What's your experience with your autos and gears?? Have 35s on Rubicon need your input...

 

what's your normal driving? freeway, trails, towing?

I drive mostly freeway, around town, long trips and occasionally tow a 5x8 trailer. I have 4.88's and 35's. I like to be able to lock out the OD and use 3rd when needed.

I like the 4.88's good mileage, good on the freeway and plenty of pull for trailer. OD doesn't shift down and I can still lock out OD for trailer towing when needed on the flats.

on long climbs like I-70 through Colorado, I don't like the high RPMs' when locking out OD. I can still hold 65mph with 4.88's but when it was all stock I was able to hold 65 and keep reasonable RPMs'.

I'm considering 37" tires to get back closer to stock, it should still get good mileage, I'll be able to lock out OD when I need to and keep RPMs' low.

You'll have many recommend 5.13's or 5.38's and if you trail mostly they will give you more on the low end but you'll sacrifice freeway speeds - yes you can still go 75 but your RPM's will climb fast and you won't be able to lock out OD without slowing down.

IMO it's a 3 speed with OD not a true 4 speed, if you refer to the chart I'm sure someone will post, divide the given RPMs' by .69 to get your 3rd gear (OD lockout) RPMs'

I'm glad I didn't get 5.13's, for my driving it wouldv'e been a big chunk of change in the toilet...

 

It's my DD. I live in the ozark mountains so I get a variety of mountains with some interstate driving. Just kind of bored with shifting od off. But don't want to be dissappointed with gear purchase.

 

IF you even have the littlest thought that you may one day go 37's I would go 5.38's. Actually I really enjoyed my JK with 35's and 5.38's. THink of it this way, go 5.38's, drive it a while and if it's just to low for you (which I doubt) then you can step up to a 37 and it will bring your RPM back down a bit. But I'm tellin ya, and I am from southern IL. and I have ventured in the Ozarks a lot and you will really like the 5.38's.

 

Go 5.13 on 35s on Auto trans. Had this on my 09 Rubicon before going to 37s and 5.38. Almost identical RPM ranges for the two different tire sizes.

 

So the 5:13s in the mountains there were good on 35s? No locking out the od or crazy downshifting through the hills and or wind?

 

Thoughts on optimal gears for 33's and an auto trans for someone who needs highway mpg? Do I want to be turning 4450 RPMs while cruising or 2600ish?

 

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question about auto / gears.

I am planning to regear eventully, but have not had the funds recently. Currently I am running 35's on stock X unlimited gears (I believed they are 4.10's) Is this bad for the trasmission? Can anything go wrong due to not re-gearing?