Poll: Running 295/70r18 (35's) in 2003+ w/ stock gears

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DJWUZJ

DJWUZJ

10 Year
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Fairfax, VA
Having trouble seeing who all is running these meats under their 2003+ with 5spd with stock gears. From what I've gathered thus far, aside from paflytyer, everyone else is in 98-02, or have regeared.

I know there are lots of complaints from the 98-02 crowd running ~35" tires with stock gears, but trying to gather data points on how the 5spd likes them. Does it have the same issues with strange shift points? Would you do it again any differently (IE: Regear first, stay with 33"s, etc)?

The plan is to re-gear in 2015 or 2016, but I'm due for tires now (running 275/70r18).

75% of my driving is in Washington DC, which is mostly flat, but lots of stop and go.
 
I've run 33,35,37 and 38's on various 100's. IIRC, I never had any funky changes to shift points and the set up handled them well. With that being said, I think I'm running Hankook Dynapro ATM 265/70/18 (32.6) right now.

For me, the 33's are an all around decent size that doesn't require jumping through hoops to fit properly. They still perform well in every aspect. The 100 does about 70/30 road to trail or sand.

If you're planning to re-gear anyway, I'd say go for the 35's straight away because once you re-gear you'll be looking for them then.
 
UltraFJ40 said:
I've run 33,35,37 and 38's on various 100's. IIRC, I never had any funky changes to shift points and the set up handled them well. With that being said, I think I'm running Hankook Dynapro ATM 265/70/18 (32.6) right now.
Click to expand...

37's and 38's on a 100 Series LC?
 
I'm happy with 35's and they do help in getting over the big stuff, but if I had to do it again I would run M/T's in 275/70/18 on a tundra wheel. A la MtnAdict. The Tundra wheel has a flat outer face and with a 33+ looks almost the same as a 35. It also avoids the body lift and re-gear on the 5-spd. Having an M/T set and an A/T set would be ideal. Summer and winter. That being said, I don't have any complaints about gearing. I'm not winning any races, but I don't have a race car either.
 
Last edited:
295/75/16=33.5ish
295/70/18=34.5ish

I've run 33s on my 2000 for 3 yrs or so (both 285s and 295s).
Last year I spent an afternoon driving a 2003 with front and rear bumpers and 295/70/18 Nitto Terra Grapplers.

My impression was that it was a bit peppier off the line than my 4 speed. It was about the same everywhere else. I think you'll be fine w/o the re-gear.
 
If I was to ever wear out mine.....which I doubt at the rate I drive my truck, I will replace with 285's or 275's...the 295/70/18 look great but they are just a tad bit big for me. I too am over the wheeling hard rocks and I just mainly cat mine around town and on easy stuff.
 
paflytyer said:
37's and 38's on a 100 Series LC?
Click to expand...

One of Alan's earlier creations.

100 Series.webp
 
Holy awesomeness!!!! How have I never seen that before? I would've taken my build in a completely different direction :)

Really like that front bumper.
 
UltraFJ40 said:
One of Alan's earlier creations.
Click to expand...

I remember the chromed out Lexus one being at Cruise Moab. Did you drive that or the Toyota for any distance? Up and down the hills? Hard to believe that gearing wasn't an issue.

IIRC, there were some major mods done in order to fit 37's and it wasn't even drivable on the street, correct? I believe it was trailered to Moab.
 
paflytyer said:
I remember the chromed out Lexus one being at Cruise Moab. Did you drive that or the Toyota for any distance? Up and down the hills? Hard to believe that gearing wasn't an issue.

IIRC, there were some major mods done in order to fit 37's and it wasn't even drivable on the street, correct? I believe it was trailered to Moab.
Click to expand...


-I did not drive the Lexus buggy but as I recall he had a dozen or so builds under his belt when he embarked on that one. He did trailer it to Moab, I think because the family was going on to Arizona afterward.

-For the earlier green/grey one which was not SC'd, there were quite a few mods in order to accommodate the body lift (3.5" I think). However, when he bought it back from me he drove it from South Florida back to Denver. He called me from west Tennessee as he was waiting for the officer to finish writing his speeding ticket (83 in a 70). He said it handled well the whole way and never had even a shudder at highway speeds.

I drove it roughly 100 ~ 120 miles per day six days a week and never noticed it lacking much in terms of gearing.

Personally, I would not re-gear with 35's but then again that may just be my driving style. "My" suggestion to the OP is go ahead with the 35's and live with it until you re-gear.

:beer:
 
Found this on the Lexus.

th_8c23f3f3.jpg


*not trying to hijack the thread, but might give you some insight into what you can do if we can get all the mods inline.
 
paflytyer said:
I'm happy with 35's and they do help in getting over the big stuff, but if I had to do it again I would run M/T's in 275/70/18 on a tundra wheel. A la MtnAdict. The Tundra wheel has a flat outer face and with a 33+ looks almost the same as a 35. It also avoids the body lift and re-gear on the 5-spd. Having an M/T set and an A/T set would be ideal. Summer and winter. That being said, I don't have any complaints about gearing. I'm not winning any races, but I don't have a race car either.
Click to expand...

18s are ok. Mine is not a DD, so I think I am going back to 16s and a little bigger tires. Not sure what yet.

DSC03154.webp
 
UltraFJ40 said:
-

I drove it roughly 100 ~ 120 miles per day six days a week and never noticed it lacking much in terms of gearing.

Personally, I would not re-gear with 35's but then again that may just be my driving style. "My" suggestion to the OP is go ahead with the 35's and live with it until you re-gear.
Click to expand...

Good info. I agree with not re-gearing with 35's until you see if you need it. I didn't feel like I needed it, but YMMV. I'm not a speedster. The only time I notice it at all is when I'm driving I-70 west of Denver. I go from 70-75 down to 55 pretty quickly on the hills. Around town or on the trails here in Colorado, it's unnoticeable.
 
^ especially if you are pulling something up and over passes. I noticed a big difference even around town (Denver @ 5280ft) in the 4.88s even running 33s.
 
Those 100's Alan built were done in Roxborough Subd of Littleton or Durango IIRC. So I'm sure he had a good feel for them too.

All of our hills here are man made.

:D
 
A pic comparison 35's (first pic) and 33's (second pic) Same trail, same spot. MtnAddict has 33's with the 18" Tundra rims. I have *almost* 35's on LC wheels. Can hardly tell the difference looks-wise. The 33's on Tundras almost look bigger.

paflytyer


MtnAddict
 
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