What benefit would I gain by...

[Bird Dog]

So, I'll start off by saying I don't fully understand gear ratios besides the many posts I read about tire sizing vs. gear ratio. My stock Rubicon will likely never see anything larger than the 33's on it nor do I have any plans to lift it. However, I will soon be pulling an offroad built 5x10 overland trailer. In that connection would I gain (or maybe not lose) any fuel efficiency by going to 4:56 gears from the stock 4:10's?

Sponsored

 

[Greg_L]

So, I'll start off by saying I don't fully understand gear ratios besides the many posts I read about tire sizing vs. gear ratio. My stock Rubicon will likely never see anything larger than the 33's on it nor do I have any plans to lift it. However, I will soon be pulling an offroad built 5x10 overland trailer. In that connection would I gain (or maybe not lose) any fuel efficiency by going to 4:56 gears from the stock 4:10's?

IMO there's no real benefit to re-gearing if you're staying with 33s. Also, the difference between 4.10 and 4.56 is negligible at best. Just drive it.

 

[Bird Dog]

IMO there's no real benefit to re-gearing if you're staying with 33s. Also, the difference between 4.10 and 4.56 is negligible at best. Just drive it.

Kind of what I was thinking as I don't think any fuel savings, if it even existed, would ever provide a return of investment by regearing.

 

[Greg_L]

Kind of what I was thinking as I don't think any fuel savings, if it even existed, would ever provide a return of investment by regearing.

Correct. If fuel consumption is your only concern then a re-gear is not worth it or necessary.

Now if you go up in tire size and still want to tow, then yeah, you're probably gonna wanna re-gear.

 

[BearFootSam]

Keep in mind that 4.10 is quite low to start, Tacomas are 3.58 (AT). I've never felt a lack of torque towing that made me wish for deeper gears.

Our auto has a really nice spread, with 1st being quite low too, most of the effect of towing is the truck holding gears longer.

Now off-road, you're going to fine too. If you find yourself facing a steep climb you can drop into 4L and keep going as long as traction holds. I've found 4L to be the ticket for slow speed maneuvering a trailer off road. Like backing a trailer up a snow covered hill. With double 4.10 reduction you have all the gearing you need.

I can't imagine it will help your fuel range much on road either. All the expense will earn you is full use of 8th instead of spending more time in 7th.

It's really a question of whether the full range l of ratios is sufficient to cover your use case. 4L covers your edge cases while the 8 standard gears grant the breadth to accommodate a range of load scenarios.

 

[InvertedLogic]

Zero benefit to you with a Rubicon, particularly if it's an automatic.

 

[MudderNuker]

You are GTG! Even with 35's you should be fine towing a small offroad trailer.

 

[Jaxmax]

I think you’ll be fine , the only thing is how much does your off-road trailer weigh , some guys have bought off road trailers and they are over 5,000 pounds. Next what percentage of your miles will the trailer be behind you. Run it and see , you should be fine though…..Jack

 

[Stan H]

Kind of what I was thinking as I don't think any fuel savings, if it even existed, would ever provide a return of investment by regearing.

I truthfully literally pulled a short freightliner water truck up a short slope with a strap,2 days ago. I was using low and 4.10's if traction is good you will be amazed at the power of the 4:1 transfer case matched with the 4.10 and Automatic transmission. 74:1 in first gear (AT) vs Manual transmission 84:1 in first gears with 4.10's so pulling around that trailer carefully can be done with ease.

 

[gladerater23]

At what point should I consider a regear, ai have a sport s no tow package with 3.73

 

[Stan H]

At what point should I consider a regear, ai have a sport s no tow package with 3.73

Do you tow or are you lifted with oversize tires?

 

[gladerater23]

Do you tow or are you lifted with oversize tires?

Well, that's exactly why I asked. I want an A.R.E cap, a 2.5 inch lift and 35s. No serious off roading but occasionally for hunting and camping. Daily driver in start stop traffic.

 

[Stan H]

Well, that's exactly why I asked. I want an A.R.E cap, a 2.5 inch lift and 35s. No serious off roading but occasionally for hunting and camping. Daily driver in start stop traffic.

I have 2.5" and 35x12.50x17's in mine . It still runs all 8 gears when empty I think If it was me I would say your fine . When I tow or totally pack the back up it won't hit 8th unless down hill. You should be fine.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Even for towing regearing isn't necessary. Towed an 8400lb trailer nearly 600 miles with a good sized grade right in the middle no issues. 37s, 3.5" lift, and stock 4.10s in the mojave. Yes it will downshift more, cruise on the freeway in mostly 6th gear towing that heavy, but gears dont do anything that downshifts don't accomplish. Final drive ratio is all the engine sees as far as load. It doesn't know the difference between 8th gear with 5.13s or 7th gear with 4.10s or 6th gear with 3.45s. Unless you feel like 1st gear isn't low enough, regearing won't bring near the benefit some guys pretend it will. We geared our 2019 JLUR to 5.38s with 38s because the internet was convinced that was the thing to do. Lost 2mpg on average and 3 on the freeway. Lost .5s 0-60 as it had to shift 1 extra time to get there. Sure we saw 8th gear more often... like any speed over 40mph. What's the point of 8 speeds and 2 overdrives if you're in the top gear and out of shifts by half the speed limit? Not saying 4.10s are optimal for 37s, but don't jump off the deep end of gearing either. Of all the combos I've run behind this 8 speed (4.10s/33s, 4.10s/37s, 4.10s/38s, 4.56s/35s, 4.56s/37, 4.56s/39s, and 5.38s/38s) the 4.56s and 37s provided the best balance of low end and still comfortable freeway cruising rpms. Even the 4 56s and 35s felt geared a little too low on the freeway. The 5.38s and 38s were the worst of them all. Regears locally run $3k, you'll never save that in fuel in the life of the vehicle and if you go off the deep end of gearing you could spend that much extra in my experience.

 

[Bird Dog]

Even for towing regearing isn't necessary. Towed an 8400lb trailer nearly 600 miles with a good sized grade right in the middle no issues. 37s, 3.5" lift, and stock 4.10s in the mojave. Yes it will downshift more, cruise on the freeway in mostly 6th gear towing that heavy, but gears dont do anything that downshifts don't accomplish. Final drive ratio is all the engine sees as far as load. It doesn't know the difference between 8th gear with 5.13s or 7th gear with 4.10s or 6th gear with 3.45s. Unless you feel like 1st gear isn't low enough, regearing won't bring near the benefit some guys pretend it will. We geared our 2019 JLUR to 5.38s with 38s because the internet was convinced that was the thing to do. Lost 2mpg on average and 3 on the freeway. Lost .5s 0-60 as it had to shift 1 extra time to get there. Sure we saw 8th gear more often... like any speed over 40mph. What's the point of 8 speeds and 2 overdrives if you're in the top gear and out of shifts by half the speed limit? Not saying 4.10s are optimal for 37s, but don't jump off the deep end of gearing either. Of all the combos I've run behind this 8 speed (4.10s/33s, 4.10s/37s, 4.10s/38s, 4.56s/35s, 4.56s/37, 4.56s/39s, and 5.38s/38s) the 4.56s and 37s provided the best balance of low end and still comfortable freeway cruising rpms. Even the 4 56s and 35s felt geared a little too low on the freeway. The 5.38s and 38s were the worst of them all. Regears locally run $3k, you'll never save that in fuel in the life of the vehicle and if you go off the deep end of gearing you could spend that much extra in my experience.

Thank you for the great reply. My thoughts on the regearing was strictly for improved MPG. I think I'll just leave it alone and pay at the pump when I tow. The ROI just isn't there.

Sponsored