New England N00b - 87 4crawler.

[Celerity]

Hey all,


  Steve here, from the Honda / Celica online communities.  I've got my 87 4Runner SR-5 (22RE) ready to go under the knife for some serious work to make it both a highway cruiser (Hey, gotta drive to the rockies before you can drive IN the rockies) and offroader.  Going with the larger tire sizes while retaining the dependable 22RE means robbing me of both street and some trail performance.  I'd like to know if I can setup a Marlin to dual-range me in both 4WD and 2WD, so I can have an "Around town" gearing as well as using the factory gears for highway.

New England may seem like a trail-friendly area, but it isn't. At best I would need to take a 5 hour ride to Maine to get to use some trails, or over in New York to camp out in some of theirs.

So my Marlin Challenge:  Dual range BEFORE the factory dual range, so I can use it in both 2WD and 4WD.

-> Steve
1987 4Runner
1981 Celica GTA

[84runner]

Welcome to the baord newbie  you can always decide what size tires you want to run and complement them with some gears in the axles  but I realize this don't answer your question. But Marlin is coming out with a rear disconect transfer case so you can use you low range with out using 4 wheel drive and have your choice of front or rear drive with just one case.  This most likely will not give you your gear range you are looking for though. So putting a Marlin Cralwer box in and using it the same way without the front or rear drive selection as the rear disconnect is probably not an option either 

[Celerity]

What I have envisioned is difficult to describe, but I think I can flow-chart it for  us geeks:

Right now, I have to really drag on the clutch for a forward movement in 1st gear on the road (2WD). But, at the same time, my highway cruising RPM is perfect. All is good but 1st gear.

I've considered a custom cut 1st gear, But I would need to constantly take it higher in RPMs to match for 2nd.

Finally, I don't do rock crawling. I do trail travel, hill climbing, and lots of low-speed navigation on mountain cliffs. I am keeping my IFS, and since part of the design calls for a roof height, I'm not too willing to raise the body.

So here is my dream:

5 2WD gears available on the highway. This is the stock 2WD hi gearing.
5 2WD gears available for backroads.  I travel the speed limit, but I don't want to do higher than 3000 rpm at 45 mph in 5th. Just something geared lower for city / town travelling.
5 4WD gears for highway use. Town-town and interstate travel in snow conditions.
5 4WD low gears for mountain access roads and trails.

The design of the truck is to go absolutely anywhere, at anytime, in any condition. That also includes being loaded in a shipping container due for Iceland, Africa etc. Also, the "Final Challenge" will be traverse the Rockies from Canon City to Denver without refueling (Of course, jerry cans on the back).  So basically, a week deep in the mountains.  Choosing the right gearing for the trip is essential for my plans.

I am looking through the catalog, and I think that a dual range low box, as well as a twin-stick mod may be just what I need.  Also, I get more levers and switches..  <grunt> <Grunt>

-> Steve

[84runner]

Well if your biggest problem is 1st gear than maybe a R series tranny might be what you need. I believe they have a lower first gear and you can get those out from behind a toyota V-6 and all you have to do is change the bell housing so it will bolt up to your 22R 

[Celerity]

Can Marlin provide an extra-low 4WD, as well use a twin stick ?  I think that's exactly what I need.

I took the Runner off to New York today (Adirondacks) to go hiking. Since offroading is illegal in most of NY too (IE: didn't immediately find a trail) I was in 2WD all day. But doing the backroads of twisty mountain passes was a total PIA. The twin stick would cover that. I didn't top 45 mph today, which I think the 4WD (Soon to be 2WD) low would do fine in.  Problem is, when I get the on the trail and find even steeper grades to conquer, the truck may not be up to par.

-> Steve

[WHITE_TRASH]

Yep the twinstick will get you 2 low as an option.  It seems almost tailor made for what you want.