Gears or Supercharger and T-Case(s)?

Okay, so I have a dilemma.

I am wanting to move up in tire size to at at least 33x10.50, but possibly willing to do more major mods to get to 35”. The problem is power and hwy driving. I have the 3.4 and the 5 speed for context.


My first instinct is to just regear down to 4.88 or something else in the 5.xx range for 35’s. The problem it that it already screams 3k+ on the hwy, and I don’t want more hwy rpm to gain the power and off roading. I could always just trailer it, but that feels like cheating to me.

Thoughts on going supercharger and different t case or double t case rather than re gearing the diffs?

I want my cake and eat it too. I want decent hwy drivability (since we drive 6 hours+ for decent wheeling) but I want bigger tires, power, and off road gearing.

I carry a lot of weight, so that is part of my power issues too.

Cost isn’t the concern here.

 

If money isn’t the issue, do it all. Gear+lockers, dirty7s, doubler, and SC which will cost you easy $10k for all new parts if you do work yourself. Maybe $15k+ if a shop was to do the labor.

SA FTW BTW…..

 

yeah if money isn't an issue, do all of the above and do a ".69 5th gear" to improve highway performance.

 

Yea @turbodb has a nice write up on the 5th gear swap to bring the RPMs down (by about 500 rpm or so at highway speeds IIRC).

https://adventuretaco.com/swapping-5th-gear-for-more-mpgs/

 

Didn’t even know that was a thing! Glad I asked!

 

Might as well drop money into a 3 link solid axle front

 

I had a '00 Ext Cab 4x4 3.4L automatic and upgraded to 33x10.50x17s with a skid plate and over 100lbs of camping gear and fiberglass shell at all times. Manual transmission will be easier (esp. w/ the 5th gear swap above), but the automatic was only frustrating on an incline or with a strong headwind trying stay between 75-80mph. The pizza cutters always felt like plenty wherever I went and I didn't want the domino effect of going to 35s. But if money is no object, then go for it all. Still, I'd prefer supercharger w/ 33s vs going to 35s and regearing.