The 4.88 mega thread!!

33” and I’m usually driving about 65-75 on highway.

 

Either is a major improvement. With all that weight, I would go ahead and do 5.29 if you are an Auto. I'm happy with 4.88 but my truck is on skinny 33's and doesn't have a ton of extra weight but I do live in Colorado at 6K and travel up over the mountains.

 

I’d say 4.88’s with that speed, but others may feel otherwise. At 75mph with 32’s I’m at 2400 rpms with 4.88’s

 

Some interesting numbers on gearing.

Stock 3rd Gen V6 AT Gearing
Axle: 3.90
Transmission (6th gear) .58
Effective gearing: 2.26

I'm currently in a 2017 Nissan Titan, 5.6 V8 7 spd AT
Axle: 2.94
Transmission (7th): .77
Effective gearing: 2.26 (exactly the same as a 3rd gen Tacoma, and it has 33 inch tires stock)

Now the 3rd Gen Taco with a gear swap
Axle: 4.88
Trans: .58
Effective: 2.83

Axle: 5.29
trans: .58
Effective: 3.06

EDITED: I had the manual transmisson numbers in here
2nd Gen V6 Taco
Axle: 3.73 (some may be different, most are 3.73)
Trans (5th): .72
Effective:2.68

So a stock V6 AT 2nd Gen is actually geared pretty close to the 4.88 gears in a 3rd gen

 

You should definitely to with 5.29's. Sounds like you have added a lot of weight. You will definitely notice a difference once they are installed. I'm running 4.88's but I'm mostly stock. Have not added any armour besides a skid plate. Running 33's too.

 

3rd gen 5th and 6th gears are double overdrive gears in the AT (4th is tall)

Nissan Titan has a V8

Here’s some more for your efforts to help

 

Just completed my break in on 4.88 gears. I got on throttle yesterday and its much better. My previous 2nd gen Tacoma is now owned by my cousin, has 33's with stock gearing (2007 Trd OR). To be absolutely honest just from what I remember, I would say it(2nd gen) still drives much better than my now 3rd gen on 4.88 gears. Again, I just got my gears broken in and need more time with it. I'll continue to give my honest opinion. I should be back up in Oklahoma in a month or so and will drive both back to back.

 

just add OVTune and your Gen3 will make you totally forget about your Gen2. I went down the same path so I know.

 

I edited my post on gearing above. I was using the transmission ratio from the MT.

 

@GoldenBrew Just a comparison for those on the fence. I'll do the OVTune eventually. Otherwise, truck pulls good with 4.88 gears. From idle to 2-2.5k rpms, still could use some more pep.

 

4.88's and the beta 2.0 for 4.88's is light years ahead of any Toyota release. Some said I would be over geared. What Ever! With stock tires it is perfect. You might even think you have a 4.7 v8 under the hood.

 

Just got my 4.88 gears installed yesterday! BIG THANK YOU to Andrew at Altitude Offroad in Castle Rock CO.
The truck drives like it should!
No more gear hunting even through break in driving, gets too sixth and maintains with slight throttle control. Dropped about 5mph at 60 to 55 on an incline but held 6th and picked back up those 5mph with slight throttle pressure.
Reset MPG counter as soon as gears were swapped. Just under a 100 miles clocked and average through breaking in the new gears is 22.8mpg over this mixed city & highway driving.
Truck is stock 2017 DCLB 4x4 AT TRD OR
Plan on a lift and up to 33" tire down the road. But I will be pulling a 6x12 TA trailer from time to time and I'm supper happy with the 4.88's.
Considered 5.29's but I don't plan on running larger than a 33" tire.

If you live in Colorado and are looking to do gears give Andrew a call. Drop truck off in the morning and pick it up later that day!
Glad i found out about him and used his services. He may be a Jeep guy, but he is doing a lot of Tacoma work. Lifts, Gears, Fabrication and more.

 

Good to hear, I’ll be doing this soon. What was the labor cost at Altitude?

 

Check the Colorado thread and you will find one option to Altitude with experience not matched unless you are a working Toyota Master Tech. Glad Andrew and Altitude did you right.

Saw some price quotes a few months ago (Colorado thread) and they had very competitive pricing for gears, master install kits, installation. Nothing like the Whole Foods = Whole Wallet some big name aftermarket shops in the Mile High are asking.

 

Kerbouchard!

Contact him and mention taco twonz.
I came across this guys YouTube video which is how I learned about Altitude Offroad. As I’m from Florida and just here in Colorado on a job. I just needed to get them done quick and feel comfortable with who was doing the job. I have a trailer that I need to tow 1800+miles back home to Florida at the end of the month.
It’s 2700 OTD including needle bearing swapped to the ECGS bearing and includes the 500mi fluid change and re-inspection of work. I’m sure it’s in line +/- some $ but it’s a same day turn around, no leaving the truck for a couple days. The guy is good to go. Check him out.

 

Awesome, thanks for the info..that all sounds reasonable. I'll probably pull the trigger on this before the end of the year.

 

Just changed the rear diff on the new REM polished 4.88’s. About 1200 miles on the gears for this first change (was told REM doesn’t need 500 mile break-in). The used 85w-140 (Lucas) gear oil came out dark gray and had shiny flakes.

Is this normal when the REM gears break in?
I got them installed at a very reputable place (Six States Distributors in Portland Or) and the paint mark for how the gears seated looked really good. Thoughts?







This is what the gears look like new

 

I had the REM done to mine but i changed my oil at 500 miles. I did have very fine shavings. You look like some heavier shavings but doesnt look really bad. Change the oil after another 500 miles and see if there are anymore heavy looking shavings. Send a photo to your gear installer ask his thoughts!

 

Yep will do. The place I got it done has over 30 yrs experience and the paint markings for how they seated looked great so I was just surprised

 

With the weight of my truck being 5680lbs unloaded I'm really considering gears.

Up until the bumper I wasn't really bothers with the 285 70 17 but with the added weight I find on the highway is constantly dropping to 4th now on the slightest hill.

My concern is that with my winters being 265 75 16 I'll be too over gear and my Highway MPG will suffer