85badger

I have an 91 runner w/3.0, auto and I want to be able to tow a small pop-up camper to and from my wheelin distinations. I plan on running 35's, maybe 37's. What gears should I get? 4:88 or 5.29? Does anyone have any experience with this combo?

85badger

ok, let me be more specific, I'm going to run 37's, with 5.29's, does the 3.0/auto have to hp to pull a small pop-up at highway speeds?

turboale

where are you? Do you live where its flat or will it be constant up/dn/up/dn? The only really way to tell is to go try it. I would definitely invest in a tranny cooler either way. Cheap insurance. I don't have the 3.0 so I'll leave better educated guess to others, though I have seen a 2nd gen with a SAS and at least 35s if not 37s pull a MasterCraft Xstar ski boat, and that was w/o a re-gear. It was not quick by any means, but it did it.

85badger

Well, I'm here in flatter than flat Kansas, but I wheel in CO and some in OK, which both have up/dn/up/dn. Tranny cooler is a must, good idea.

turboale

Not the cheapest wroute but if you had some extra money you wanted to spend on your truck (ha right) I would say get another set of wheels/tires. Then you can have a street set and a trail set. Its not like your throwing the money away, they will pay for themselves over time with all the money you will save on gas. Then you also have a rig thats not a complete pig around town. Just get some 33s on your stock rims and get some steelies cheap and put the 35/7s on those. Just thinking out loud... That is what I was going to do until I jumped into this supercharging thing...

SD70MAC

It also depends on the weight of the trailer. My parents used to have a 2001 Coleman pop-up that weighed about 3500 lbs. I know my 3.0 wouldn't pull that thing period! That's why they used a Tahoe. Of course, mine is in need of engine and tranny work too... Like the others said, just try it and see how it does.

85badger

I have a newer engine in it approx. 45K on it. Runs good, I use to have a 98 see doo xp, pulled it just fine when it was stock.

Flamedx4

HOLYCoW! I have an Apache, which is all fiberglass and I thought it was heavy at 1300 lbs (probably close to 2000 with all my stuff and the little boat on the roof.) Which my 22RE/5sp with 33s/4:88s pulled just fine, although I did know it was there. We got some steep mountains in the Pacific Northwest. Heck, in Kansas ya could pull it with a bicycle...

But 90% of the time, the point of taking the trailer was to go to a farther away wheelin spot, so different tires is not a good solution.

Rick F.

I pulled a 2800 lb. Jayco popup with my '90 3.0, manual tranny with stock 31 x 10.5 x 15's for about 4 years. I typically had it full of stuff plus the kids & wife in the truck. You didn't want to be behind me on any hills in no passing zones, but it did fine otherwise. Most campers are lighter than my Jayco, but I still had some difficulty pulling an 1800 lb. boat up hill. I'd be leary if you have any steep, long grades to climb.

dragr1

iTrader: (3)

With 5.29's and a tranny cooler you should be good to go, oh and a massive hitch drop-probably a foot with 37's!

If you don't have a popup, I've got one for sale that only weighs 1500 pounds empty.:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51123

85badger

yeah, I checked out your camper....nice one!! I'm only in the "make up my mind stage" on the truck, haven't touched it yet, still stock. So I'll have to wait on the camper. Glad to hear that other people have done this. Thanks for the input.