Test drove a 2013 Rubicon with 4.10s. My impression was quite a difference in power from my 2008, plus overall some nice refinements. Just curious if anyone is running 35s with stock 4.10s? How does it do on hills, I live in Sacramento, so always going into the Sierras. Have you towed anything with this combination? I have a 2000 lb trailer that I tow frequently, would I need to regear. Thanks

 

You probably will get a bunch of different answers but my answer would be yes you need to regear. The biggest issue I found after starting and working on my build up was weight and windage. If you left everything else stock, slapped on some 35s under flat fenders and did nothing else you would probably be fine with the stock gears. But if you are like a bunch of us you will toss on a lift, add bumpers, winch, skids, armor, a rack maybe, and before you know it you will be quickly approaching 6000 pounds and added a bunch of wind drag in the process. By that point you wont be very happy at all with the stock gears.

 

I'm running 35s with 4.10s and it does fine. I also have front and rear bumpers, winch, lift, skids; pretty much loaded up. I have towed an enclosed trailer through the hills and its not enjoyable. This motor likes to rev and will not hesitate to jump to 6000 rpm.

I see no need to re-gear because I took the re-gear money and bought a cheap Suburban for tow duty.

 

I have that setup with bumpers and winch plus a few other things. I tow about 2k up medium grades and its not the end of the world but as the guy above me stated, sometimes you will hit high rpm's. I have 6mt so I control when I think it's needs to downshift but I wouldn't say it's useless as a light duty towing rig.

 

I've been fine with it driving to MD - MI and no towing. But if you are talking about real mountains, talk to some CO folks.

 

Yea, I have a fairly well built 2008 with ARB front bumper, expediton 1 rear bumper, Pure jeep 1 sliders, and Gobi stealth rack currently on 5.13s. I would swap everything except the sliders to a new vehicle. I probably have the most important mod which is the "pink slip" and have had that for for the last 2 years. Is the power and towing on the pentastar worth the move?. Hawk I see you have had two of the 3.8 JKs... what do you think? Not really interested in doing a Hemi or Ls.

 

There is soooo much info on this topic, it's crazy. If you'd check a gearing chart you'd see your set up is in the green so go for it

 

Gearing charts are okay, but don't necessarily take into account real life experience. I have 5.13s with a 3.8 (green in the chart or maybe performace can't remember) and towed a pop-up trailer from California to MOAB in a head wind last year, not the best of expreinces. Not many posts regarding towing with a 3.8 vs 3.6 with 35s. Just looking for real world experience.

 

I'd go 4.56 if planning to tow often. Otherwise, I'd just limit the trans to 4th or even 3rd as needed.

 

I have the two door bumpers skids and its not bad but i have the six speed stick