The 4.88 mega thread!!

Awesome! I’m feeling better and better about 4.88’s.

 

I have about 2,000 miles on 5.29 with 285/70/17 (33's) and only about 150lbs of constant weight. I think 5.29's with your 32's would be a bit overkill especially for highway driving.

 

Good point. Here in So Cal it’s all freeway driving, at 75mph +

 

I will say if you plan on bigger tires, more weight, or drive up steep mountain passes frequently then 5.29's would be a good option. I live in CO with lots of mountain driving and load up about 1,000 lbs of payload some weekends and less than 5.29's I would have been disappointed as I think I'd dance through gears up the hills still with my 33's. I also try and keep it below 70 now as mpg goes down at those speeds a bit compared to when I had stock gears.

But if you are constantly at 75+ 4.88's make sense!

 

I can’t imagine one of these trucks with stock gears and 33” or bigger tires dealing with mountain passes. I don’t plan to ever go over 33’s or add much more weight. I’d love to go 35’s but I want to be done modding this thing one of these days lol.

 

You know.. I have 31's and a Manual tranmission. Not a drastic change I now

Before using OVtune's 2.0 superFOB, I would have all kinds of issues with up hill sections and mountain roads even on stock 30s. But right now, I have zero problems with uphill sections.

Has anyone tried tuning before switching to new gears?

 

Here’s my dilemma. I plan to run 33’s. Not sure if a hybrid front bumper is in my future or not. Only other armor would be my rock sliders and maybe skids. However, I do pull a TT about 6-8 times a year. Fully loaded, it’s around 4,000 lbs. Plus, there’s always cargo in the bed. Would 4.88’s suffice? Or, are 5.29’s the better bet? Many of these trips involve climbing up hills, some at 5,000+ ft elevation. I have the AT transmission.

But, the rest of the time, I’m daily driving. Not concerned about driving 75+. Do plan on doing some rock crawling here and there. Any feedback appreciated.

 

I have hybrid bumper with winch, sliders, skids all around, 33's, and OVTune. I guess you can say I'm maxed out for a DCLB with 4:88's. Most of the time I'll have an empty bed, but sometimes I'll have a truck camper and even tow a small fishing boat. I'm right on the cusp, and some may argue that I need 5:29's, but being near sea level and having OVTune, I'm happy with my choice of going with 4:88's

 

Cool. Not sure if that pushed me either way. LOL. I feel like 4.88’s we’ll be sufficient most of the time. But, 5.29’s might ensure I’m good for any situation. The longer towing trips with some significant climbs would benefit from the higher gearing. But, 98% of the time I don’t need it. Ugh!

 

I’ve been OV tuned for awhile now. It definitely helped the gear hunting with the auto trans but with my 3” lift and E-rated 32’s I need to do gears. If only Toyota made the DCLB with a manual.

 

This! Wish manual was an option in the DCLB too!

 

Forgot to mention I have OV tune as well. Based off my experience with daily driving at 6,000ft and going up to 10,000 in my surrounding areas I think 4.88's would be hunting between gears. With my 5.29's it always finds a gear and holds at a nice RPM where I can slightly accelerate up a steep grade or slow down without using 3 gears like it did on the stock gears.

Obviously your truck is making more power at slightly lower elevation but I would think with you towing too, just do 5.29 and never look back. When I keep the truck under 70 my avg mpg is only 1 less than stock gears, but drives significantly better IMO. RPMs are about 2250 at 70.

 

Trying to actually move up passes just made the truck red line and then downshift to bog down and repeat that process over and over. Coming from a slow 1st gen manual Tacoma I was about to lose it not having any control over the shifting haha

 

Thanks @Tacolife5. This is great feedback. Sounding like the 5.29's would probably be my best bet. Even if I'm at 2250 rpm doing 70, I'm okay with that.

 

Ha! Had the same thing. i assume you had the 3RZ-FE 2.7L? Great truck. Always wanted more power though.

 

I had the 3.4L V6 but had 32's on it. That 1 inch bigger than stock tire just killed all the get up when I had minimal weight in the truck. Thing was awesome though had it for 11 years! But this 3rd gen with the tune and gears feels like it hauls ass now. I know it's no race car but I have no problem passing people now which was my biggest complaint with the 1st gen.

 

I'm on 33's, will have skids across the bottom, sliders, and eventually bumpers, might get a shell at some point, don't tow much except the occasional side by side, and most weight in the bed will be stuff for 10ish day hunts. I'm pretty sure 4.88's will be perfect but just wanted to verify here?

 

I'm on 34's with 4.88's and I find it perfectly fine. It's no race car by any means, but I find this set up feels pretty similar to the stock wheel combo with no gears from when I drove off the dealer lot.

 

I had the 2.7. (in my profile pic) Gutless after 1st and 2nd. But, it sure was a great truck. Had it for 16 years. Wish I never parted ways...oh, well.

 

I just ordered 4.88 gears and an ARB for the front. Hope I made the right choice. I think 5.29 is too much for SoCal driving on 33’s.