2.28 or 4.7 Toybox?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

FL cruiser

FL cruiser

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Threads
96
Messages
1,766
Location
St Petersburg, Florida
I have a close to stock FJ60. 2F, H42, 4:11’s, 37” MTR’s.
Plan on buying a Toybox here shortly. A 2.28to1 ($1525)Toybox would put my crawl ratio at 76:1. With a 4.7to1 ($1999)Toybox it would be 156:1. I’m trying not to get more gears/spend more money than needed.
I haven’t hit any hard-core trails with a capable rig as of yet, and plan on going to Tellico this year. I know the higher crawl ratio would be desirable, but would more than a 76:1 crawl be necessary for Tellico and east coast trails?
My $2K budget would allow for me to buy a 2.28 Toybox now, do drive shaft mods, buy new clutch and transfer case seals etc.
Or would I be better off waiting, gathering a few extra bucks up and getting the 4.7 Toybox?
 
I just received my toybox last week and dropped it off to have installed today. I went with the 2.28. I have talked to several folks who have the box and even with 38 inch tires they rarely use both the box and low range. Mostly I am told they run the toybox and leave the truck in 4H. I have heard the 4.7 box described as stupid slow. I am just running 33's with factory gears but I let you know later this week how it feel running it.
 
I ran a 2.28 in my toybox when I had a stick... It was very nice but honestly after wheelin with it for a while I wished I had gone for the 4.7 which is what I did (4.0 gear actually) after my auto conversion. I mostly wheel with the case in 4h and the toy box engaged. I fine it about perfect.


I'd go with the 4.7 and be done with it.
 
I bought the 4.7 last time and will do so again on this latest build. Even though it is stupid slow and you only get a chance to really use it about once every couple of years I can justify it this way. 1) resale. You can resell it easily with the 4.7 if you need to. 2) When you factor in all the costs of the toybox, including driveshafts, crossmembers, tranny mounts, likely a clutch (since you are in there) The extra cost of the 4.7 gears is only about 15% 3) When you need it, you *really* need it.
 
After running my 4.7 Toybox for two years I find I usually only engage the Toybox for normal wheeling and leave the stock xfer in high. With the 4.7 gears, 4:10 diffs, and 36s pick a gear and just keep your feet on the floorboard. For technical big rocks that 76:1 would be too fast for me. "Silly Crawl" when you are in big technical rocks is not overrated. I really like being able to go s l o w. Before you decide you should try to get some seat time in a Toyboxed rig with the setup you are thinking about running. I vote 4.7
 
I too am interested in this (at least its on my list of things to do in the next few years).
I' wondering why does this neccessitate drivelines being modified? Or, is it just beefing them up for the additional torque?
 
I have done the Rubicon with a low of 50:1 (includes tire size difference), and found it pretty easy. Probably don't need the 4.7s, they just make you more stupid (and give more options too).

SM420, split case, 4.56, 35s
 
DirtyLittleSecret said:
I too am interested in this (at least its on my list of things to do in the next few years).
I' wondering why does this neccessitate drivelines being modified? Or, is it just beefing them up for the additional torque?
Click to expand...

It is a reduction box that fits between your transmission and t-case, moving your t-case back by about 10" You have to chop that much off your rear driveshaft and add it to the front.
 
Makes perfect sense. Dont they also have replacement gear sets that simply replace those inside the T-case?
 
Rubicon is as hard as you make it.

70:1 is respectable in most situations.

The thing I like about the 4.7 is that you also have 70:1 ~120:1 and the 150:1 ratios available.

options are good..
 
I think mace put it really well, why not have the option to go stupid s l o w, just in case. there's been plenty of times I wish I could go MUCH slower than I can right now...
 
You will have to modify the rear crossmember too so you should factor that into it. I guess since it is flat in Florida you can get by with 37" and 4.11. The whole point of gear reduction is to go slow. Anyone would spend $475 for 2.42 more in gear reductions. Which is what you are getting with the 4.7 toybox. I can run the numbers later but another option is to put in a 5 speed with the lower first gear and change the gears to 4.88. This will give you 2.05 more in gear reduction and you will have a 5th gear for on the highway. I would go with the 4.7 and be done with it. I had to make the exact decision and ended up with the 4.7 and am very happy so far.
 
Thanks for the replies.
You will have to modify the rear crossmember too so you should factor that into it.
Click to expand...
You mean the tranny crossmember?, I didn't even think of that. Is the crossmember far back enough on the tranny where it will interfere with the Toybox?
I wasn't planning to add additional support under the Toybox since it's only 6.75" long, but should that be considered?
I don't know how the PO did it with the current gearing, but he did all the trails at Tellico numerous times and took it to Katemsy Rocks. I find it geared to high for even Florida.
 
lowenbrau said:
Not for Cruisers since about 1997
Click to expand...

Mark's makes underdrive tcase gears but the cost:benefit ratio is horrible when compared to the likes of a toybox.

IIRC, you can also get a 4.0 gear set for the toybox (Brokenparts has this, correct?) I believe it is an AA part not Marlin's and does not have the "Total Spline." But it is a range midway between the two. I'd love something in the 3.5 range personally.

My thinking is, you've already got 2.28 or 1.99 in the t/c, why have two t/c's with the same range, you're just limiting your purchase. It only gives you two options when you could have gotten three.
 
FL cruiser said:
Thanks for the replies.
You mean the tranny crossmember?, I didn't even think of that. Is the crossmember far back enough on the tranny where it will interfere with the Toybox?
I wasn't planning to add additional support under the Toybox since it's only 6.75" long, but should that be considered?
I don't know how the PO did it with the current gearing, but he did all the trails at Tellico numerous times and took it to Katemsy Rocks. I find it geared to high for even Florida.
Click to expand...

Yes, the transmission crossmember. The front driveshaft will not clear the crossmember when the transfer case is moved back.
 
Waggoner5 said:
I am a believer in the lowest possible ratio, but in this case the 2.8 would be fine.
Click to expand...

i also agree with this.

I want a toybox 4.7 (or lower) gear, and 4.88's in the difs. i also plan on having her SOA and on something in the 37-38" range for tires. i like rocks so goin slow is cool with me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Wolfbox or CarTablet?
Replies
12
Views
1K
mdw83fj60
mdw83fj60
JunkCrzr89
Leaky HG or paranoia?
Replies
2
Views
448
JunkCrzr89
JunkCrzr89
jclark
WANTED: General Market or GCC-Spec FSM or any Repair Manuals
Replies
1
Views
433
duncanrm
duncanrm
FlyingMuleRider
FJ60 Running Hot - Or Maybe Not!
Replies
3
Views
697
cps432
cps432

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom