Towing and new gears
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Sechelt Canada
Towing and new gears
Morning
We are probably going to get a small travel trailer this year and tow with the JK.
We took one last summer for 2 weeks through the Rockies and all with no issues
other than a little slow up one of the long steep hills. ( I have changed to 33"
tires since then)
My question is this: Will changing from 410 gears to 488 make towing easier?
I don't want to tow more weight....just tow the 3200lbs or so better or easier on the vehicle .
Nightbat
We are probably going to get a small travel trailer this year and tow with the JK.
We took one last summer for 2 weeks through the Rockies and all with no issues
other than a little slow up one of the long steep hills. ( I have changed to 33"
tires since then)
My question is this: Will changing from 410 gears to 488 make towing easier?
I don't want to tow more weight....just tow the 3200lbs or so better or easier on the vehicle .
Nightbat
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Yes, it will make towing easier, and just make driving more enjoyable all around. (especially if you have an automatic) The only concern I have is my freeway rpm's, since I don't tow in O/D. (you don't either, right?)
Check the chart in the drivetrain faq to get an idea of what your rpm's will be. Use your actual measured tire height, not the mfg's 33" height.
This is for my auto with 5.13's and 295/75/16's (mfg's listed height 33.4" - actual height on vehicle 32")
MPH O/D off O/D on
60 - 3250 - 2200
65 - 3500 - 2400
70 - 3800 - 2600
Towing my 3500 lbs boat with O/D off has the rpm's a bit high. My solution is to get bigger tires to bring those numbers down...
Auto
Gear Ratios 3rd 1.0
Gear Ratios 4th 0.69
Manual
Gear Ratios 5th 1.00
Gear Ratios 6th 0.84
Check the chart in the drivetrain faq to get an idea of what your rpm's will be. Use your actual measured tire height, not the mfg's 33" height.
This is for my auto with 5.13's and 295/75/16's (mfg's listed height 33.4" - actual height on vehicle 32")
MPH O/D off O/D on
60 - 3250 - 2200
65 - 3500 - 2400
70 - 3800 - 2600
Towing my 3500 lbs boat with O/D off has the rpm's a bit high. My solution is to get bigger tires to bring those numbers down...
Auto
Gear Ratios 3rd 1.0
Gear Ratios 4th 0.69
Manual
Gear Ratios 5th 1.00
Gear Ratios 6th 0.84
Last edited by nthinuf; Dec 3, 2009 at 08:37 AM.
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 1
From: The San Andreas Fault
The 4.88s will raise your engine speed by a couple hundred RPM which will put into the power band.
At the very least it will help you tow in 1 gear higher when you are cruising.
Even when you are not towing you will enjoy driving your Jeep more, since it will reduce your shifting in those cases where you are going a bit to fast for a lower gear, but a bit too slow for next gear up.
At the very least it will help you tow in 1 gear higher when you are cruising.
Even when you are not towing you will enjoy driving your Jeep more, since it will reduce your shifting in those cases where you are going a bit to fast for a lower gear, but a bit too slow for next gear up.