Mark Doiron
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mark
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2019
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 602
- Reaction score
- 1,261
- Location
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Vehicle(s)
- 2007 JKU X, 1979 Tenth Anniversary Trans Am, 2020 Gobi Gladiator Rubicon
- Occupation
- Retired
I have a 2007 Wrangler with the under-powered 3.8 motor. I was able to get the 4.10 gears with the tow package and it ran okay with a manual transmission. Okay. Not great, but would generally do fine. Later, now that I've upgraded to 35s and added much weight (very heavy overlanding rig), I also went to 4.88 gears. Sixth gear is useful in ideal conditions, no wind, flat terrain or headed downhill. However, any significant headwind or uphill and I'm shifting to lower gears. Couple weeks ago, I drove my friend's '12 with the 3.6 and an auto to Helena, MT from OKC. I was very pleased with the significant difference in pep. He still has the 4.10 gears of a Rubi, as well as 33" tires. I am very surprised to read you say that sixth gear is useless unless you're 15 MPH over the speed limit. In my Jeep, I'm turning 3,000 RPM at 70 MPH in sixth gear. I consider that pretty ideal gearing for the highway. I see you're in AK, and realize your speed limits are a bit different, but for the lower 48, I think the 3.6, MT and 4.10 gears should be good on 33s, and even acceptable on 35s. I'll let you know once my Gladiator arrives! ;-)After driving the manual for a few days I'm less disappointed in it. You save 2000 getting the manual which should be around what it costs to re-gear. I can't shift into 6th unless I go 15mph over the speed limit. So 5.13s will help immensely I think with acceleration and basically gain access to another gear so mileage and top speed should be unaffected. The 4.10s are fine with me 1-5 though. I bought a 6 speed though so I want to be able to use it.
P.S.--A couple years ago driving my Jeep right past where you live, I had my five day old windshield plastered by a truck carrying gravel. Yeah, I've been all over AK and western Canada with my Jeep--and that other one that I drove to MT. You live in one amazingly beautiful state. If you're interested, you can find the video series on YouTube DigitalByDoiron, Mark and Ray's Al-Can Adventure.
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