Which gears to go with? 4.88s or 5.29s in my 2.7L 5-speed taco?

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sixstringsteve

10 Year
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Threads
3
Messages
36
Location
Lehi, UT
Info:
'97 reg cab tacoma
2.7L
5-speed
OME 880/ Dakar lift
35x12/50x17

Trying to decide the best gearing for MPG and cruising on the freeway. I won't be towing, I don't have a huge winch or bumper. Just a simple truck for camping/exploring and the occosional trip to moab. If I do more crawling, I'll get a doubler.
 
I'm more interested in MPG than low speed crawls. I've played with the gear-ratio calculators for hours, and the 4.88s will give me the RPMs I want, but I'm not sure if they'll give me the power I need. I'm not power hungry, 4.10s and 31's feels like great power to me. I don't mind downshifting to 4th if needed for a hill, but I don't want to be totally bogging it down around town and on the freeway.


I had 4.88's in my last taco with the 3.4L auto and 35's, and it was perfect. I'm really looking for people running a similar setup to see what they like. I'm aware that the 5.29's will give me more power, but MPG is important to me, and I'd rather be at a lower RPM on the freeway than a higher RPM (unless 4.88s just aren't going to cut it).
 
What size tires did your Tacoma come with stock? and what R&P gears did it come with stock? If you want that power I would match that combo to the size tire you have and get the gears that match.

Differential Gear Ratio Chart - Tire Size to Gear Ratio

I don't know the Tacomas as well, someday I would like one. I am running a 92 with a 22re and know those well, so sort of similar. With the 22re 4.88=33's and 5.29=36's is pretty much right on the money back to stock power band as if you were running 28" tires and 4.10 gears.
22re hp = 112, torque = 142 #
2.7L hp = 150, torque = 177 #
3.4L hp = 190, torque = 220 #

Looks like you are right in the middle of your old set up and mine as far as power goes. I know the little 22re needs all the gearing it can get. I envy the engines in the Tacoma trucks.

In your old truck you had a auto which east some power. Also it does take some power to get those big tires moving. From what I have been told the 3.4L engine does not require as deep of gears as the 22re because of the increased horsepower.

If you like the power of 31's with your 4.10 gears then 4.88 is probably the way to go. You are really only talking about 300 rpm between the two setups you mentioned. If you go w/4.88 you will run 100rmp less than stock, or w/5.29 200rpm more than stock. That is based on a 28" tire and 4.10 gears so if your stock tire size or gears are different then adjust.

Also think on the plans of how you plan on using the truck in the future. Towing, winch, bumpers, campers, toppers, roof racks, etc. Do you potentially see yourself going to a bigger tire down the road. Do you put on smaller tires on for winter? Is this a DD, commuter, or trail truck.

Drive around on with the truck at the rpm's it would be at highway speeds with the different gears and see what you like best. I don't think you will notice too much power loss in town, I think the larger difference will be at the highway speeds.

Try to drive others trucks if you can, or see if someone has a used or extra third member already set up so you can just put it in the rear and go for a 2wd test drive for a while. You can also set up just the rear end with 4.88 gears and drive in 2wd for a while. If you decide you like it you can then gear the front. If you don't then you can gear the rear deeper and try it out. Then you are out less money if you do not like your first choice. You can also re-sell the barley used gears to recoup $ if needed.

Good luck on your choice and let us know what you go with and how it works out for you.
 
A friend of mine had a 4Runner with a 5-speed, 4-banger and 35s and was happy with his 5.29s.
 
meigsrock said:
Also think on the plans of how you plan on using the truck in the future. Towing, winch, bumpers, campers, toppers, roof racks, etc. Do you potentially see yourself going to a bigger tire down the road. Do you put on smaller tires on for winter? Is this a DD, commuter, or trail truck.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the great food for thought meigsrock. I will not tow, I will not have a winch, I will have a simple allpro tube rear bumper, stock front bumper, and a shell. THere's no way I'll ever go bigger than 35's on this rig (I've had 37's on yotas in the past, and they're too capable for my trails here). I will not put smaller tires on in the winter. It's a DD that I'll take camping/wheeling on the weekends. I enjoy getting out into more remote places, along with some technical crawling from time to time. I plan on getting a doubler in about 6 months before I do the rubicon. I realize that IFS and the rubicon don't usually go together well, but I've got the short wheelbase and skids underneath. I've been crawling for 8 years and I think I can do it. That being said, I don't want to build the truck up to be so capable that it's uncomfortable to drive 4 hours away to Moab every month or two. I've had dedicated crawlers before, and I'm starting to enjoy the easier trails in a less capable truck now.

Here's a pic of my rig on the alignment rack (fenders weren't tubbed yet at this time).

