I have been looking around the site for about three weeks, but I finally have a reason to post.

I am in the market for a four door Unlimited. I would like to get a Rubicon, but they are getting kinda scarce around here. Our local dealer (whom I have a good relationship with) has two Saharas and an X and they could get me a Rubicon.

Anyways, I am currently driving a Jetta wagon with a 2.0 automatic. IT IS A DOG, but it gets good gas mileage. We moved out to the country and with all of the snow we have gotten this winter I have a good bargaining chip with the better half. I intend to take full advantage.

If I get a 2.5" lift and 35's (to get through the snow better!) how bad would the stock gears be compared to my Jetta?

I realize that it would depend if I got the 4.10 the 3.7X or the 3.2X gears, but has anyone gone from a four-banger to the Jeep? How bad is it really? I gotta think even the minivan motor would be at least equal to the Jetta with the bigger tires.

Thanks
Jared

 

I can tell you that I put 33's on my X w/ 3.73 gears and it's a big enough dog to where I will not put 35's on unless i regear. If you get the rubi w/ 4.10's and 35's it is probably = to the 3.73 w/ 33's JM .02

 

I've got 33s with 3.21 and 6th gear is no good unless above 65MPH. If I'm on cruise control at 60 on 6th, there is no way I'm passing anyone by just pressing the accelerator. Definitely need to downshift to 5th. I'm DEFINITELY going to regear. Hopefully by the time funds allow, Superior will come out with ther 4.56 kits for the JK. But other than that, cruising around town, feels damn near the same.

 

Regear, its worth the money. 35's and 3.73's suck really bad. Mine is a dog and gets bad gas mileage. My 4.88's are supposed to be in this week. According to gear/tire charts I should be putting 4.56's in it for the best fuel economy and accelleration ration but they aren't available yet.

 

Either regear with 35s or go with 33s. These things are a lot more capable with stock tires than you might think.

 

I have a Rubicon and hence 4.10s.

I put on 35s and yes I see a difference, but not that bad.

I also have a manual transmission so maybe it is easier for me to deal with. When I'm in 6th and see a big hill coming, I just down shift to 4th and then all set. I'm getting 17+ mpg. This is with reset speedo via reset too. I just shift from 1 2 3 4 6, trying to get to low rpms asap.

Off-road it doesn't matter cause you've got low range.

Just my experience.

Blue Mesa

 

I have a Rubi with 4.10's and it feels like a dog with stock tires. 33's are the largest I'd go on any JK without regearing.

If you can't afford gears, then you probably shouldn't dream of 35's.

Thank god I don't have to daily drive a JK.....

 

I've got a Rubi with stock gears and 35's. I don't think it's bad at all. I just took it on its first road trip, and it was fine on the highway. I have automatic transmission.

My first car was a Jetta, and I swore I would never again buy a 4-cylinder vehicle. Anyway, I know what a dog a Jetta is, and the Jeep is definitely better, even with 35's and stock gears. Gas mileage is a different story.

 

I have an X, but got the 4.11 gears with it. I run 33's and it runs great. I know other that have same gears and run 35's and you mainly lose that get up and go feeling on the freeway but it's liveable. Go to the dealer and get a VIN report from the parts counter and you'll know what your gears are without having to open the diffs to verify. I didn't have a sticker to go by on mine and the axle tags said I had 3.21's. I've also verified by opening my diffs that they were the 4.11's.

should be fine on 4.11's and up, but anything less and you'll probably hate it without the regear.

 

411 gears are not tall enough for 35'' tires. I say this because I am currently dealing with this problem and the problem is the auto trans constantly looking for gears at highway speeds. I have installed an AFE intake and a custom made Borla exhaust system. And my finale mod in an attempt to solve the problem is a Hypertech Max Energy module which I will be receiving tomorrow. I believe all of these things combined will take care of this at a cost of half what new gears would be . I already have a lot more power and the down shifting is 90% better. I might also add that, narrow tires go through snow better than bigger,wider tires. Lived in Alaska for 17 years.