Regear 2nd gen - 4.88 vs 5.29 gears

I have a 2013 Tacoma Limited 4x4 DCSB v6 and have 295/65R18's which equate to 33.1" tires, which has a 6" lift. I also will be pulling a relatively small 3,200 lb empty travel (4k lb GVWR) trailer/camper about 8-12 times a year. My understanding is 4.88 is better for daily driving and 5.29 help in mountains/over 70 mph or what are the advantages/disadvantages? I've seen people saying 5.29 for sure for 3rd gen since it has a 6th gear but not sure what is better for 2nd gen.

4.88 or 5.29? Thanks for the advice.

 

Automatic or manual tranny?

 

Automatic

 

4.88
Maybe even 4.56 for that tire size

 

Since you shouldnt tow in 5th gear, I’d go 456 or 488. Imo it think 529s are way to low for the automatic. I generic rule of thumb is you will get approximately 250-300 rpm for every gear size you go up +\-. I believe there is chart on here somewhere that’s give the rpm #s for gear size

 

i have 4:56 gears and i run 35" super swamper tires. I Would 100% recommend that you go with 4:56 gears for 33's. if you put 4:88 gears while running 33" tires, your truck will most likely be screaming at 65 mph. For your trucks sake, please reconsider.

 

Honestly, after I read more and more about things, I think 4.56 is where I will go. I started out reading about 5.29 and 4.88 and think that many of those debates are for 3rd gen, not 2nd gen (which I have). I have seen it be about 4.56 being the most "factory-like" for gas mileage + highway and 4.88 being for performance + screaming on the highway with higher RPMs. I want it to feel stock, I think 4.56 is where I should go. Thanks for the comment about asking to reconsider!

 

It depends on how high rpm. you are comfortable running with. The rpm chart at "West coast Differential calculator" My 2013 W/ oem 4.11 gears, @ 60 mph, it runs 1988 rpm, with 4.56 it goes up 218 rpm, with 4.88 it's up 373 rpm. & with 5.29 gears it's up 571 rpm. I'm thinking I want to go up appx. 400 rpm. so the 4.88 for me. The 5.29, I think, will be turning more rpm. than I would be comfortable with during daily driving.

 

What gear ratio is your Taco now?

 

I think factory is 3.73 for my 2nd gen v6 4.0L.

 

Their calculator chart uses: Trans,= auto. w/OD, tire diameter,= 295/65/18 is 33.1", speed= 70 mph. chart indicates w/ 3.73 gears= 1855 rpm., w/ 4.11=2044 rpm, w/4.56=2268, w/ 4.88=2427, & w/ 5.29=2631. My trans is a 4/OD auto. If I shift from D to 3 @ appx 60 mph. the tach. goes up appx. 800 rpm. If your trans. is like mine, drive in 3 for a while, that will be roughly the same that you will have constantly if change to a 5.29. For me, that was too many rpm., I figured about half that, 400 rpm. should meet my needs.

 

I put your #s in and with 3.73 and 33.1 inch tires towing in 4th (not D=5th) you will be at 2600rpm at 65 which is about perfect so why change anything. At 70 its at 2800 rpms. Did you recal speedo for your tire size already? Daily you want lowest rpms for mpg in 5th not screaming along but its your money as mpg will drop like a rock.

 

You could also put 4.30s is and be right is nice spot for daily driving in 5th and good for towing in 4th.

 

This is what I'm looking at. But I'm also MT and looking at 35's. That puts me back at stock ratios with 35's. There is a great calculator that I used, but can't remember the links. Also, reach out to someone that has done it with similar specs and get their real world feedback. Preferably someone that travels the same types of roads, flat, mountains, etc..

I'm thinking the auto's are geared differently and that 4.56 would be more than enough for the 33.

 

I’m running 430s(4.0 auto)
and like them a lot, but I agree if your towing and lots hills etc, 456 is the way to go. If your 6 speed manual I’d drop 488s in.

 

I dont follow, I have the manual and with 33s I still wish 6th were taller.

 

Now you have confused me. I thought the 6 speed manuals were lower geared in the transmission. I originally was set on 4.56, but after checking with the calculator it showed 4.30 and 35's would put me back to stock gearing roughly (within 100 or so RPM) Please elaborate, even though a re-gear is a couple years off.

 

I'm also confused. See my comment above. 4th is OD and 5th and 6th are too close together for me. I wish 5th was the same and 6th was taller.

 

Is your running 33s. Correct if I’m wrong the stock gear on the 2nd gen 6 speed manual is 410. If you went +2 on tires/wheel size. You should basically grab on gear size per tire size you went up. So I’d run 456 for 33s and 488s for 35s. Going that route will put you approx 200 rpm I’ve stock. Just my opinion. If you tow stuff , find the gear that takes you back to stock and go one over. It will give you a little higher rpm for when your towing but won’t kill you too bad when you not.

 

I dont think that's correct. I'm fairly certain we have the same ring as the auto. Final drive ratio is only different due to tranny gears.