My review of 4.88s on a 2nd gen with 34s

225 miles per tank. 33s and 4.88 with lots of weight for me.

 

I was pretty happy with armor and all that on 4.56 and 33’s. Mods were really not any better. I moved up to 315’s and regret not having 4.88’s. Still a big improvement but the 4.88’s were my initial though but backed out last minute due To unsure plans. I should have known better.

 

Yikes, I am kinda sorry i asked

 

Just under 16pmg. F/R steel bumper, slider, S/C, shell, 305/70, LRA 33 gallon tank, hi lift, 285/75 spare. 4.88’s

 

I hope I see that, I have a similar setup as you and I was only getting high 16s without the regear.

 

yah that's pretty impressive. I only got that a couple of times when on long trips cruising slow, no S/C. I am in a similar boat now with a S/C heavy but with 315's and the best on slow cruising was 14 at best. I am on 4.56 though. Not sure if 4.88 would make that much of a difference. When I was 4.56 and 285's the truck was the best combo even more so then now and I did not see any improvement in MPG but it drove great no lag on hills or passing cars or on trails.

 

Interesting enough in my mind I expected more snap from the the regear when starting out but I barley notice any. The real difference is cruising around. The truck just goes without down shifting and the truck teching up

 

@IvanhoeTaco

thoughts on gearing? I'm a V6 MT on 285's now, lots of weight, full steel underneath as well. looking to go 35's in the next year or 2....Im pulling the trigger on gears this year and have a local shop that's good. 4.56 or 4.88? I see a lot of MT go 4.56 and AT go 4.88. I don't haul ass, barley drive 55-65mph when needed to. thanks for the input/thoughts!

 

I personally would go 4.88s. Still going to to be a slow pig but will be more responsive for sure. I trusted ecgs with their decision for the 4.88s and I forget I have them because the truck drives like stock even on 34s. The 4.56 and 4.88 debate sucks because it just makes it harder for people like you and me to make the right choice.

All I can offer is that my truck is on 34s, has big bumpers with a winch and with 4.88s I never see rpms over 3k and I can still drive it 80mph if I need to. I would never consider anything lower than this gear ratio for a tacoma ever again even on a smaller tire.

Nice truck btw.

 

Good thread...I’ve been in the exact debate with myself looking at 4.56/4.88. Hefty auto on 265s still, and considering making the jump to a 285/75/17 and I know I’m already wanting more performance out of the truck. Also tired of the constant downshifting like everyone else.

 

Last piece to your puzzle

 

Im thinking more about my neighbors wrecked escalade he has sitting in his driveway...

 

I'm running the 4.88 Nitro Gears in my 6 Sp Manual. Was running 35 MT on beadlocks (85 lb tire + 55 lb rim. Yikes) and the truck still drove awesome. Sports like. Currently running 25 lb rims with 75 lb Cooper Discovery AT3 tires in the 315 metric and mileage is at 16. Gearing feels absolutely perfectly.

I would recommend purchasing a Yellow Box Speed Recalibrator. They offer a plug and play option that plugs into the transmission housing. I've mounted the box underneath the passenger side of the truck for easy access and was able to calibrate my speedometer. It had been reading 15% higher.

 

Awesome results! My speedo as well is off about 6mph now. Says im doing 55 actually around 62.

 

i can confirm this. And with my 4.88s it’ll do so all the way through second

 

So my first tank (breaking in gears) I got 26x miles and it took 17 gals to fill my trick so I avg 15 MPGs, I'm pretty excited by that!

 

Nice! How do you like them?

 

my mpg and power worsened going 33 load e. Even without the full weight as I don't have all the accessories as some other trucks that have things like: RTT, wrap around high clearance swingout rear bumper, steel front bumper, sliders, skid plates, and so on. Roof rack also adds weight and increases wind resistance.

Was thinking of trying to find used RC 2.7 gears (4.10) to swap in but really not sure what is the best option to strike a good balance between all the factors (acceleration feel, MPG, top speed, etc.) though really a truck like this probably does not need to go much faster than 90mph.
Have also heard that 6th gear revs lower in the FJ trans.
but there seems to be many more gears to pick from such as 4.56 and 4.88, and many more. Really not sure which is best.

Kflo youtube channel has videos on the subject and also installed ARB air lockers front and rear while in there/at the same time.

I've even heard one particular gear company (there are multiple), I forget which, somehow makes "quieter" gears.

those are some sick lights. Definitely looks better than LED bar. I wonder if they have a better spread and less reflection/glare on the hood.
Curious to know if it's even possible or looks good to integrate them with a roof rack, possibly by removing the front crossbar that people often do with an LED bar. And how that affects noise; supposedly you actually reduce the noise when removing the front metal to put a curved LED strip.
am guessing there may be more supporting mods required to fit it if it's incandescent ie more power draw requiring thicker gauge wiring harness and ceramic connectors versus LED and possibly second battery + higher watt alternator

 

So how is it? Worth the probably 6k?

 

Thanks, yes they are the brightest light I have ever seen on a vehicle. Easily light up 100 yards infront of you. They are actually pods linked together and they do make them able to mount to a rack. They make some wind noise but my toyo at3s are louder.