The 4.88 mega thread!!

I'd agree with AODRN. Personally have 33's with 5.29's and just sliders and a front skid plate. Love how it drives, but on long roadtrips when I'm doing 75-85, wish I had 4.88's for slightly lower revs and mpg's. That being said around where I live with steep grades in the mountains I think 4.88 would still hunt gears more than I'd like. If I keep it around 65-72 I still can get over 20mpg's easily. I'm on KDMAX pro tune as well.

From all the reading I've done it seems more people have gear whine with 5.29's then 4.88's. My gear whine is pretty damn loud.. Another reason I go back and forth with my decision.

 

So right now for around town driving with KDMax tune honestly i don't mind it. In washington the highways usually have max speed of up to 70 MPH so stock gearing feels fine with tune. I just got back from a roadtrip out thru Idaho and to Utah and when i'm needing to go 80-90 mph the truck is just struggling to keep up which is what is sparking my want to re-gear. I do however plan on towing more so pehraps 5.29s make more sense

 

Ya when I was on stock gears it was highway driving that made me hate it. It cruises effortlessly at 80-90 with 5.29. I have super light (43lbs per tire) Maxxis Razr AT in SL load. So having 34's which I'm assuming are E load and probably 60lbs or more per tire, plus the extra weight you have over my truck, seems like 5.29's are more fitting. Especially if you tow. I only have towed once and it was super tall trailer 3700lbs and 5.29's did great. Towed the same trailer with my buddies stock gearing/tune, Tacoma with 32's and it was awful!

 

appreciate the insights !

 

4.88’s in my truck, auto, on 32” (275/70/17), and I would say it’s slightly over-geared. If I ever go 33’s it will be perfect.

 

32", ~190lb topper, building a bed setup in the back.. Going to be carrying camping stuff / 70qt cooler in longer trips, otherwise that's about it. Often have a hitch bike rack attached with my bike on it too.

4.88 seems fine for this case, but I'd be hitting the threshold if I change anything right? Interested in 33s but that's a longer term project given the lift and/or cutting I'll have to do. No armor plans, but never say never!

edit cooler not camper lol

 

Automatic or MT? Depending on the terrain you're in, I'd say try a tune first and then re-gear. My brother and his gf each have a Tacoma and the automatic one with similar set up as yours is dialed in with a tune. No need for gears in her case.

 

Auto. I'm in CO and have the KD max tune. It definitely is night and day better, but driving west to the mountains the gear hunting between 5th and 6th is still super temperamental. Rarely holds 6th and often goes near redline on 5th

Go west often, especially in the summer, hence getting ideas for a re-gear.

 

I recently went to 4.88 on an auto with heavy 33's and a bit of weight. Have a KD Max tune as well. I originally had stock gears with an OV Tune. The difference is quite impressive. No hunting for gears, highway and hills are a joy now. I had ECGS do the install, could not be happier.

 

I feel the same way about mine. I actually LOST mpg going with 4.88s and I have the KDMax pro tune. In order to get 17mpg I have to baby it at 65mph on the freeway. Normal driving I might get 15mpg. Not really impressed honestly. I have 265/75/16 wildpeak tires, a camper shell, sliders, and an SSO hybrid bumper. Not sure if I should have just left the stock gears or if I should get a different tune. Thoughts anyone?

 

Any one has a MT with 33' regeared with 4.88 and a KD max tune ? Just curious on how it runs , I have a KD max on 33' and about to regear but want to know if the regear is worth the $3500
Anyone?

 

No KD. But have OV tune. A Bit smaller tires.

That said for sure.

 

I rock this all day long. Wife TIP AGM style!

Edit: AT

 

What gear oil did you go with?

 

I think it’s Lucas dinosaur oil. I change it every 20k miles.

 

I believe that is what ECGS recommends and puts in after their work.

 

I have been going back and forth with installing 4.88 gears in my stock but tuned 2022 or. What I have found that if I just use S5 on the hwy it puts me at about the same RPMs as 4.88 would I. 6th. If I reach a flat or slight decline I shift to S6 and then back to S5 in anticipation to an incline or hill. That seems to have fixed the down shift to 4 th I would get in D. Just something to think about. It just seems like a lot of money for a gear change. JMO

 

Well ,got it done , 4.88 Nitro Gear installed at the shop in Cashmere,WA , the guys are really really good at what they do . I'm already done with the breaking period , reached 500miles yesterday and changed my oil . I've upgraded to the Overland Tune and I feel that it's the right combination for my MT , very happy with the end result, thanks to https://www.nitro-gear.com/
and Paul @ https://pnwtuningllc.com/
the best tuner in the PNW for sure.

 

From what I understand is that a manual with 4.30 gears is about the same as an auto with 5.29 gears. So you went from 4.30 to 4.88? That seems like a lot but I don’t know because I have not tried it. What kind of RPM are you running now in 6th gear at hwy speeds? Also if you don’t mind can you PM me what they charged for the install? I was thinking if I do it I would drive over the pass and have it done.

 

Did I mention that I run 33's
At 60mph I'm about 2300 2400 , much more torque for sure , the truck picks up right away