5.29 but maybe I should just do 4.88

big facts. I took my truck on a road trip to atlanta last year and got up to 75 average for a stretch. I wasn’t really paying attention to the mileage. I filled up and Fuelly said I averaged 15 mpg on the highway instead of the usual 18+

 

My build is pretty much identical to what you’re going after. I have cbi bumpers front (aluminum) and back (steel), cbi rock sliders. 3 RCI skid plates, ARB airlockers front and back, warn winch, icons and running 33s KO2s. I have nitro 4.88s and I have good acceleration no problem. I wouldn’t mind a little more “crawl” when I’m off roading but overall I’m happy with the 4.88. On the highway my rpms are pretty high as it is, I’d have to slow down with 5.29. I usually do the speed limit or 5 over. It’s also my daily driver. If you plan on running 35s eventually then 5.29 for sure.

 

that’s interesting... what do you mean by pretty high on the highway? Like 3k rpm at 65? Do you know if you’re in 6th or are hovering in 5th still on the highway?

awesome build by the way. I’ll probably bug you with a pm about how you went about things soon lol

 

Ball parking it I’d say that’s pretty close, around 3k at 70 and 5th gear. And anytime! I’ve learned a lot and would love to share the mistakes I’ve made and what I’ve learned.

 

See if you got 5.29s you'd be in 6th!

 

Now the real question is, what about us 3rd gen 5 speed guys?

 

I have been really happy with my 5.29. I am getting the best mileage on the truck since I bought it. I get 20 mile more n mid grade fuel. I am now on my third tank of high test fuel. I will say 30 more miles vs regular grade. Still want one more tank before I confirm this. I am about to do a 2100 mile trip in about 2weeks. I am going to power throw in 3 days. Sea level to 4200ft ending at 3400ft.

 

Any recommendations for me. I’m on a fairly stock 2020 TRD OR. I have a Bed Rack, Roof Rack and I’ve jumped up 1 size tire to 265/75/16 10ply Mickey Thompson Baja AT tires. My truck is a daily but my commute is 55-60mph. On weekends I will travel a bit on 70-75mph roads. Also. I do tow a Travel Trailer every now and then but that’s just like 4-5 times a year. I live in South Texas so we have flat land LOL. I do occasionally hit HILLS but not mountains.

I’m thinking 4.88’s will be better. I just dont want to have any regrets. I will just add a bumper and winch. But that’s it. No plans for 33” or larger tires ever.

 

If you never plan on larger than 33" then 4.88's are better for you.
-someone with 33s and 5.29s

 

I’m in a very similar situation. 2019 off-road LB A/T with 265/75/16’s (31.7) and may go 285’s (32.7)at some point. 2” eibach lift with no added weight but will purchase a topper someday. Tow a 16’ flats boat (~#1400) 3-4 times a month sometimes tow to another bay system about 130 miles from home.
Just ordered 4:88’s.

Since you’re in south Texas I know you have experienced the 6-5 5-6 shifting on overpasses and the flat highway especially when bucking our wind we deal with daily. My reasoning for getting 4:88 over 5:29 was the 500 vs 700 rpm gain you get. I figured a 500 gain will be plenty to hold 6th gear on the highway 75mph even with 285’s.
Most of our highways are 75mph so with 4:88’s, should be ~2300rpm at 75mph in 6th gear. Hopefully enough rpm to chill the 6-5 5-6 dance on the highway.
And towing....I tow my boat With factory gears in 5th (s-5) and usually do 65-75 on the highway. This equates to ~1800-2000 rpm with factory gearing which is a tad too low for the 3.5 to pull without lugging. Figured ~2500-2600 rpms at 70-75 in 5th gear will be perfect for towing and probably get better fuel economy since it won’t be lugging. With 5:29’s I’d be at ~2700-2900 rpms in (s-5) 5th at 70-75mph....a tad too high for my thinking. And 5:29’s towing in s-6 or drive would have the engine lugging again (2100-2200rpm) at 65-70mph...

Depending on the size and weight of your travel trailer, you may need to figure out your rpms needed to keep speed and which gear to tow with depending on which gear set you choose....usually most tow in (s-4) or (s-5) and doubt you’d tow in drive or 6th gear (maybe some can with 5:29’s)???.... With 4:88’s At 70 mph S-4 would be ~3500rpm and S-5 2500 rpm and 6th gear 2100 rpm. If you were to go 5:29’s just add ~200 rpms to all those figures. All these figures are calculated with 32” tires. If you go 33’s or larger tires, the rpms will drop at a given mph when compared to the smaller 32” tires.

Guess I’ll find out soon if I researched this enough. @Texoma is doing my install first week of December.

 

Ok I’m gonna toss out a reply and hope for the best. I just can’t pull the trigger on gears. Too many threads, too many opinions. So I’ll let you know what I’ve got and what I’m doing and I’ll decide based on the responses.
2017 TRDOR 4dr. Prinsu and Diamondback. Fox 2.5 shocks. With my gear and passengers truck weighs 4500#. Tires are 265/75/16 10 ply. Never changing.
I will tow my large pop up which has my total gross at 10,500# several times a year. Otherwise it’s a quad on back or my drift boat. 2.5hrs one way usual trips towing but otherwise same drives solo.
I’m tired of running 4500rpm all day trying to drive 70 towing. So 4.88 or 5.29. I can have them installed in November here in Montana if I order this week.

 

5.29

 

5.29 on my Taco, I love it. Although sometimes it feels like driving a semi truck.....

 

I'd do 4.88. Matter of fact I would do a Hilux 4.56 but to answer your question 4.88 for sure.

 

I would read the mega threads. Lots of people in the same situation.