Overland without Max Tow Package - Lift? Spacers?

[j.o.y.ride]

You've not driven in Iowa. My Overland struggles on the stock tires on the interstate with out hills. Even towing my EMPTY trailer from home to Omaha and back was interesting to say the least. I had to really push it hard to keep the speed limit - 60-65 wasn't easy to maintain on hills - and the empty trailer is 1600 pounds tops.
I'd never even think of 35's on mine - trailer or not. IT's a POOCH.

I'm not saying I have driven in Iowa. I am saying that 35s on 3.73 is not a hard no like you suggest it is. Has entirely to do with what you will be doing. If you're towing or live in a hilly place then no. If you're almost entirely flat then it's not bad at all. If you're almost exclusively on back roads you won't notice a thing.

I drive fast on the highway. 80 cruising speed. I took the stock truck to Yosemite and had zero issues with power and gearing on the highway or the hills in stock form. Not sure why you have highway struggles stock.

It's a no for you and will be for others, but it isn't a no for everyone.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I'm not saying I have driven in Iowa. I am saying that 35s on 3.73 is not a hard no like you suggest it is. Has entirely to do with what you will be doing. If you're towing or live in a hilly place then no. If you're almost entirely flat then it's not bad at all. If you're almost exclusively on back roads you won't notice a thing.

I drive fast on the highway. 80 cruising speed. I took the stock truck to Yosemite and had zero issues with power and gearing on the highway or the hills in stock form. Not sure why you have highway struggles stock.

It's a no for you and will be for others, but it isn't a no for everyone.

Very true -
My summary is this - I've had this for just shy of 10,000 miles, driven it since last November, been to Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, and all over Iowa from the more flat areas of the NW to the hilly south towards MO - I would never even consider putting 35" tires on an Overland with 3.73 gears. (and if you did, I'd suggest locking out 7th and 8th gears if at all possible - you'll never see them anyway)
(And I tried larger tires on the front, the tire shop was concerned with clearance issues, suggested I not buy them. They lost a big sale - but kept a customer. )

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Very true -
My summary is this - I've had this for just shy of 10,000 miles, driven it since last November, been to Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, and all over Iowa from the more flat areas of the NW to the hilly south towards MO - I would never even consider putting 35" tires on an Overland with 3.73 gears. (and if you did, I'd suggest locking out 7th and 8th gears if at all possible - you'll never see them anyway)
(And I tried larger tires on the front, the tire shop was concerned with clearance issues, suggested I not buy them. They lost a big sale - but kept a customer. )

Not true. While 6th is common, 7th isn't unheard of, and it gets into 8th at times. All depends on the terrain, how you're driving, headwinds, etc.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not true. While 6th is common, 7th isn't unheard of, and it gets into 8th at times. All depends on the terrain, how you're driving, headwinds, etc.

That's YOUR exerience, I was talking MINE. Even now 8th isn't common - and if you get there, it doesn't last long. In 7th much of the time - and this is all with 33s. So talk about tires quite a bit larger in circumference, I'd likely not see 8th unless on the FLAT or down hill.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

That's YOUR exerience, I was talking MINE. Even now 8th isn't common - and if you get there, it doesn't last long. In 7th much of the time - and this is all with 33s. So talk about tires quite a bit larger in circumference, I'd likely not see 8th unless on the FLAT or down hill.

You're telling people they will not see 7th and 8th and that's simply not true

 

[JustKip]

You're telling people they will not see 7th and 8th and that's simply not true

After you just said it was...

Not true. While 6th is common, 7th isn't unheard of, and it gets into 8th at times. All depends on the terrain, how you're driving, headwinds, etc.

"7th isn't unheard of, and gets into 8th at times"? It's engineered to "get into" 8th pretty much every time you exceed 60mph. Running 35's on 3.73 gears has about the same effect as decreasing the mechanical advantage by 10%. Sure, the vehicle is designed to carry an extra 25%, or tow an extra 100%, but when you multiply by the mechanical disadvantage, exponentially multiplied by speed, you lose huge chunks of your capability. It becomes no longer freeway capable with a load. That's fine for a mall crawler, I guess. And "it's yours, so you can wash it as fast as you want", but I'm not sure doing it in public is the best plan

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You're telling people they will not see 7th and 8th and that's simply not true

