Does re-gearing and a part-time kit make sense?

[Dragos80]

The proper gear for 35's (in order to keep the engine within the design parameters for a 31" tire) is actually 4.56
At 4.88 you will be over geared as stated above.
Stock gears with 33's is perfectly fine for most driving, unless you go uphill everyday at freeway speeds on a high grade for 5 miles.
The correct spec gear for 33's is 4.33 (by the book), but the closest one you can get is 4.27
Most cars on the street are 2WD anyway and they seem to do just fine with proper snow tires.

I really hope this PA place in somewhere in the civilized world and the streets get cleaned up after snow fall.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Many guys including myself run 35's with stock gears without any issues. The best combo IMO once you learn the vehicle. If you wheel a lot low range gears would be the next step.

 

[Heckraiser]

Yes, auto lockers are tricky in the snow and ice. An experienced and conscientious driver can white-knuckle it, but you will not want to let your wife or daughter borrow the truck on snow days. If you're like me and you don't wake up until you've finished your morning big gulp, you will probably hit a couple curbs before you're out of the neighborhood.

IMO, swap in an ARB if you think you need a locker, do not do a part-time conversion. Or if you want to do it on the cheap, just swap your spiders back in and sell the aussie. If you are from Florida (just making an assumption) and not experienced driving in winter, starting out with an auto locker is a bad idea.

 

[KliersLC]

I have almost 100k on a rear aussie in Northern VA and Northern Idaho, as well as a stint in socal. The aussie locker will be almost unnoticeable in the snow and ice if you keep AWD. If you have the money to spend, get 35s, re-gear, and get an ARB front locker. Don't bother with the part time conversion.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[KliersLC]

For some of those commenting, unless you have driven an AWD 80 in the snow and ice with a rear auto locker, don't assume that it will handle like ANY other autolocked vehicle. The ONLY accurate comparison is if you lock the center diff--then it will handle similarly to a normal 4wd vehicle in 4H with a rear auto locker. I can't explain the mechanics of it, but the VC allows some "wiggle room" with the operation of the rear locker and as stated above, it is almost transparent...

 

[tampacruiser95]

I have almost 100k on a rear aussie in Northern VA and Northern Idaho, as well as a stint in socal. The aussie locker will be almost unnoticeable in the snow and ice if you keep AWD. If you have the money to spend, get 35s, re-gear, and get an ARB front locker. Don't bother with the part time conversion.

Cheers,

Dan

Okay thanks. Re-gearing and a selectable locker is going to happen. I am originally from Ohio so I am not sweating driving in snow. At the same time, looking to make my truck as capable as possible should the need arise.

 

[tampacruiser95]

For some of those commenting, unless you have driven an AWD 80 in the snow and ice with a rear auto locker, don't assume that it will handle like ANY other autolocked vehicle. The ONLY accurate comparison is if you lock the center diff--then it will handle similarly to a normal 4wd vehicle in 4H with a rear auto locker. I can't explain the mechanics of it, but the VC allows some "wiggle room" with the operation of the rear locker and as stated above, it is almost transparent...

Thanks a lot, that's what I was hoping. When I got my Aussie installed people kept warning me about the backend kicking out and I've never really noticed it as an issue. I think it's mostly driving style.

 

[tampacruiser95]

The proper gear for 35's (in order to keep the engine within the design parameters for a 31" tire) is actually 4.56
At 4.88 you will be over geared as stated above.
Stock gears with 33's is perfectly fine for most driving, unless you go uphill everyday at freeway speeds on a high grade for 5 miles.
The correct spec gear for 33's is 4.33 (by the book), but the closest one you can get is 4.27
Most cars on the street are 2WD anyway and they seem to do just fine with proper snow tires.

I really hope this PA place in somewhere in the civilized world and the streets get cleaned up after snow fall.

I have no clue about the streets, but being I'll be living by water, expecting some precip. I know in Ohio where I grew up, "cleaning" streets is relative to whether you live in the city or country.

On the gears, 4.88 gears certainly won't make life worse? Our trucks are generally over transmissioned so I don't think it will harm. Let me know if I am wrong.

 

[tampacruiser95]

Many guys including myself run 35's with stock gears without any issues. The best combo IMO once you learn the vehicle. If you wheel a lot low range gears would be the next step.

Okay thanks. I remember seeing a chart showing optimal gears by tire size. Can't find it now but I remember 4.56 and 4.88 being in range for 33s (as well as 35s for 4.88). Plus I wouldn't mind a little take off pep for city driving.

 

[Heckraiser]

I have almost 100k on a rear aussie in Northern VA and Northern Idaho, as well as a stint in socal. The aussie locker will be almost unnoticeable in the snow and ice if you keep AWD. If you have the money to spend, get 35s, re-gear, and get an ARB front locker. Don't bother with the part time conversion.

Cheers,

Dan

My comment above comes from personal experience with an FJ60 and a toy mini truck. Both are real 4x4 and not AWD like the 80, so you may have something there. Both of those trucks were fine *for me* in the winter (grew up driving powerful RWD vehicles with crap tires in Colorado), but would not let the average driver borrow the keys.

 

[hammerheadfistpunch]

I am re-gearing because I have 33s now but will likely go 35s. Even if I don't, 4.88 and 33s is a pretty good combination from everything I have read. Does a front Aussie locker give these rigs poor road manners?

My 2 cents is that you wont need to regear where you are, even with 35's. Regearing gives you additional noise, costs a grundle and makes highway driving a chore.
(Im on 33's at 4.56 in Utah)

 

[JeepinPete]

I'm running stock gears with 37" tires. Not a great combo, but it will get the job done. I just took a vacation up to NH grossing 11k pounds with camper in tow. A lot of 2nd gear running at 4k rpm, and an 8 mpg average for the trip. Truck did not seem to care, just a bit slow and loud. Need more power, but I doubt gears are the answer for my needs. Seriously considering an LSx swap, and 4.10 gears will work real nice with a V8.

 

[bwakeling]

I wouldnt regear until you go to larger tires. 33's and 35's will be no problem. Once you get to 37's it will feel like a dog for sure. I drove my truck on stock gearing for 2 years before going to 5.29's.

I dont daily drive my 80 but I would not do the PT conversion in a snowy climate. My 5th Gen SR5 4Runner is part time and was not as good on snow and ice as the 80 prior to the PT conversion.