Re-gear Question

I have a V6 automatic 4X4 2016 SR5. I am finally turning to the installation of front and rear diff lockers. Today I called East Coast Gear Supply to discuss and they suggested I might want to use this occasion to re-gear as well. I am currently running 265/75R16 Nitto Ridge Grapplers and at most I might someday move up to 285s but I am not sure about that. My truck has put on some weight (a Diamondback bed cover, beefier suspension, rock sliders and skid plates, though the plates are all aluminum, saving a bunch of weight cumulatively) with a bit more to come (a dual battery setup, a hidden winch bumper -the Mobtown one I think- and a winch-I will be sticking with synthetic line for that). So its heavier but not absurd.

I am not a rock crawler. I do a lot of offroad driving on (often very rough) backwoods trails on hunting game lands, national forests, etc. And because I live in the South I obviously encounter a great deal of mud and have to drive through lots of situations like major washouts, etc.

This is not a DD but more of a weekend adventure rig so DD advantages and drawbacks don't count for much with me. That said I often have to drive a few hours to said adventure.

What would you go with if you were me? Would you regear in my shoes? If so to what?

Grateful in advance for your help.

 

Bump

 

Read through this thread, might answer a lot of your questions.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-5-29-mega-thread.557305/

 

Yeah, actually it was this long read that prompted my post. That thread tends to focus more on the aggressive (tire size and extent of regear) end. I am now leaning toward something like 4.3. I mean what can it hurt and it might help a little?

 

I re-geared to 4.56 with ECGS. I feel like that was right for me and my truck. I was on 255/85/16 (33") tires. My truck was heavy. Mine was a second gen 4.0 auto v6, not sure on the third gen gear ratios offered.

 

From my research, you will want to goto at least 4.88

 

If you can afford it, just do it. At least my plan in the near future once truck is fully paid. Add OV tune in the equation then it’s the perfect set up.

 

I certainly think it makes sense to do a re-gear at the same time as the lockers. With that said I'm in a 2nd Gen and I have C-rated KO2 285/70/17 and E-rated KM2 255/85-16, and probably a lot more weight than you (steel skids, sliders, and bumpers, aluminum cap w/ RTT, dual batteries) and I'd choose to re-gear when I can afford lockers but for now it seems fine. The C-rated 285s actually feel like they are easier on the engine than the E-rated 255s. I'll probably go with 4.56 or 4.88 gears.

 

If it were me and I was going this far to put lockers in it. I would definitely regear it.

 

That's good to know. I tend to be a very conservative person, technically (and politically, lol), but that might be a reasonable number for me.

 

I think some regear is definitely going to happen. The question is how much.

 

These engines powerband doesn’t even really begin to hit until roughly 2300-2500rpm. I’d honestly think about them 4.88s

 

It was between 4.56 and 4.88 for me. I chose the 4.56 since I did DD my truck. I did not want too high of RPM while cruising the highways. Not much higher with 4.88 but higher nonetheless. The 4.56 brought it back to near stock RPM's while cruising, maybe a tad higher.

 

Yeah... I get your point... I was trying to think while typing On what more to say. I couldn't come up with anything other than a more suitable gearing ratio, like when ect is on but maybe a tad less aggressive.

 

The third gens have a second overdrive gear I think as compared to the second gens, maybe I am mistaken. if so, I might contemplate 4.88

 

Yes that 6th gear is a true pain in the ass. Especially in the autos

 

Side note. ECGS is awesome. first class, they know their stuff, and back it up too. I blew my regeared rear about a year later, covered under warranty, no issues whatsoever.

 

I watch the mpg on my scan gauge in this thing and it is all over the place... I start off from a light and its pulling 4 mpg , I get up to 40 mph and let off the gas and coast and the gauge then says 90 mpg and then fluctuates between 40 and 75 with just lightly tapping the gas.

 

Why 4.56 over 4.30?