Topic: 4.88 or 5.29 on a stick?

[jperalta8]

Hello guys, 

I know this question has been around more than enough, but it does not matter how much research I do, I can not find the right answer regarding my truck. 

Look, I have a 1991 toyota pickup SR5 5sp MANUAL 31x10.5 (not my daily driver), which is in perfect shape and using a healthy 3vz. Right now it runs perfect,  until I get on a hill, it becomes gutless,  when I load it up and heading to the farm (once a month) it also becomes gutless,  and when using H4 it also comes gutless,  the only time which it is like a mad dog is in L4. 

Even though I do not do rock crawling, I use to go mudding in it,  so I am planning on installing 33x12.5 and I need to regear in order to get more response from it and spinning those heavier tires. So, since you heard the use of the truck, I would like to know which ratio you would recommend, 4.88 or 5.29 and if there is someone with the same truck on 33s and using 5.29 please feel free to leave your feedback. 

I am inclined on 5.29, because it gives me room for a 35s (just in case, not really pursuing that),  I have heard that I will get better MPG,  I will get better response starting from 0  and last, I do not mind going 70-75 MPH tops. 

Your help/advise will be pretty apreciated. 

[H8PVMNT]

I would choose 5.29s, however, you can find a stock '94-'95'ish 3.0 4runner automatic with a G144 axle code and get 4.88s cheaply.  They will get it done with 33s and a lot of guys like them with 35s too.

[Snowtoy]

With plans to go to 33's, 4.88's would be the correct size, but with the possibility of thinking you may run 35's, you should go with 5.29's if you are going to buy new gears, if trying to do it as frugally as possible, as H8PVMNT mentioned there are oem 4.88's available, there are also oem 4.56's that would be the correct set for the 31's you have now, and they work well enough with 32's if you wanted something in between 31's and 33's.

5.29's will help improve your city/rural road mpg, but likely loose some on the HWY w/the rpm's being higher, might find a happy medium between performance and hwy mpgs with 34's over 35's.

[andykrow]

I don't know how the 3.0 reacts, but with my 22re and 35s I got better in-town mileage but worse highway mileage when I went from 4.10 to 5.29. Wouldn't trade back though for anything, haha.

The oem 4.88s are really affordable and very strong (rumor is factory cryo). Just know it's a special housing and you can't go up to 5.29s, or use any other ring and pinion for that matter.

[jperalta8 [OP]]

First of all, thanyou very mucho for your answers/advises. I will gor for the 5.29, if it is tol slow, there would be nl otjer way tahn bigger tires.

Btw, since making comparisons between 4.56/32" and 5.29/33", while running 2H, the only difference is less than 200 rpms, 2nd to 5th gear, but in 4LO, do you have any idea how different (higher rpms) would the truck  be?

[Snowtoy]

Btw, since making comparisons between 4.56/32" and 5.29/33", while running 2H, the only difference is less than 200 rpms, 2nd to 5th gear, but in 4LO, do you have any idea how different (higher rpms) would the truck  be?

The higher rpm's the 5.29's and 33's will produce wont be an issue in 4lo off road, if anything the higher rpms may help a little with stalling in first when trying to climb up onto something.

[NickPhl]

I run 5.29's with 36's and a 5 speed with the 3.0 as well. They work good on the road and off road. If you run into not having enough gear down the road just get a adapter and run dual cases. But I think the 5.29's will do you good.