2009 Tacoma Off-Road - regear to 5.29?

I am a reasonably experienced off-roader (8-10 years).
I built a 1988 f150, 4spd (added 4in lift, regeared to 4.1 and rear locker on 33s) that I currently use.

SUMMARY:
I feel like I'm in the 'I don't even know what I don't know' stage and something is 'not right' with trying to put 5.29 gears on the Tacoma I just bought.

BACKGROUND:
I bought a 2009 Tacoma Offroad, 6spd, e-locker. Got a good deal, I think, and it seemed like I could use it as a good offroad build platform to replace the not exactly reliable Ford (well it reliably breaks). The Taco has 3.73 gears, 33.4" tires, I'd like to put the larger 34.6" on. Going though the trans and diff gear ratios and comparing it to what I have currently, I think I need/want 5.29 gears. I do not need it to do more than 60-65MPH on the highway which is seems like would still be less than 3k revs in 6th gear, which is basically what I want (say ~2800 rpm in 6th at 65mph).

From experience, I know that the biggest headache in regearing is getting all the correct parts (Jeeps are the worst becasue of all the variations - OMFG they changed rear diff mid-year on some JKs).

QUESTION:
So, the question. I see a lot of stuff for 3rd gen, but almost nothing for 2nd gen. It looks like I can get 4.88 gears and install kit from Revolution, but not 5.29 (they have 5.29 for all other gens).

Then I read a thread with someone saying I need to get new carriers for anything lower than 4.56 for the manual.

And Yukon says their 5.29 gears fit front carriers of 3.91 and up. So, darn, I guess that would only be good for the automatic then. And what about the rear and the locker? Am I going to have to ditch the factory locker?

But their rear doesn't say anything about the carrier. Can I just get a new carrier for the front?

I will phone Yukon, maybe some others, but the 'I don't know what I don't know' part feels like I am going to get into trouble. Will all the talk of Tacoma's on 5.29 I did not think this would be that tricky (and maybe it isn't really, I just don't know where to look?). Or maybe I needed a 3rd gen, but I can't afford $30k before I even start the build.

Anyway, Thanks for an info and anything you think of that I may not know that I don't know.
Or maybe I just go for this, which seems to fit, including the carrier and is a lot less and see if 4.88 gears will work for me?

https://revolutiongear.com/revoluti...t8-t8ifs-4-56-4-88-ratio-with-factory-locker/

 

You can fit 5.29 no problem, however with the 6 speed I think that would be a mistake. 4.88 would be my choice

 

Look at ECGS

 

Yea, I'm going to phone them. Looks like they have a used front carrier for 3.9 and up.

 

ECGS is a great shop, and all they do is gears. Their diff exchange program is the go-to for a lot of people who like to DIY but don't necessarily have the tools or expertise for proper gear work.

 

A diff exchange program? That's a good idea, becasue that would be an easy job.

After several hours and multiple looks through their site, I may also have found the components I need from them.

 

Yeah they'll send you built diffs with your chosen gear ratio (and lockers if you want them) and you get paid back your core charge when you ship the old diffs back.

 

Just do 4.88’s.

I called ECGS wanting 5.29’s for my originally MT truck, and if you want a front locker that isn’t arb, 5.29 is out of the question.

call them, they know everything there is to know

 

Yea. So something I didn't know that I didn't know - Crawl Boxes. Never came across them before. Not needed for the Jeeps I've worked on, nor available (or needed for my Truck) since the granny gear is 6.32:1.

So.... may well go for 4.88 and then try to install a crawl box of some sort if needed when funds permit and assuming everything else goes well.

The 5.29 idea is literally to get that first gear as low as possible while still being able to dive on the highway. But honestly, I keep looking at the ratios and it might still not be as low as I'd like. Although the Tacoma is going to drive very different with significantly more power than my Ford. Looking around most people do seem to do OK on 4.88 with a MT. And I'm not going crazy stuff, not planning on 37s+ yet.

Thanks for the front locker info - exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to find out. I'm not currently planning a front locker (rear only has been good enough so far), but definitely could be in the future.

Forums are good. I thought folks would say just go 4.88 and I would be convinced I need 5.29 and now, yea, maybe 4.88 is the way to go and see how it does.

 

You can do a front locker on 5.29’s, but it has to be ARB. I wanted a Detroit tru track, so that made 5.29s out of the question. The 4.88’s can also be ordered with a thicker gear, atleast you’re given that option on ECGS’s website.

 

You can do an Eaton electronic front locker with 5.29s through ECGS. Same maker as the OEM rear locker afaik

 

Ah gotcha. I wasn’t shopping for e lockers so I didn’t even ask.