because it is a long process. The front diff is the worst. It is a long process of removing your diff, opening it, change gears, adjust, close diff, test, reopen diff, adjust if needed, reinstall on truck.
Trust me, i have walk through that process.
Again, i'd stick to 4:88

 

My apologies. Read my post and it may have been hasty. What I mean is really the get an extra 5mpg, you need to go down to 3” lift and something more like a 32-33” inch tire. Nothing you do in its current state is gonna help. So unless your willing to spend a couple grand to lower it and change tire size. Enjoy how it is if you really like it that way