jeep TJ gearing question

[FINOCJ]

Hey all - got a friend with a TJ Rubicon. Its has been his DD, so it is set-up with a mild OME lift and something in the ballpark of 32-33's (p-metic version). He recently pick-up a full size truck for his DD and work, and was thinking of building the TJ up a bit more and could always tow it to farther away places such as Moab. For those of you with a TJ, what gearing seems to work well with 35s? I believe his current OEM TJ Rubi (I6 4.0 of course) came with 4.10s and a 4:1 TC. Maybe a long arm lift to clear the 35s and allow for good flex, and drop the gearing to something like 4.56?

[newracer]

Auto or manual?

[FINOCJ]

https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipPZSFk8ViFvSsJmBkktfSNf8qfnmYSgaUrsR18DIts definitely a manual - I believe its the 5 speed (which actually has a lower 1st than the 6speed manual?). Here is a pic of it currently:
https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipPZSFk8ViFvSsJmBkktfSNf8qfnmYSgaUrsR18D

[newracer]

4.56 would be good but I'd consider 4.88 if it is going to be mostly a trail rig.

[Java]

https://www.quadratec.com/jeep_knowledgebase/article-43.htm

The six speed is, IMO, the best manual Jeep ever used. It's made by Mercedes Benz in Brazil and is used in a lot of light trucks and IIRC the crossfire and some other cars. The first 4 gears are underdrive, 5th is 1 to 1, and 6th is overdrive. Having said that, it doesn't really matter which one he has, all the TJ manuals are great and a lot of stock Rubicons run 35s. I'd go up in tire size first and try it if I was him, and if I did change, I think 4:10 to 4:56 is going to be a bit underwhelming, I'd go 4:88 or 5:13.

That's a really nice TJR. :thumb:

[alanmikkelsen]

I'm 4:56 on 35's good daily driver manners, too. 4" SL, 2" BL. 5 sp. manual. I'm not sure there's that much difference between 4:56 and 4:88. If I were to change anything, I'd add a crawler. But with my hand throttle, I can pretty much ease over anything...

[dieseldoc]

4.88 for the real good deep gearing!

[jayson44]

4.88 is what I had in mine, i6, manual (but the 5-speed), and 35s. he could definitely get away with 4.56 since he has the 4:1 tcase. I didn't and the 4.88s were perfect off road. on the road they were good, but I couldn't push higher than 70 very well. so if he still wants to drive it to Moab and back, maybe 4.56 is best. if he's trailering all the time and just cruising around town, then 4.88s or 5.13.

J.

[Brian]

I've got 35's/auto/4.88's. I like the way it works.

[alanmikkelsen]

FWIW, with the 5sp, 4:56, 35's, at 70 mph, it runs 2500 rpm's.

[FINOCJ]

Thanks for the feedback....I would guess going through the trouble of a regear starting from 4.10s, it would be worth going all the way to 4.88s or similar.