SO VERY TRUE about getting run over. My truck did alright pulling about ~1000 lbs from MD to WY and there were lots of hills, nothing huge until i got to wyoming. Going over the mountain i ran in drive not OD, could still do about 60 over the mountain. Im sure with 5.29s your truck will do just amazing, im curious at how well itll do, maybe i need to step up to 5.29s.

 

If you already have 4.88s, then you are just fine. Your tires are a tad smaller, so I would guess were pretty close rpm/power wise.

 

...Just spotted this thread. Nice truck and very clean build so far. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the bumpers.

 

ya i think 4.88s work, i filled up this morning and got 15.13 miles to the gallon, have seen numbers like those in a while, and that was with the roof rack. I took it off this morning as well so we'll see.

 

Lack of the roof rack should make a noticeable difference.

 

i hope so. because if i could get a constant 16 mpg that would be sweet. oh, and im still very anxious to see the bumpers begin and finish.

 

totally waitin to see these bumpers.!!!!!!!!!

 

Me too!

 

Okay, I think things are officially broken in gear wise.

I took the family into Rocky Mountain National Park Sunday. Filled up yesterday. 254mi to the tank and put in 13.4 gallons. That equates to 18.95mpg. Pretty stoked with those numbers in hwy mountain driving.

Oh, and tomorrow I am heading up to see Brian at Diamond Axle to take him some stuff we are working on. Yes Paul, I will check on your axle.

 

WOW...that's impressive, and has me re-thinking my regear plans to 4.88's

 

Nice work!

 

THATS HUGE, almost 19 miles per gallon, ya now im rethinking my gears as well. Except i already put in 4.88s maybe i shouldve done 5.29s.

Maybe its just the fact that your driving in that clean mountain air out there. Scotty have you done anything else beside the gears? I would like to get a solid 16, but 18 dang. IM JEALOUS. Well done scottyc, now how bout those bumpers!!!

 

yes scotty, how bout them bumpers?

 

No other mods at all. Personally I think that all the deckplate mods and ISR mods are worthless to try to improve MPGs as well as power. Exhaust would be a possibility, but even then I think the 3.4L is properly aspirated to achieve as much as is possible.

 

deckplate and isr didnt cost but 10 bucks so thats no big deal. and i dont think it actually made any difference. but hey atleast someones getting great mileage.

 

How often do you do long hwy runs where you can get a better gauge on what hwy mileage you are getting?

 

nice work!

 

So, now with everything broken in gear wise, I took the camper on one last camping trip on Friday. Towed it up to Red Feather with the 4runner. I must say that I am very happy I went with the 5.29s. It will hold OD even on mild inclines without shifting or even torque converter unlock. On the steeper ones, 3rd doesn't even blink at pulling it. The really steep 8-11% grades will tax it, but they even tax my Tahoe and suburban with built 350 so its expected.

The camper weighs in at 1495lbs dry. I had my entire family in the 4runner, 200lb generator, water, food, coolers, dishes, blankets, camping gear, propane, battery, etc. I fully expect that I was around 7000lbs+ combined. I am just very happy with the overall performance.

So, with an expected early winter (Aspen are already changing colors this year), I can now concentrate on gathering stuff for the bumpers. But, I have one more mod that is taking place before then. My new 3rd row seat was delivered on Friday, so I will work on that on Tuesday after I get a few mini bumpers built and shipped.

 

 

I used to drive a 7 hour trip one way almost every weekend, did it a total of about 30 weekends when i lived in NC. that was when i had 225/75s though. i was getting good gas mileage then. but since i put on the 33s the only real substantial hwy driving ive done was to rausch a couple of times and then maine and wyoming, so not very much. i do drive about 30 miles to church each week though, cant really gauge that unfortunatly.