Regear VS tune

So what’s the science behind regear vs tune in simple ass terms?
I got a 2 inch lift, 285/70/16 wildpeak at4 they are LTs and a shell.

from my understanding if I were to tune first im just making it work double it can handle? Vs if I regear now it got stronger and can handle more weight and the tune is more so of like adjusting someone’s weight lifting to better form?
Someone put it simple for me :/

 

Regear works in terms of mechanical advantage. The better ratio "increases" torque so it's easier to move around these bloated rigs.

The tune smartens up everything toyota has set up for the best "efficiency" increased throttle response better shift points less gear hunting.

If your not going really heavy a tune will be sufficient in my opinion I appreciated the results when I put on 285's. I would do the tune assess from there re gearing is alot more pesos

 

Hmmm thanks for that. Yea I realize that it’s just hard to choose which between the two.
And you didn’t notice yours being sluggish after the tune?

 

You will definitely feel a major difference with a tune. I went with a Mild/Medium (OTT) and with 285/70/17 it can be annoying driving in parking lots (a lot of pedal available so going slow requires you to be pedal conscious).

My best guess is that going with Medium/spicy would be difficult to not lurch when hitting the gas pedal - that is how much of a difference tunes will make.

Gearing was out of my price range for now ($4200 was the quote!) so the OTT was the way I went.

 

Sluggish is honestly a matter of opinion. Did it perk it up a bit? Yes does it feel like it gained 20 extra hp nope. You still notice there's a bunch of added rotational mass.

But it's s small low powered truck I don't expect much in terms of peppy performance with how mine is set up its just not realistic.

I have a mild amount of weight added with 295's and still tow upto 3500lbs and have yet to truly complain about the trucks performance unless I'm towing into a serious head wind then I wish I had more power.

In conclusion I feel like these trucks are geared wrong from factory, the transmission shift points are awful from factory. I still think step 1 should be a tune and go from there. Many people are satisfied with just a tune and you should be re tuned with a re gear anywho for the transmission benefits and the ability to re calibrate the speedo for the new gears.
If after that you find yourself still feeling the truck is to slow invest in gears. Just remember anything you do to help that low speed drivability hurts your top end speed/fuel economy.



I do this with stock gears and a tune. Still find the drivability fully livable

 

I agree Veet nailed it - the truck is what it is. I think the part " . . . these trucks are geared wrong from factory . . . " is spot on. My theory is they are geared to get the best MPG ratings rather than the best performance - a tune fixes that and makes the truck more driveable. Once you start loading up a truck that is kind of under powered to begin with a lot of weight i.e. steel bumpers, skid plates, sliders, roof top tents, bigger tires etc. then at some point you will probably need to re-gear. So far I am on 33s with some armor for going off road (sliders and skid plates) and a OTT tune has been enough

 

I’m digging the knowledge. I was wanting to do the regearing first but I don’t have the money right now. Tune seems like the way to go for me.
thanks boys

 

Damn, I went with revolution gears and a local pro charged $750 and axle.

 

Came out to like $2800

 

1. For sure, if you can afford it and plan on keeping the truck for the long haul, 5.29s. I got 4.88s on mine and regretted it.
2. Thats it. Unless budget leaves it out of the question, of you're changing trucks soon, then I would recommend the tune.

4.88s on 33s (pizza cutters) with sliders and tent pretty much left my truck at stock feel. I would definitely get 5.29s if I had to do it again.

Keep in mind it's still going to be a tacoma. I even tuned it with a sport tune, forget by who, and the truck doesn't begin to compare to my current tundra with a pedal commander set to eco.