4.56 or 4.88

I cruise at 2600rpm all the time. It's awesome. It puts the motor in a much better area of the torque curve

 

I have a very similar set up to what you’re going for. I have 285/75R17’s, front bumper with winch, sliders, full skids, all 1/4” except the fuel tank skid, soft top with bed rack, RTT, and my bed is loaded enough for the trips I take that HD Dakar leaf packs squat under the load. I have 4.56’s and I have never once felt like I needed more gearing, even when I towed a Jeep behind the truck which was probably over the towing capacity of the truck. Sometimes I even wish I had gone with 4.30’s, I would strongly suggest you go 4.56 instead of 4.88

 

Are you auto or manual?

 

Auto

 

I’ll be going with 4.56 gears with a very similar set up (33’s, armor, roof rack, camping gear, 6MT, etc) when I re-gear. I have no intention of going to bigger tires and know I’ll be slightly over geared. RPM at 70mph should be 2700-2900ish and I’m ok with that since I don’t plan on driving faster. The difference between 4.56 and 4.30 gears is approximately 150rpm at 70mph.

The below quote is from another gearing thread and I agree.

 

I would like to know why is it that most of this discussion about RPM's is for highway speeds with a few comments about towing? The reason I ask and this might apply to tire size choice as well. When I think about larger tires and lower gears it is how do I improve off road performance and understanding what I will give up in Hwy. performance. So for those of you that run 33's or 35's what gear ratio's did you choose and where do you use your truck? How does it perform off road? Then what compromise do you except or see in on Hwy. performance.

 

I realize it probably sounds like I want the best of both worlds, BUT I have to drive 60-100 miles to get to the places I want to off road and I would like the drive to be good. Once I get to the off road destinations, I don't plan to "rock crawl" but I do plan to drive in some areas where I will likely need 4x4 low. I also just like the visual appearance of the 33.4" tires (California thing I guess! LOL)

 

I drive @ 130 miles a day on mostly 60 mph Hwy's, do quite a bit of offroad but no rock crawling, pull a trailer a bit, I like my 456s

 

Fuck me, I wish I only had to drive 100 miles to go wheeling. I'm jealous! Minimum 200 miles to get anywhere decent, usually 300-400.

 

@ME OFF Rd an interesting thread you might want to read through

 

I think 456 will be the sweet spot.

I just finished doing research for my build. 488 if you will go 35’s.

you got to calculate all the weight that you put on the vehicle as well.

 

Are you happy with your 4.88s with 35s or do you wish that you would have gone 4.56s?

 

Only want to do this once.

09 4.0 Auto 4x4
Double cab long bed
Front bumper with winch
Sliders
High clearance rear bumper with swing out and spare
Prinsu rack
Bed cage with RTT
270 degree awning
King 2.0 coil overs
King 12” rear shocks
4” Deavers (+300lb) springs
33” Discoverer STT Max

I’ve been wanting to regear for a while now. I try to use my truck only on the weekends and daily my other one. I am looking to go to 34s and possibly 35s if I can manage the clearance (not looking to cut fenders and bedsides). Would love to go with ARB air lockers but I keep hearing of leaky seals and I don’t feel like swapping them back in and out over an over

I’m thinking of just doing the full clam shell and third with 4.88. After core charges and all come back should run 1800-1900

 

Sounds like 4.88’s are the right choice.....Buy once, cry once so get lockers at the same time, all from ECGS.

 

I wanted to go the locker route. But I’m honestly not sure when I would ever use them. I know it’s better to have it and not need it, I haven’t used my winch either. But that’s another 1600 easily. Have they fixed the leaky ARB deal issue yet?

 

Double cab longbed with 35’s and a bunch of stuff on it and I opted for 4.56 after talking with the nitrogear folks. Only have about 100 miles on it so far but I can definitely feel that it got some power back.

 

I don't need the lockers right now either but I don't like doing things twice. I'd like to get off road more and lockers are great to have if/when you need them.

I believe ARB has fixed the issues they had with bad seals.

Satisifed or regret not going to 4.88's?

 

So far totally satisfied.

 

Just did 456 and rear ARB. Might as well put locker in if you are re-gearing and you do a good amount of wheelin...

 

If it ain't much trouble, eng. & trans info. would go good with the gear ratio. The 4 cyl. with appx 85 hp less than the 6 cyl. will need lower gears than the 6 cyl. & the auto trans., being geared higher than the MT will also use lower gears for the same results. Your 4.0 with an extra 85 hp more plus a MT trans. that's geared lower from the factory than auto. My little 4 cyl. auto. can't pull as high of rear gear as your Taco.