And you are telling them they will..........
So you also are speaking only from personal experience.
I'm relating to what I see and experience, you are doing the same.
So can I be wrong and you are the only one right because you have no problems?
Read about my trip to Spirit Lake - and the constant constant shifting, I timed it - a gear change every 5 to 10 seconds. Sometimes I was lucky and it stayed in a gear longer, but most shifts were timed at between 5 and 10 seconds. Mild rolling hills where the glaciers mostly leveled the state - running due north with a wind out of the SE, speeds varied but typically I was running 4 mph over the limit (59 in a 55, 64 in a 60, about 75 in a 70)
I'm relating to my experiences.
Again - you are saying NO PROBLEM because YOU have no problem. I guess if you don't, no one will?
You win. 35's will be fine, no issues.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

And you are telling them they will..........
So you also are speaking only from personal experience.
I'm relating to what I see and experience, you are doing the same.
So can I be wrong and you are the only one right because you have no problems?
Read about my trip to Spirit Lake - and the constant constant shifting, I timed it - a gear change every 5 to 10 seconds. Sometimes I was lucky and it stayed in a gear longer, but most shifts were timed at between 5 and 10 seconds. Mild rolling hills where the glaciers mostly leveled the state - running due north with a wind out of the SE, speeds varied but typically I was running 4 mph over the limit (59 in a 55, 64 in a 60, about 75 in a 70)
I'm relating to my experiences.
Again - you are saying NO PROBLEM because YOU have no problem. I guess if you don't, no one will?
You win. 35's will be fine, no issues.

Lol ok.

 

[HorneyBadger]

So if i go with the mopar 2" lift, 17" wheels and 35's for tires, do you think i need to regear?

Thats what I have and it is sucky at times(up hills). Ive been looking to upgrade the gears but still have not found a reputable place to do it. Checked the dealer and they want to sell me Rubicon Axle's (the whole assemblies - over $2k each not including labor). In the mean tiem I bought Z-Automotive Tazer which gives some spunk back in City driving. On hills manually manage your trans and go to manual and drop a gear. MPG has gone down some.
Its an ever changing field! Give and take on what you want and how you want.

4:10's would be OK but with 35's you still lose a little
4:56 is the upper range to be happy as a whole
Higher gears if you are towing.....

I've been eyeing these but havent pulled the trigger until I find someone I can trust to install

Nitro Gear & Axle M210 Front Axle/M220 Rear Axle Ring and Pinion Gear Kit; 4.63 Gear Ratio
$1050

 

[j.o.y.ride]

$2k each for Rubicon axles isn't a horrible price and you'd also be getting lockers, but it's 'only' 4.10s. Which is ok for 35s but I think you're better off with bigger gears than 4.10.

Axle install is a lot more straightforward than a re-gearing.

 

[dernawe]

35’s on factory overland rims with a 1.5” spacer and the rough country lift/leveling kit. Haven’t regeared (live in the DC area so pretty flat), but have towed a trailer around 4k lbs. My truck gets into 8th pretty regularly and doesn’t hunt gears. Went with just tires instead of going to a 17” because I like the stock wheels, and the cost savings of 17” vs 18” tires is minimal in my experience.

 

[Slyboots2313]

So I wanted to point out another thing that hasn’t been answered. You asked about 18” wheels. Your choices in a 37” tire will dwindle significantly at 18”. For whatever reason, most focus on 17” and 20”, even though 18” is fairly common.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

35’s on factory overland rims with a 1.5” spacer and the rough country lift/leveling kit. Haven’t regeared (live in the DC area so pretty flat), but have towed a trailer around 4k lbs. My truck gets into 8th pretty regularly and doesn’t hunt gears. Went with just tires instead of going to a 17” because I like the stock wheels, and the cost savings of 17” vs 18” tires is minimal in my experience.

unpossible that your truck can even move with 35s and 3.73 let alone tow, not gear hunt, and get into 8th.!!1!!1 /sarcasm

Yeah 35s on flat areas and around town is a complete non issue. Glad to hear you can even tow a moderate load with it.

 

[WarRaveyn]

Is it really that bad running 35's with 3.73 gears???

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Is it really that bad running 35's with 3.73 gears???

No that was a joke. It depends what you do with the truck. If you drive mostly in town or you are on flat-ish highways like Florida then it's not really any problem at all. I don't tow, it may impact that. Highway hills in places like Rockies or Sierra's I would advise against. My old backroads in a place like Boston suburbs would be a total non issue.

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