Regearing

Hi All.

Well I have pulled the trigger with ECGS to have my 2016 SR5 regeared and have front and rear e-lockers installed. My truck has some additional weight (over stock condition): tool box always in the bed, heavier suspension (Dakars and 2.5 inch ADS shocks front and rear), armor (full set of RCI aluminum skid plates including gas tank and LCAs and rock sliders), a Diamondbakc HD cover and a lot of other little mods (eg I was just helping someone put on bed stiffeners, which I have as well). I have 265/75/r16 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. This fall is going to see about 150lbs added to the front for winch and winch bumper, a Front Runner rack system put on my Diamond back, and maybe 40lbs of other crap. Farther in the future a roof rack, maybe a rear bumper with swing out, etc.

So it isnt a land Panzer like some but it is heavier than when I got it. And it will get somewhat heavier still.

So I was planning to have a re-gear to 4.56* done with the installation of the lockers.

Given that this is a big step, I figured I would get feedback on whether this is too much, or too little, regearing.

*I was originally thinking 4.3 but ECGS recommended the bump up to 4.56 given incoming mods.

 

I should add that part of the reason I am contemplating regear is that since I bought the truck and made the above changes it feels slightly more sluggish and honestly the gear hunting on one uphill stretch into the NC mountains that I use as a benchmark feels like it has gotten worse.

 

With the double overdrive auto trans I'd go with at least 4.88 on the regear. If you ever go with bigger tires - and realistically most of us do eventually - you're gonna want the extra gearing. My truck is also heavy and with 285/75/16's I think the 5.29s I got from ECGS are perfect.

 

Thank you! So I am reluctant to go to 33s because that would mean a cab mount chop (correct)? I actually had slight rubbing with the 265/75/r16 Ridge Grapplers (resolved via alignment)

 

Everyone seems to have slightly different experiences with rubbing. I only rub a little when flexing with the steering locked out which doesn't really bother me.

 

Did you do a CMC?

 

I did not. I actually bought the DRT Fab CMR kit but never needed it. I may trim my fenders and go with 35s next year and if so I'll install it then

 

I think I am worried about killing my gas mileage and always being at crazy RPMs at higher speeds

 

My take on that is pretty simple. The truck is a brick in the wind and needs at least 2000RPM to pull its weight above 70mph. So after 5.29s I'm just cruising at 2300RPM @75mph in 6th instead of bouncing back and forth between 4th, 5th, and 6th with all the gear hunting.

I also drive in the NC mountain passes pretty frequently and know exactly what you mean about gear hunting going between Greenville and Asheville

 

Yes, the gear hunting drives me insane. It's one reason I am going the regear route

 

Some folks here say getting a good canned tune will help fix that. I can't say it worked for me but the new gears sure did

 

4.88 works great on an otherwise stock 3rd gen. You should seriously consider going 5.29.

 

Due to the dual injection of the 3.5 V6 and the crummy factory torque converter lockup schedule, there is a solid chance you will see better MPG with 5.29s than you'd get with stock 3.91s. The 2GR-FKS doesn't mind revving high, and even with 5.29s, with 265/75/16 tires, you'd still be a tick under 2500 rpm at 75 MPH. That 0.58 overdrive is very easy to underestimate.

 

You think I will have added enough weight that it will work? I just watched a Tacoma mod video from Overland X. The result was like a King Tiger tank and a Taco had a kid. And i thought they went to 5.29s

 

Absolutely. You will not be disappointed with 5.29 in your case. You could go with 4.56 or 4.88 - and those would be an improvement - but 5.29 will really let your Tacoma drive closest to how it should drive from the factory. Gearing is not magic, but the 3rd gens are held back pretty hard by the stock gearing.

 

That is not a problem. The automatic on 5.29s and stock tires will still rev the same as a bone stock manual. You will not be at crazy high rpm. That is how drastic the stock automatic gearing is. 5.29 all the way IMO.

Essentially 5.29 will make it drive the highway decently and it’ll make the 1-4 gears outstanding to use around town and accelerating.

 

2019 OR with a bed cab 285 tires i went with 5.29 and that combo is amazing. I would not go 4.88

 

It ... seems like the consensus here is I should go bigger than 4.56?

 

Deeper, yes. Seriously, I’d highly recommend straight to 5.29. No need to compromise on a middle ground between 4.56 and 5.29 or anything like that. 5.29 will not ruin any part of the performance and will vastly improve it in many areas. I see no reason to consider any other option.

 

Here is a great thread with over 200 pages on 5.29s. I'm also a 5.29 fan boy. Your truck is only going to get more mods/bigger tires and get heavier. You are re-gearing for the future. Also, I recommend a tune after the re-gear/tires.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-5-29-mega-thread.557305/page-207#post-27663980