Re-gear now, lockers later
- Thread starter lBasket
- Start date
I've read somewhere that if you are just changing carriers all you need to adjust is backlash so it matches the previously set up backlash. Not sure how true this is but it kinda makes sense since pinion depth is already set and not changing.
Check the marketplace for a rear axle already set up the way you want it…might get lucky.
I’m of the opinion that you should do it all at once, or not at all too. Figure it out. If it HAS to happen before Moab, get an intro offer on a credit card and pay it off before the interest gets jacked. For your use, a rear selectable and front lunchbox might be all you need, aside from the winter 4x4 issues. You also have a 4x4 truck you can drive those days too, Right?
Speaking from personal experience here, but I didn’t go low enough on gears (4.88 w/ an 42RLE auto). I know I need to change it, but I always have an excuse not to. Will you be in the same boat once you have the gears correct and need to tear it back apart for a full case locker?
I’m of the opinion that you should do it all at once, or not at all too. Figure it out. If it HAS to happen before Moab, get an intro offer on a credit card and pay it off before the interest gets jacked. For your use, a rear selectable and front lunchbox might be all you need, aside from the winter 4x4 issues. You also have a 4x4 truck you can drive those days too, Right?
Speaking from personal experience here, but I didn’t go low enough on gears (4.88 w/ an 42RLE auto). I know I need to change it, but I always have an excuse not to. Will you be in the same boat once you have the gears correct and need to tear it back apart for a full case locker?
I don't think I have ever seen a 30/35 with 5.13s for sale - they're all 4.56 and 4.88s at best it seems. Probably because 5.13s weren't available for as long maybe?
I "slip down the slope" very quickly when it comes to using a credit card on toys. Not something I'm very comfortable doing. Maybe if it was more "important" (nothing is stopping me from going as is for example). I just don't super trust myself on that front lol
Well at least in this case I don't need to worry - 5.13 is as deep as is available for the 30/35. So unless someone graces us with 5.38s I won't end up in that situation. Definitely something I've seen and want to avoid
This right here. and I think you might be correct as far as why.
Yep I'm the same. Tried it a few times too and got myself into trouble... Better to wait until you have the funds to do it.
Keep those fingers crossed... but I doubt it'll ever happen.
I've done stop gap repairs or mods before & yes it's cost me extra and sometimes was stupid for doing but I can't say I ever regretted doing any of them. So if someone is giving you or selling you a TruTrac for really cheap & you can only afford the gears & setup kits now prior to Moab I'd ask first when are you planning on the upgraded lockers? Is this a "THIS YEAR" mod but not until later like July or Aug or is this a mod that won't happen until 2026 or later?
If it's only until later this year then Yep I agree with everyone to wait and just do the mods when you have the fund to do it all at once.
If it's later than this year then as I said I'd do the TruTrac for now and then when you have the funds for the locker upgrade I'd do them.
But again I have been known to make poor choices before too.
Yeah. This will cost me a little bit of extra money and a lot of time to do it this way. But what does costing time even mean? Isn't it costing me time waiting for the "perfect" time too?
I will probably TRY to get a full locker between 2026 and TJ Fest but I may be less motivated and willing to put it off... I may be pretty content for the LSD for a year.
Also not really mentioned, I know I've been distracted by the MR2 for part of it but I have been "waiting" to do this for a long time already. But like I said, I'm ass at saving money so I always spent it on something that wasn't 6000$ lol.
Financial goals and project cars seem to be mortal enemies, bummer
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I’m not meaning about going deeper with gears, just once you have it regeared, are you going to get back in and change the locker, or just live with it? Be honest.
Well I suppose it depends on if I come across scenarios that make me want to upgrade it honestly. Haha.
I see what you're getting at though. I don't think I'm the type to just give up because I have to redo some work. If I'm happy enough with the setup to kick the can down the road that's one thing, but if I need/want a locker and have the money I don't think I'll balk at the labor. I'm only 30 for damns sake I can't be that lazy yet!!!
I agree that this is one and two of those fundamental things that should just be gotten out of the way early on.
Well. My plan was always
Gears/lockers/30spl axles
BBK
4" lift
35s
Now it's just more like.
Gears
Lockers/30spl axles
BBK
4" lift
35s
Financial constraints lol.
I know it's a big deal no doubting that. And I can save for it. BUT I can't have both done in May, short of charging thousands on my CC which I don't think is responsible for me.
The question isn't really IF I will do lockers, it is more if it is a horrible idea to do them separately since I don't want to wait forever for it. The lockers are like 4/5 the cost of "gears and lockers" after all.
Maybe some perspective will help, my student loan payment is like 1200$/mo and that is for 10 YEARS. So I really want to stay on budget and pay that off early because fuck that noise.
WV Native
TJ Enthusiast
In your list, what is going to give you the most bang for your buck in Moab? How much is just gears going to help you and your manual?
I will say, most people I talk to are on the 20y payoff plan lol. So my payment might sound relatively high to others you hear.
The obvious answer is probably that the locker will get me up the steep inclines i know I need a rear locker for. But on the other hand I don't know how likely it is for me try much new things with the same undergeared gearset and a locker too?
It's hard to explain how freaking tired I am of my 3.55 gearset though. Obviously I have never experienced a gear change but I am thinking I will get more general enjoyment for less money out of a gearset. Between the drive out and back and having more control on the trails in general.
@lBasket
Put a lunchbox locker up front and go to Moab.
When I put my lunchbox in my daughter got in the Jeep and I put it in 4L and let off the brake and she was like, “Dad, this thing is a beast!”
Put a lunchbox locker up front and go to Moab.
When I put my lunchbox in my daughter got in the Jeep and I put it in 4L and let off the brake and she was like, “Dad, this thing is a beast!”
I do have one of those already! So it'd be lunchbox up front, LSD in rear, and a crawl speed under 6mph
I do have one of those already! So it'd be lunchbox up front, LSD in rear, and a crawl speed under 6mph
You’d be fine with just the locker. All the gears are going to do is change your crawl ratio from 40:1 to 53:1. That is not very significant.
At 83:1 I still needed to slow down at times. So I said screw it and put in an auto.
I do have one of those already! So it'd be lunchbox up front, LSD in rear, and a crawl speed under 6mph
I'm still in the GO FOR IT camp.... Regear now & add the TruTrac since it's there already. Then save for the lockers you WANT & when you have them swap them out. Since you aren't lifting a tire on a lot of the trails that TruTrac in the rear will help IMO in Moab. If it was other places where you were lifting a tire a lot more I might not say this.
Not like we all have $10K just sitting in saving where we can just BLOW it on stuff.
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