4.88 gears or not

What would you do?

  • 4.88

    Votes: 44 88.0%

  • 5.13

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • Locked

    Votes: 36 72.0%

  • Not locked

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • Total voters
    50

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Maybe, don't know. Just know that I've asked them about them for my hundy. They were like $100 more than the 4.88's. This was about six months ago.
 
Just for reference, most of my builds I have had the best luck running the following combo's:

31" - 4.10
33" - 4.30
35" - 4.56
37" - 4.88
40"+ 5.29

There are always exceptions based on the nature of the build. But these values were
what I found to be the most balanced results.
 
I run 295/75/16s and regeared to 4.88s. We towed a ~2000-2500# trailer around this past year and it worked fine. It was most comfortable at 60-65mph. It got terrible mileage, 9-10mph in the hilly central PA region and a few trips up to VT and NH and ME.

I think you will be fine with that combo as long as you aren't looking to do 80 in the fast lane with no trailer.

That said, I just bought an '06 because the whole experience towing a 2,500# trailer with a loaded pig of a 100 wasn't super thrilling. Hoping the 5spd and slightly better engine and a build a bit more discerning when it comes to added weight will make things a few ticks better.
 
run the 4:88's locked. Looking back you will always be glad you did instead of not. There's a steep long grade I drive up in my LC to Mammoth mountain in Ca, last year with 33's and not geared I would only have enough gear to go 50-55 mph, this year I was able to hold 70 mph up that same steep long grade with 4:88's. You lose a little top end speed on the highway, but it's worth it. I just upgraded to 295's (34.5). I'm curious about that grade now
 
DJCloz said:
run the 4:88's locked. Looking back you will always be glad you did instead of not. There's a steep long grade I drive up in my LC to Mammoth mountain in Ca, last year with 33's and not geared I would only have enough gear to go 50-55 mph, this year I was able to hold 70 mph up that same steep long grade with 4:88's. You lose a little top end speed on the highway, but it's worth it. I just upgraded to 295's (34.5). I'm curious about that grade now
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This was the feed back I was hoping to hear. I realize this truck will not break any land speed records, but dropping down a gear or 2 on slight inclines with the OD off can't be right. I think 4.88 and a 34.5 would be ideal from my research and is what I would prefer. You'll have to let us know how it performs.
 
Jeepster09 said:
Well if you can afford it, I would do the 4:88's and use Tru-Tracs. Sure the 4:30's will work but it will always lack power when pulling trailer or in the mountains. Tru-Tracs are great because they are zero maintenance no switchs wiring etc. to screw with and have a great track record.
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Looks like trurtrac are almost as expensive as Arb's, within a few hundred bucks. They are less complicated, a big plus. But with the 100's traction control already in place would they really be that big of an improvement. I feel like open diffs and traction control flow regular driving, then triple locked for crawling has to be worth something. And don't forget onboard air for when your done and need to drive back to town..
 
Ice cold said:
Looks like trurtrac are almost as expensive as Arb's, within a few hundred bucks. They are less complicated, a big plus. But with the 100's traction control already in place would they really be that big of an improvement. I feel like open diffs and traction control flow regular driving, then triple locked for crawling has to be worth something. And don't forget onboard air for when your done and need to drive back to town..
Click to expand...
Yes, limited slips would be a waist of money IMO. Especially if you have ATRAC.
I have had 4.88 in mine with 35s and 33s, with the 35s it put the speedo and rpm about to stock on the freeway, with the 33s it was great as long as you didn't do over 65 mph for an extended period.
Be prepared to track down some vibrations that were not evident with stock gearing.
 
Mr Snappy said:
I just checked Just Differentials site. They don't show the 4.56's on there for non locker t-cases.
Click to expand...
Even if 4.56 was available... it would only be a 6% difference over stock. Low bang for the buck. I would do 4.88's with 34" or taller tires.

