The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Update - about 700 miles in. I love the way it drives.
However, I have noticed that during a decel at around 75 mph, I get a noticable moan or whurr and a slight vibe that I can feel through the floor. It isn't enough to immediately startle me. You can't hear it with the radio off. Other than that, seems to drive fine and the break in oil change seemed good

 

2020 Off Road, Automatic
Stock wheels/tires (actually 17" SEMA pro 265/70/17 vs 16" that came with the truck, but same tire size)
I am heavy, last trip to Moab fully loaded I was at 6500 lbs. I still have rear armor (waiting on @Apogee Offroad for their dual swing arm rear bumper) and potentially skids (will probably do aluminum as they're 'just in case'). Winch goes in this weekend, that should be all, but will bring me closer to 6900 lbs fully loaded.

I am considering gears, my taco is heavy and it drives like turds on the highway. I have the KDMax tune, it helps. I don't hate my current wheel setup. I don't need to go bigger for looks nor to keep up with any of the big tire boys on the trails that I do.

That being said, I wouldn't mind bigger tires/wheels if it helps top speed with the right gears, etc.

So, my question is: If I am overweight and growing, but am fine with my stock-ish wheel/tire setup, which gears? Read a bunch of this thread, seems to be a split on opinion in my case. Stock tires, 4.88's. Overweight, 5.29's. @b3itz is the closest to my build spec with recent experience/posts, but has a manual tranny... I do want to be able to go 75+ mph (as our speed limits in Colorado dictate) with out issues. Super charger is likely in my future, but I need a good tune from @PapaRee for it first! Couple years off probably for that final piece of the build... I would appreciate any thoughts or feedback on this build decision.

 

I have 4:88’s and same size tires as you and KDmax LT.....A/T long bed with topper no armor. I’m at ~2300 rpm at 75 mph. With 5:29’s you’re going to be around 2500rpm at 75mph. I’m happy with 4:88’s but, I’m light. My highway (flat S Texas) mpgs are 16-20 depending on headwind.

.......around 200 rpm difference at 75mph between 4:88’s and 5:29’s. I would lean 5:29’s with the weight you are pulling. Gears are going to make a huge difference for the better!

 

That's good to hear. My gears should be arriving today and I've been worry about choosing 5.29's v.s. 4.88's

 

4.88s if you don't plan on bigger tires.

 

5.29

Also unless you’re literally carrying rocks for fun, I don’t think you’re 6500lbs. Got a pic of your weigh in from the scales?

 

I say 5.29 just because you say you don't want bigger wheels/tires now... but oh you will!!

 

It's been nearly two years into my build, but I just don't feel the need for bigger wheels/tires with all the problems that come with. These trucks are already anemic, I don't want to make it incapable of highway speeds!... Mo rubber mo problems! I think my baby wheels/tires look just fine, thank you!

 

@Metalhead514

 

Damn she chunky! Definitely 5.29s in my opinion.

 

Gonna get worse, too! Probably will be 6900-7000 pounds (fully loaded) when its all said and done, depending if I have a front passenger or not.

I just got off the phone with Slee Offroad in Golden, CO - they recommend 4.88's with stock tire sizes. More or less regardless of weight, from what I gathered. I am leaning to 4.88's since I love their shop and their work/reputation. The other big reason I would lean towards 4.88's would be to maintain highway top speed capabilities. Also, this would align with less deviation from the factory setup. Similar argument for why I won't do bigger wheels/tires, doubly so if I have not identified the need to date for the trails I do. If I were ever to go to larger wheels/tires, 5.29's all day. So long as either option would represent a noticed improvement over stock gearing with my current build, then I think I would be happy either way? I would err on the side of less aggressive change from stock gear ratios? Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

My setup of 5.29's with 33's is damn near identical rpm's as stock tires on 4.88's. I haul about 1300lbs of weight every weekend and wouldn't want my rpm's any higher for highway driving. Also your stock tires are lighter and turn over easier than my 33's so from my experience I'd say go with 4.88's.

 

Well looky here! Now I don't know if I want to tackle one end Friday night and the other Saturday morning or do both on Saturday. So far been very pleased with the communication and service from ECGS. Hopefully the whole install, return, and core refund will go smooth.

 

That fat pig is gonna need 5.29. You can run highway speeds just fine with 5.29s.

 

I think I am going to try 4.88's out the gate. I can always change my mind. I plan to have this Tacoma for a decade, so whats a few thousand more dollars on a bajillion dollar build if I want to do bigger tires and/or 5.29's later on? You may have the pleasure of saying "I told you so". Scheduled with Slee for late July. I will post back in early August when I've run them around a bit. Thanks for the feedback everyone, I appreciate all the insight from those who have gone before me!

 

There's no I told you so, we all have to find our own path, and our trucks evolve differently.

 

The KDMax 6.0 tune is almost enough for me to not even consider re-gearing... Almost. Struggles above 7k elevation even on slight inclines, etc. Still gear hunts, but its more like a flip flop. 5 to 4 to 5 to 4, changes gears every second, for 30-60 seconds in row! Granted, that is using cruise control. And, my taco is ultra fat. Body shaming her is appropriate. And, in Colorado, this is a common elevation to be cruising at on the interstates. So I don't need much more, just a little would go a long ways. Hoping to find that sweet spot with the 4.88's.

 

5.29 ECGS

 

I have 4:88's and that much weight on 33's. Truck drives great, and I like my 75+ sprinted driving. Either way, you should be fine. I went with 4:88's because it's what Steven at ECGS recommended at the time. Front locker also went in with the gear package. That kind of weight, and you should be looking into (if you haven't already) hammer hangers, spindle gussets, LCA cam tab gussets, and bigger brakes to help with the handling.. GL!