Help me decide 4.88 or 5.13 for my use

[gearhead22]

What would make you unhappy with 5:13's?
Pros: You'll have more torque off the line. Will crawl better when off roading. Would support the 38's you think might go to eventually. Can tow better with less stress on the system. Will pull mountain grades with ease. Always better to be geared lowered (5:13) as it's easier on the engine and trans.
Cons: Lower top speed overall, but that's a moot point with these bricks. Slightly worse fuel economy, again a moot point with 37's+, it's always gonna suck.
Do your own "Ben Franklin" and pull the trigger...

I’m back and forth on 38’s. 37’s does give me more options of tire choice. 5.13’s would be good for towing but I don’t tow that often or with much weight. Torque off the line is fine but it’s a brick so. I don’t really see any mountains and if it has to drop into 7th to climb a hill that’s fine. It doesn’t need to stay in 8th all the time, no vehicle I’ve ever been in holds the top gear all the time. At 70 I think 5.13’s would be fine most of the time, a little less fuel efficient but probably marginal. If I get up to 75-80 running the rpm up to 2700 or so just seem a bit excessive for extended times. It seems 5.13’s are for offroad performance and towing. Higher strain applications . 4.88’s would be better for a daily driver, less strain which I’m typically doing. I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of each. Realistically I fall into the 4.88 camp more so than the 5.13 because I don’t tow that often and I don’t offroad much. But on the flip side i do tow occasionally and sometimes for 3-4 hours at highway speed.

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[drexotic]

You're gonna LOVE having 5.13s! My Mojave lost 2.5-3 mps going from the stock 32(ish) tires to 37s. I got all that back and a bit more with the regear and commute in 8th gear at 75+ on the freeway.

 

[Panthers65]

In your situation I think it matters more how fast your normally drive 98% of the time.

There's not much you can do to make the Jeep an aerodynamic vehicle, it's a brick on 4 wheels. But if your one of the ones that jumps straight to the left lane and does 90+ everywhere your going, I'd go 4.88s, or even 4.56's. I'd also make sure you have a full bumper and full fenders. Anything to help cut the wind resistance down.

I don't drive fast anymore, those days are behind me. I went up to my folks' place over the weekend for Christmas in the North Georgia mountains, 65-70 MPH the whole way and 20.4 MPG on the trip. I'm on 37" BFG ATs, 5.13 Spicer gears stubby bumper with a winch and flat fenders.

My wife in her JLUR on 35's followed me and got over 22MPG.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You will never find someone in a 4x4 wishing they had less gear, only more.

 

[gearhead22]

In your situation I think it matters more how fast your normally drive 98% of the time.

There's not much you can do to make the Jeep an aerodynamic vehicle, it's a brick on 4 wheels. But if your one of the ones that jumps straight to the left lane and does 90+ everywhere your going, I'd go 4.88s, or even 4.56's. I'd also make sure you have a full bumper and full fenders. Anything to help cut the wind resistance down.

I don't drive fast anymore, those days are behind me. I went up to my folks' place over the weekend for Christmas in the North Georgia mountains, 65-70 MPH the whole way and 20.4 MPG on the trip. I'm on 37" BFG ATs, 5.13 Spicer gears stubby bumper with a winch and flat fenders.

My wife in her JLUR on 35's followed me and got over 22MPG.

I drive 70 on the highway around my area. I’ll 75 in Pa since the speed limit jumps to 70 there.

 

[gearhead22]

You're gonna LOVE having 5.13s! My Mojave lost 2.5-3 mps going from the stock 32(ish) tires to 37s. I got all that back and a bit more with the regear and commute in 8th gear at 75+ on the freeway.

Currently with my 37 bfg’s I average about 17 in the summer and 14 during the winter (more remote start and idle time).

 

[Stan H]

4.88's if Light , 5.13 if heavy overlanding towing heavy.
4.88's 35,37's 5.13 37,38,screw
5.38's 39 & above
Just my opinion.

 

[gearhead22]

4.88's if Light , 5.13 if heavy overlanding towing heavy.
4.88's 35,37's 5.13 37,38,screw
5.38's 39 & above
Just my opinion.

Tough choice for sure

 

[imnothardcore]

I wasn’t sure which to do either since I’m going 37s been doing all the work myself and working up.

I called revolution gears with questions multiple times before pulling the trigger. One of the dudes had a gladiator the other had some other jeep but both recommended 5.13 for my gladiator. They said if I had a JL they’d rec 4.88 but for gladiator just do the 5.13.

did the install and closing out break in. Figured I’d share what a gear company told me versus my opinion since I just went with their suggestion. lol

good luck

 

[Stan H]

I wasn’t sure which to do either since I’m going 37s been doing all the work myself and working up.

I called revolution gears with questions multiple times before pulling the trigger. One of the dudes had a gladiator the other had some other jeep but both recommended 5.13 for my gladiator. They said if I had a JL they’d rec 4.88 but for gladiator just do the 5.13.

did the install and closing out break in. Figured I’d share what a gear company told me versus my opinion since I just went with their suggestion. lol

good luck

Yes but if your already running 37's and have 4.10 ..going to 4.88 is a big jump and 5.13 may be overkill

 

[Stan H]

Many say 4.88 will work for 35's and 37's .
They always say go 5.13 because then if a person decides to tow heavy or load down heavy your good. .
In my opinion 2.72.1 transfer case 5.13 is gonna help off road . 4.1 transfer case 4.88's is fine.

 

[gearhead22]

Many say 4.88 will work for 35's and 37's .
They always say go 5.13 because then if a person decides to tow heavy or load down heavy your good. .
In my opinion 2.72.1 transfer case 5.13 is gonna help off road . 4.1 transfer case 4.88's is fine.

I want it to be a good all around vehicle. Something that can drive well down the road, tow well and offroad well. I almost feel like I’m at a 51/49 split and the 4.88’s are the 51. I daiky drive it far more than I tow anything or offroad.

 

[1550jrit]

Many say 4.88 will work for 35's and 37's .
They always say go 5.13 because then if a person decides to tow heavy or load down heavy your good. .
In my opinion 2.72.1 transfer case 5.13 is gonna help off road . 4.1 transfer case 4.88's is fine.

During my Black Hills trip, I used the off-road cruise control quite a bit. What I found funny, is that with 5.38’s and 2.72:1 transfer case, the computer would choose 8th gear most of the time. I’d have it set to 2 or 2.5 mph and I’m in 8th, kind of weird, but it drove great. All I had to do was steer the truck around obstacles. The computer took care of speed and braking, which was super fun.

 

[1550jrit]

I want it to be a good all around vehicle. Something that can drive well down the road, tow well and offroad well. I almost feel like I’m at a 51/49 split and the 4.88’s are the 51. I daiky drive it far more than I tow anything or offroad.

Reading through your overall thought process in this thread, I’d just get 4.88’s. You’ll be happier with them, you’ll tow just fine, and you’ll get the cruising rpm’s that you’ll likely be most comfortable with. There’s only a 5% difference between 4.88 and 5.13, not enough in my opinion to spend too much time dwelling on it. I doubt I’d notice too much of a difference if I jumped in a Gladiator with 5.13’s. Just my two cents, good luck with your choice!

 

[Jrgunn5150]

They all drive fine down the road.

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