IMAG0158.jpg
 
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Bighead said:
A friend of mine had a 4Runner with a 5-speed, 4-banger and 35s and was happy with his 5.29s.
Click to expand...

which engine/tranny combo? If I had a 22RE and a W546, there'd be no question for me, I'd be running 5.29s.

Anyone running 5.29s with a 3rz and a w59 and 35's that can chime in on MPG?
 
sixstringsteve said:
I'm more interested in MPG than low speed crawls. I've played with the gear-ratio calculators for hours, and the 4.88s will give me the RPMs I want, but I'm not sure if they'll give me the power I need. I'm not power hungry, 4.10s and 31's feels like great power to me. I don't mind downshifting to 4th if needed for a hill, but I don't want to be totally bogging it down around town and on the freeway.


I had 4.88's in my last taco with the 3.4L auto and 35's, and it was perfect. I'm really looking for people running a similar setup to see what they like. I'm aware that the 5.29's will give me more power, but MPG is important to me, and I'd rather be at a lower RPM on the freeway than a higher RPM (unless 4.88s just aren't going to cut it).
Click to expand...

just reread this, I think the 4.88's may be more in line with what you're looking for, I gotta think the 5.29's will be brutal on mileage. My son's truck does well off road with the 4.30's and 35's and is still very drivable on the highway, 4.88's would be just that much better.
 
That is a cool truck. Those tires barley fit in the fenders.:) Tough call because you are right in the middle of the two obvious decisions. 22re = 5.29, 3.4L = 4.88

One other thing to consider for the 4.88 argument is, if you are getting a double t-case you won't lose any low range by not going with deep enough gears.

Tough call, hopefully you can get a chance to drive someones truck with somewhat of a similar set up.

Hope more people chime in for you.

here is a good chart which may help.
Suspension Tech: What Size Tires?, Tire Size Chart
 
meigsrock said:
That is a cool truck. Those tires barley fit in the fenders.:) Tough call because you are right in the middle of the two obvious decisions. 22re = 5.29, 3.4L = 4.88
Click to expand...


EXACTLY! I'm going to install the gears on Monday. I've got 4.88's sitting here, but I can return them and get 5.29's if I decide. I need to decide in the next 48 hours...
 
I'm running trepador radials for right now, and they've got to be one of the heaviest tires out there. For that reason alone, I'm thinking the 5.29s are going to be the better bet.
 
5.29 may be a safer bet unless you really do a lot of highway commuting with it. I would say (based on my truck) that the 4-banger engines should get deeper gearing to keep loss of power down. Big heavy tires/rims/ extra wind resistance all work against you.

200 rmp is not much. I am driving now with 28" tires and 4.88 for winter and it is not bad. A little high rpm on the highway at 65mph but I could live with it if I had to. That is a larger difference than you are looking at, although I am not trying to go 75mph. A 31" and 4.88 would be good and slightly deeper than stock, which would be about the same as a 5.29 w/35's.

I just picked up some 35's to try once I get my big lift on my pickup. I don't think I will use 5th much with that set up. If I like the tires and size I will likely do a SAS and re-gear in the process the following year.

Do you do a lot of hilly driving? If yes then 5.29. You may want to try the 5.29's first and if it just screams too much on the highway back down to 4.88's.

I do suggest just doing the rear first as a tester to save work or money if you change your mind. Just make sure you stay in 2wd.
 
Have your MPG's gone down with your 28's and 4.88s?

I don't do a lot of hilly driving, but I do plan on doing a lot of freeway driving with it...

I like the idea of just installing the rear gears for a few days to see how I like the ratio.
 
Another good question is, where do you live and drive?
If you live at higher altitude and do a lot of mountain driving, lower gears would be better.
 
thanks for all the advice everyone. I think i could get by fine with either 4.88s or 5.29s, but I have decided to go with 4.88s since it's a reg cab, and there aren't many hills here. I plan on a doubler in the future, and I'd rather cruise at a lower RPM. I really appreciate all the feedback.

hopefully I can get 18+ MPG on the highway, but I'll be fine with 16-17. I drive like a grandpa, so that should help. I'll report back with what MPG I end up getting.
 
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sixstringsteve said:
Have your MPG's gone down with your 28's and 4.88s?
Click to expand...

I am getting 19mpg around town driving but that does not factor in the gear change. So I am actually driving less miles per tank of gas than the odometer shows....so mpg is a little worse than 19 but not sure how much. I think it is a true 19mpg in town when I run my 4.88's and 33's if I remember right. Not sure on just highway mpg. That only happens in summer for fishing trips.

I know you can loose MPG if your gearing is way off in either direction. Too deep and rpm's are too high. To tall a gear and you bog the engine and don't use all your gears.

I think you are close either way and will probably not make much difference for you. It will defiantly be better than your stock gears. What the hell are your stock gears anyway?
 
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