I'm not really sure what you mean by "non locker t-cases." E-locker or not, the ring and pinion gears in the axles are the same for both. The t-case or transfer case has it's own set of gears. 1:1 high range and Low range 2.44:1

I have a seen a transfer case gearset available in Japan that might be up your alley. It lowers the High Range by 10% and lowers the Low Range by 5%. Probably perfect for those running 33's. Comes at a price... but maybe not much different than regearing both axles.

http://4wdsuv.auto-g.jp/parts/p12346/
 
Yeah, t-case was the wrong term, I was thinking diff's but kept typing out t-case instead...
Anyway, I have 32.5 tires, 4.88 just seemed too steep for what I use it for, but hey, it's not the first time today I'd be wrong.
 
There is a 25% low range reduction gear set available for the HF2A transfer case, that we have sold in the past.
 
How about a set of factory wheels and tires- throw them on when you're pulling your camper. Thats what i do- makes a huge difference. And i dont know about you but im not doing alot of crazy wheeling when ive got to get my camper home so i dont really miss the 33's in that situation. She'll still be very capable even in stock formation!
 
Any transmission gear ratio under 1:1 is overdrive. So on the 4sp, 3rd gear is 1:1 and on the 5sp, 4th gear is 1:1.

On the 4sp, OD off button is on the side of the gear selector. On the 5sp, select "4" on the shifter gate.

With a scanguage (programmed for transmission temperatures), you can play with OD on/off and see how it effects your tranny temps. If towing near max capacity, I'd probably just leave in OD off, 100% of the time.

Also, those who want more control over their torque converter lock-up can do so with...
GENII Torque Converter Lockup Control Kit to suit Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series 4 Speed - Wholesale Automatic Transmissions
 
bumping this thread as I am moving to Idaho and will be doing a mountain pass weekly in my 98 on 33s. I would like to regear the transfer case but I also do a lot of Work related road trips where I average 80-90 mph am I going to hate 33s and 4.88s (10% underdrive in the T case on a 98-02 is euqal ot 4.88 in the diffs)
 
I drive in CO numerous times throughout the year and have found my 98 LX 4-speed on 33"s and 4.30 to be just fine. OD off and I go up passes with little issue even at nearly 7800. I can't fly over Raton Pass at 70mph, but can go over at 60mph without issue. This year, I'll be towing a 1300lb trailer and am curious what I'm going to experience. The Torque Converter lockup sure looks to be an interesting option. @hoser ... do you have any experience with the TCL on a 100? Or, do you know anyone who has installed one? Sure would like to have greater control over that lockup to reduce the heat buildup in the transmission.
 
krice118 said:
average 80-90
Click to expand...
If you're looking to maintain those kinds of speeds I would think 4.88 might frustrate you a little. In my 2000 with 4.88 comfort zone on speedometer is probably 70 -75 much more than that and it feels like your flogging it for no good reason. Just my take on it everyone is a little different in their RPM comfort zone. One caveat is I am on mud tires right now which aren't the smoothest on the highway.
 
theoretically at 80mph even though the RPMS are 10% higher, isnt the truck working less with the 4.88 than the 4.30?
 
I recently went 4.88 in my 99' and ran the stock tires, 33 and 35's. With a lightweight duratracks at 285/75/18 I recently drove 3k miles pulling about 3k pounds half of that, personally 33s are better but as mentioned above 65mph is the fastest you'd wanna drive. With the 35's I obtained 16.8mpg at a best unloaded and 12.5 loaded and truck pulled most hills just unlocking the converter in OD.

Personally if I had a 5 speed and wanted 35s id go 4.30s
With 33s even at altitude 4.30s on a 4 speed isn't bad unless you plan to pull heavy loads over ~7500'.
 
geanes said:
@hoser ... do you have any experience with the TCL on a 100? Or, do you know anyone who has installed one? Sure would like to have greater control over that lockup to reduce the heat buildup in the transmission.
Click to expand...
No, I have no experience with the TCL. But Cruiser Brothers is a dealer for Wholesale Automatics... Wholesale Automatic Transmissions -
 
Personally, I'd be looking at the 10% underdrive gears for the (high range) transfer case, before I went 4.88 in the differentials on 33" tires.
 
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