Redeemed: rngr's Trail Taco w/side of T4R

I would not go to 5.29's on 33's. 5.29's is slightly over geared for 35's, and it's amazing offroad. However I sit at 3500 rpm's on 35's doing 75 and it jumps close to 4k doing 85-90. I can't even imagine trying to drive at 75 on 33's and 5.29's. 4.88's will likely get you to where I am at with my 5.29's. Great offroad but still can do highways with relatively no issues aside from raised RPM's.

 

Keep in mind what effect elevation has on power when you are picking gears. Guys in the mountains of CO are going to advocate for a shorter gear to pull the hills over 5k feet. Closer to sea level in the smokies is a different story. Personally I hated 5.29’s and 35’s with my 3RZ/5sp. It was wound out on the highway way too much at 70-75mph...I think it played a factor in my main bearings being toast at 350k. With 37’s, the 5.29’s are money

 

That’s what I read everywhere I look, but it is always on 6 cyl trucks so I’m not sure how it will translate to me.

Also, no way in hell im driving my truck 90. Haha. I’m a 65-70 type

 

Ah shit. Didn’t know you had ran that setup. Also didn’t know you were a 4cyl. Thanks for chiming in. Good to know.

 

What you are saying you want to be better screams for a crawl box instead of axle gears. A crawler is similar cost, gets you down to 12:1 reduction with a 4.7/2.58 combo, and you have more gearing options for climbs. It seriously is the best mod you can do on a manual truck outside of lockers.

$1900 for a built box or you can do it on your own for about $1200. Just have to get driveshafts shortened/lengthened and a crossmember after that.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/trai...-by-trail-gear-304424-1-kit-304425-1-kit.html

 

No doubt that’d fix me off-road, and that is the main thing I’m looking for, but I’d really like to get back some pep back on the road at the same time. Especially since I tow a lot.

What’s the maintenance/durability like for a crawl box? Problem prone at all?

 

Okay.

So, i can tell you this.

if you were an auto, id say 5.29s if you want it to be more of a toy truck. 4.88s for a good all around.

As you are a manual and you are pretty dead set on 33s and the likelyhood of 35s is so low...4.88 is your mark. Now 5.29s would be cool, but holy crap your gears would be so short with 33s. And you probably wouldn't love it on the highway at all anymore.

My vote is 4.88s. It'll still be overgeared and really help driving and crawling with the 2.7.

If you still require a lower gear for crawling. Two things to go from there. 1) a ceramic clutch that will take lots of abuse from riding it. Ceramic clutches don't overheat nearly as bad. I can hold Frank in place on a steep hill, with just my clutch, and not kill the motor, by riding it just right. 2) get a crawl box. Nothing will give you more control then that.

I know that blows up the budget a bit. But...well thats the name of the game

I think with 33s and 4.88s you will be very pleasantly surprised and happy for a long while...if fact you'll probably have the same thing that happened to me. Lots of low end torque, not enough pure power though. Thus why I added the blower. Now my truck just..flat out hauls ass when i want too.

4.88s and 33s are almost the exact same as 5.29s and 35s. This is with the r150 tranny mind you which has slightly different ratios. Considering your 1st gear is lower, i think you'll be good with the 4.88s provided you stay with 33s. It'll be great in the rocks and still pretty good on the highway, you likely won't have to down shift much if ever.



Also, for what its worth about the grimm jeeper calculater. It was only half right for me.

So it would tell me the rpms for a speed, like yours for instance at 70mph is 2950 with 4.88s. And that is true....in the sense that that is what your speed will indicate at that rpms. Your ACTUAL speed though, will be lower. My speedo for instance is almost 10mph off at 70mph. So I have to indicate 80mph to actually be going 70mph per GPS. So i can promise your RPMS will be higher than what the calulator is saying.


So if you got 5.29s...your rpms would be insanely high just cruising around.

 

They can have issues every now and then. But not super common. I know they had a bad batch or output bearings or something a while ago. Haven't heard much since.

Have also read that getting 4.7 gears can be bad if you drive fast all the time as the tcase spins so fast it can get too hot. But out of all the folks I saw that put one in, they have never mention this being a problem..

 

Lots of good info. Thank you. That’s especially good to know about that calculator being off. Yea, if the actual rpms would be higher that that is showing that would be way too much

 

The good news is the build is still young. Haven’t even hit 70k yet. Maybe one day I can make us all happy with gears, a crawler, and a blower.

 

Before it was widely known to anti-seize the coupler for the input some guys would strip inputs from fretting but that has largely been take care of by good instructions while building. Marlin and Inchworm put in a coupler bearing that was incorrect for the application back in 2013-2014 that caused the balls in the ball bearing to fall out. Inchworm has changed the bearing they put in since and rectified the issues.

That being said, I put in my 4.7 TG doubler in fall of 2014 and haven't had any issues at all. Just change the oil once a year and go. My truck used to be my daily driver and there was no difference at all day to day except for the extra shifter poking though the floorboard.

 

Got started on the re-gear this evening. Smooth sailing getting everything apart on up front until I realized you need 12mm Allen socket for the rear mount of the clamshell. There is not one single 12mm for sale in carthage, tn. TSC - nope. Oreiley - nah. Advance - nada. Fack.

 

I have one if you want to pick it up. I had to buy it to do mine.

 

Thanks, but no thanks. I make it a point to buy the random things that pop up. I’ll never not have a 12mm Allen again.

 

I get that, hence the reason I have one.

 

Still haven’t let me ride the vw

 

Soon...maybe. I work too much. I'm off Thursday and Friday though.

 

Probably not soon. I work too much when I’m not at work.

 

I had an epiphany this morning. Something to the effect of "Stop being a bitch, Carter"

5.29s it is. 35's when these wear out. I'm building a trail rig, not a DD/weekend warrior/overland bullshitter. 4.88/33s would be awesome, but I would end up wanting more. So there's that.

 

Heeeeeeelllll yeah buddy