Towing with 35's (gearing question again) (1 Viewer)

[890man]

I am ready to pop for some new gears, but I am having a problem with the selection of the ratios. I will be pulling a 24 ft travel trailer that is around 3200 lbs dry. I have pulled it but it is a dog at higher elevations. I am running stock gears with 35's right now but may go to 37's or larger sometime. This may not happen for a year or two however. I am on the fence between 5.29 and 4.88. This rig is my DD so it will have to be streetable but I dont really need speed. I have read posts but I am still confused about RPM's and where the sweet spot is on these rigs and where I would be with these gears. I have run some calculators but the numbers don't match mine and this doesn't really help with the seat of the pants decision.

I currently run at 2000 rpm with the OD on at 64 mph GPS and 2600 rpm with the OD off at 65 GPS. These seem really low and I have to switch the OD and downshift a fair amount when towing.

I am really leaning toward 5.29 but am concerned about high rpm's with this setup. Also, will I need to get a yellow box to calibrate my speedo and shift points?

I know these arent the best tow rigs but its what I have and I want to go wheeling when I get there. I have about 2000 miles towing this thing already I just want to make it easier.

Is it bad to tow with the overdrive on?

Oh, the wants new gears now too!!

Signed, Confused

 

[rockrod]

5.29s for sure and you might even be able to leave it in OD.

It's not the driving in OD that hurts, it's when the torque converter unlocks in OD or constant shifting in and out of OD that hurts. Both of these issues will cause the trans to heat up and increase wear and tear. The aisin is a great heavy duty automatic trans, but heat will kill any automatic.

You want the truck to get into high gear as quickly as possible and stay there for mild to moderate hills.

 

[890man]

Well, I ran it in 2nd gear today and was at 55mpg at 3600 rpm and it felt pretty good. I am beginning to think 5.29's wouldnt be bad. I could live with the higher revs.

 

[mytlc]

Don't worry about the rpms with 5.29's. It's under 3000 at 70mph actual speed which isn't hurting anything. If you are pulling a trailer you will hate yourself for spending the money on 4.88's, when I had my 5.29's done I was worried about the same thing but I tow (boat, quads, stuck Jeeps, ect) and after driving with the gears for awhile I think it's perfect with 35's. If you are even thinking about 37's in your future then do the 5.29's, love it and race the ocassional civic at a light and smile big when he can't beat a big heavy lifted rig off the line

 

[890man]

Thanks for the replys. I feel much better. I was also able to find more info on mud about RPM's and ran my truck up to those numbers. I think it will be much better towing and wheeling with 5.29's. Now I just need to get to it.

Thanks

 

[cruiserdan]

If that is a photo of the trailer you tow it has to weigh more than that.


I'm on 315/75/16 Mickey Thompsons and 4.88s. In OD at 65MPH I'm turning 2,400 rpm. When it kicks down to third I'm at almost 3,100 RPM at 65MPH.

Mine is happiest towing at 65 or less. Over 65 the fuel really goes away in a hurry.

 

[ajax1]

5.29s dont waste your money on 4.88s

 

[thatcabledude]

If that is a photo of the trailer you tow it has to weigh more than that.

Airstreams are light. Thats probably about right for a 24 footer.

 

[gearinstalls.com]

890man----
That's quite a load there in that picture....but I see no issues with a 529 gear. Use synthetic gear oil for towing. Seems like using the OD on the level ground would be a-ok, at least in my book.
One thing I think you should strongly consider and that's an external tranny cooler...the biggest you can fit in front of the radiator...and it really should be touching the radiator(or condensor if it has one)....maximum cooling is achieved when touching the radiator
A temperature guage is sure nice also. Your tranny will love you for it.
ZUK

 

[Bob_Garrett]

I could be wrong, but based on over 4 years of towing my mini on a 16ft trailer, I don't think 5.29s will give a normally aspirated 80 enough power to tow a heavy load with the OD on and not unlock the torque converter on any other than a level road.

I'm currently running 35s (Nitto 315s, which are closer to 34") and 4.56s. However, I do have the TRD supercharger and my torque converter will unlock on anything more than just slight uphill grades. My current setup allows me to switch off the OD and run at 63-64mph and stay under 3k rpm. If I had to do that with 5.29s, it would mean running at much higher rpm than I am comfortable with.

 

[D'Animal]

I noticed none of the posters here have the "Powerhouse" of the 3Fe engine.

Would your comments and recomendations be the same?

3FE with 5.29's rolling on 35's

 

[mazder]

Follow up? I'm in the same boat 315's Toyos and a 24ft travel trailer running stock gears. Not a DD so I'm leaning towards the 5.29s.

 

[Iceaxe]

Be careful about regearing where you use a vendor like 4WheelParts to do the install. My rig's been sitting in their shop for the last two weeks because they can't seem to figure out how to properly do the install. Then, once they installed the gear, they claimed they blew the new gear during the test drive. Needless to say, I'm a bit pissed...

 

[onedaatmc]

Yes definitely 5:29's ... I had them in my last yota 4 banger with 36's .... could still run 80 mph if need be ... and Phuck 4 wheel parts their terrible ... have a yota specific or your favorite mechanic do the regear... don't forget at least a rear locker ...

 

[mazder]

Yes definitely 5:29's ... I had them in my last yota 4 banger with 36's .... could still run 80 mph if need be ... and Phuck 4 wheel parts their terrible ... have a yota specific or your favorite mechanic do the regear... don't forget at least a rear locker ...

Plan on pulling the thirds and dropping them off at my local axle guy... oh and I'm already triple locked haha

 

[ALX4X4]

Mmmmmm, manual.
I regularly tow 2 (metric) tonnes, 2000Kg = approx. 4,400lbs, but 4th in manual at 1.00 (or direct) is the same as 3rd in an auto ?
With 35's it's just right. Maybe lock out O/D when the loads on ?

 

[onedaatmc]

Plan on pulling the thirds and dropping them off at my local axle guy... oh and I'm already triple locked haha

...

then those factory lockers will work with the new gears ?

 

[onedaatmc]

View attachment 1241309
Mmmmmm, manual.
I regularly tow 2 (metric) tonnes, 2000Kg = approx. 4,400lbs, but 4th in manual at 1.00 (or direct) is the same as 3rd in an auto ?
With 35's it's just right. Maybe lock out O/D when the loads on ?

I looked at your pic and thought it was reversed ... then figured your down under , actually didn't know you guys have right hand drive ... also a stick shift ! Nice set up ! Is yours diesel to boot ?

 

[tacosupreme]

I noticed none of the posters here have the "Powerhouse" of the 3Fe engine.

Would your comments and recomendations be the same?

3FE with 5.29's rolling on 35's

I just moved to 315's from 285's with 4.88 gears and a 3FE. It struggles to pull two 700cc four wheelers on a light snowmobile trailer in the mountains, and I'm in the truck lane with the skinny pedal matted on the freeway on any sort of incline. 5.29's would for sure be a good idea for us, or find a pizza cutter size tire in 34" with 4.88's.

 

[ALX4X4]

I looked at your pic and thought it was reversed ... then figured your down under , actually didn't know you guys have right hand drive ... also a stick shift ! Nice set up ! Is yours diesel to boot ?

No mirrors, yes, we are RHD.... It was a 4.5petty manual but for the last 18months the 6.0LS but it's a weekend car so running costs not really an issue. When it was 4.5 I'd still tow in 4th 1:1 and it would roll along all day, bit slow on some hills but not too bad.