fluco72

So before anybody says anything I did search but really didn't come up with a good answer for my situation.

I have a 1989 toyota pickup xtra cab V6 with the 3.0 and stock 4.10s Also its a stick shift so manual trans. I know that for 33s I should go with 4.88 and for 35s i should go with 5.29 but I only want to re-gear once. unfortunately I will probably be stuck with 33s for awhile. So my question is should i go ahead and re-gear to 5.29 and run 33s for awhile or just stick with the 4.88s when I have the 35s.

Another question I have is When i have the 33s I will probably be towing my popup camper around a lot while my daughter is still a kid so we can go camping. What gear would be best for 33s while towing a popup camper. When do jump up to the 35s would that be to much for 4.88 while towing the popup.

so i guess what i want to know is what is the best gear ratio for
1.) running 33s while towing a popup camper
2.) running 35s while towing a popup camper
and
3.) what is it like having 5.29 while running 33s

A little extra background info:
a.) i live in Virginia and plan on camping/driving in Virginia
b.) this truck used to be my DD while running 31s
c.) the truck now will only be used for occasional mudding and camping but will mostly see the pavement
d.) the popup is a basic model nothing fancy basically a tent on wheels not sure on the exact weight
e.) the popup is being pulled by a frame mounted hitch
f.) the truck currently has a 4" rough country suspension lift installed

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Gear for the tires you want to use.

Don`t worry about dragging the camper unless you plan to upgrade to one about 30 feet long weighing about 5,000 pounds.

When the daughter decides the tent camper just does not cut it anymore.

Now if your commuting a long distance your gonna hate the bigger tires and the higher gears will just suck the gas. But you know this already.

All I can say is drive or get a ride with both the options your thinking of.

What is ok to live with for one is impossible for the next person

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

driving on 35s with 4.88s will feel very similar to driving with 31/4.10 combo, since they're both the next size up tire size for proper gearing. if your truck handles that fine as-is, then you'll likely be ok.

another option might be to find a set of used factory 4.88 differentials now, for a good price - then as time passes you save up some $ for 35s, 5.29 gears (or drop-in diffs), and perhaps F/R lockers. when that time comes, sell the 4.88s to recoup some money.


the true question i would ask is why even consider the 33s if you know for sure you're going up to 35s? just do it once and be done with it.

RJR

4.88s with 35s will give you higher rpms (more torque, less mileage) than you have now with 4.10s and 31's. A 4.10 is actually a pretty low ratio for 31s and a V6 manual. The standard factory configuration in later years for that setup was 4.56 gears with 31 inch tires.

Going from a 4.10 to a 4.88 is a nearly 20% change, and going from 31s to 35s is a 12% change in the other direction. If you wanted to keep driveability the same as it is now, match the 35s to 4.56s. However, I think you'd be happier with the 4.88s, particularly when pulling the trailer.

Assuming you're happy with the driveability of your current 4.10/31 combination, I don't think I'd go as far as 5.29 even with the 35's. It'll feel like you lost your high gear.

Here's a little table of how tires and gears will interact, normalized to 4.10/31's. Higher numbers mean more engine rpms for the same speed. (sorry the columns don't line up the best)

... 4.1 4.56 4.88 5.29
31 1.00 1.11 1.19 1.29
33 0.94 1.05 1.12 1.21
35 0.89 0.99 1.06 1.15

Punchy

I found with a manual 4.56 and 32" were perfect, 4.56 and 33" just a tiny bit loaded down by headwind or uphill grade.
Seems 33" tires would work best with 4.72 if they made them.


RJR, I like your ratio chart.
I find that +.06 - +.11 under drive for manual is a better choice and +.10 - +.15 for auto


Oh and, Running an engine at higher RPM in closed loop has less gas mileage then lugging in open loop is False, But going to far ether way has a detrimental affect.

RJR

I agree with you there.