4.88 or 5.13
#11
JK Newbie
I'll be going to 4.88's when I go to 37/38's, I was debating what to go to a lot as well as its 3 hrs to the closest trails, I also load up with a lot of gear and a trailer, but it is a DD to. It comes down to for me how is it being used more for and based my decision off that. Mine is a Rubicon with factory 3.73's and the auto, speeds of 70mph every day for 90 miles a day, its not even two years old yet and I have 50,000 miles already.
#12
JK Jedi
Since there are a couple towing comments here, I'll add this. I don't tow a lot, or haven't in the past, but I have now towed with both 5.13 and 4.88 on 37s and my 3.6L auto. It's pretty much the same, with a lot of downshifting into headwinds or even slight climbs. It's pretty aggravating in an auto as you're constantly forcing the tranny back to a higher gear after it downshifts. 5.13s don't solve this issue. Probably less aggravating with a manual tranny. For most people I'd suggest gearing for your most common normal driving. I dropped from 5.13s to 4.88 due to an axle swap rather than desire, but I actually like it a bit better for normal driving. That 100 or so rpm at the top end of interstate driving makes a difference to me.
#13
Super Moderator
Since there are a couple towing comments here, I'll add this. I don't tow a lot, or haven't in the past, but I have now towed with both 5.13 and 4.88 on 37s and my 3.6L auto. It's pretty much the same, with a lot of downshifting into headwinds or even slight climbs. It's pretty aggravating in an auto as you're constantly forcing the tranny back to a higher gear after it downshifts. 5.13s don't solve this issue. Probably less aggravating with a manual tranny. For most people I'd suggest gearing for your most common normal driving. I dropped from 5.13s to 4.88 due to an axle swap rather than desire, but I actually like it a bit better for normal driving. That 100 or so rpm at the top end of interstate driving makes a difference to me.
#14
JK Jedi
I have a manual and I don't tow so I have no idea what I'm talking about, but would there be a tuning solution for this? I had a tuner in an F150 (with the 3.5 ecoboost, it was AWESOME) and it adjusted the shift schedule as well as power delivery. I know they made a tow tune as well as performance, I kinda figure someone would have that option for changing ratios in a JK.
#15
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Since there are a couple towing comments here, I'll add this. I don't tow a lot, or haven't in the past, but I have now towed with both 5.13 and 4.88 on 37s and my 3.6L auto. It's pretty much the same, with a lot of downshifting into headwinds or even slight climbs. It's pretty aggravating in an auto as you're constantly forcing the tranny back to a higher gear after it downshifts. 5.13s don't solve this issue. Probably less aggravating with a manual tranny. For most people I'd suggest gearing for your most common normal driving. I dropped from 5.13s to 4.88 due to an axle swap rather than desire, but I actually like it a bit better for normal driving. That 100 or so rpm at the top end of interstate driving makes a difference to me.
Thanks for some input from someone that tows some. I would much rather go 4.88s. The Jeep already had 4.56s in when I bought it so it's not like I'm spending the money twice for a regear. I just want to make sure I make the right decision the first time I have to pay for it.
#16
JK Jedi
Thanks for some input from someone that tows some. I would much rather go 4.88s. The Jeep already had 4.56s in when I bought it so it's not like I'm spending the money twice for a regear. I just want to make sure I make the right decision the first time I have to pay for it.
#17
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
y, for you, the problem is just going to be the difference is so minor. I guess though, just like me moving down 100 rpm at the high end, you'll be moving up a modest amount and could be just as happy......it's just harder to justify the financial expenditure for such a small improvement. My situation for changing 1 gear set was unique.
Yeah I haven't decided exactly what I'm gonna do yet. I would really like to swap to a D60, but that will be down the road a ways. I have some other upgrade I need to knock out before hand.