EXACTLY WHAT I"VE ALWAYS SAID.
as for crawling....
I have a TJR and hate 4LO, 4:1 thru 4.10s is way too low for anything but rock crawling.
Are 33's bad for 3.07 gears?
- Thread starter PWest08
- Start date
as for crawling....
I have a TJR and hate 4LO, 4:1 thru 4.10s is way too low for anything but rock crawling.
Yes, but that is different on the highway. Why would you want a terribly high first gear and no use of 5th on the highway? I would much rather have:
1) all gears on the street that work well
2) 55 mph forest service road performance
3) crawl performance
A properly geared jeep has all of those. A Jeep with 3.07 and 33's has one of those. You should think for a few minutes about gearing recommendations. I know you've been told this many times and simply don't care, but yours make absolutely 0 sense.
Something I appreciate about my allegedly too low gearing is that I get to use the entire transmission. I still shift out of OD, but not nearly as often as I used to when I was constantly working the shifter to keep the Jeep moving on the highway at a reasonable pace.
Honestly, quite true, 3.07s 33s is a bit high but if you have 3.07s 33s, it is not the end of the world, nor is it hard on the driveline, I sold mine YJ with 300K miles on it 8 years ago, drove it for 10 years with no issues.
I'd never regear to 3.07s.
The bigger issue with gearing, and one seldom mentioned on Wrangler forums is lift in first gear. Way more important than cruising at 3000rpm is how does it start from a stop in first gear. 3.07s, 33s is right on the border line of having enough lift from a stop. Off road I always was in 4LO.
Last edited:
But can you imagine a world where you could use all 5 gears on the highway, tear around forest service roads in 4hi, and then have a legitimate crawl ratio if you ever needed it? That'd be quite the place. Too bad we are stuck with only using 4 gears on the road and going 55 mph in 4lo!
xxdabroxx
TJ Addict
I only use 4 gears on the road.
Unless the stop sign is on a really steep hill or I'm loaded down with people and gear.
Isn't it bad to use 5th in 4Lo? Since 5th is the weakest part of your trans, not saying that the majority of us would actually break the transmission, Because most of us are NOT doing hardcore offroad trails. Just what I've always heard anyways, I have no proof to back this claim.
From what I've heard, yes, it is too much torque for the overdrive gear to handle.
But in my head, I don't understand how the transmission would see any different load than it would when in high range. The torque gets multiplied downstream of the transmission, so I don't understand why it would make a difference.
With older Dodge diesels, you're not supposed to shift into 5th when towing heavy loads. This makes sense because the engine is forced to put more power through the transmission to keep the trailer moving when compared to not towing anything. But I don't think the same applies to gearing...
Certain things are neither problematic nor desirable until they become problematic or desirable. And the doesn't happen until you are put into a context where these things start to matter. And then you need to recognize what is going on.
I use 5th/OD quite often to move through a trail in 4 low. I don't crawl with it because that doesn't make sense when I need the torque instead. I can also say that since the regear, I can and do use 4H more often off road than in the past. That's another example of how the regear broadened the usability of the transmission.
OP, I think you are making a good decision to wait. Plug the numbers into the good ole GrimmJeeper calculator and see how it affects things.
http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
Math says otherwise, LOL. Now, if you meant looks only between these sizes, I would agree! Going from worn 32's to new 33's could and would probably be over a 1" in diameter increase, depending on which tires you choose. With the 3.07, he will surely notice. Might not bother some since it looks good, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it for a year or longer like he said, unless he needs a tad bit more clearance under the pumpkins immediately for whatever reason.
IMHO, 32's are underrated. If we leaned towards performance as much as we do looks, more folks would be running 32's or 31's, especially when they aren't properly re-geared or lifted properly. I just don't need the minor clearance benefit for what I use my TJ for. I have 3.73 gearing with a 6 speed manual and I am staying on 32 x 11.5 on a 2" lift (yielded 2.5"). Looks great IMO. Heavier 33's would have also meant more wear and tear on the front end over time and less stopping distance...unless you upgrade the brakes too. I did the more conservative approach, I went with lighter 15" rims, 32's, and a two inch lift. I do a lot of city driving and about 5-10% highway driving in my TJ. About 1% is offroad that requires no more clearance than stock. I am still very glad I didn't throw on 33's without re-gearing. In the future I may rethink it depending on how I use the TJ, but re-gearing and lifting it higher will cost me a lot more money than I want to sink into my TJ project to do it properly (higher lift, SYE/rear DS/adj arms, re-gear, bigger brakes etc.). I don't plan to sell my TJ, but if I had to sell today for some reason, I wouldn't likely get any of that money back. Just something for folks to think about...
http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
Math says otherwise, LOL. Now, if you meant looks only between these sizes, I would agree! Going from worn 32's to new 33's could and would probably be over a 1" in diameter increase, depending on which tires you choose. With the 3.07, he will surely notice. Might not bother some since it looks good, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it for a year or longer like he said, unless he needs a tad bit more clearance under the pumpkins immediately for whatever reason.
IMHO, 32's are underrated. If we leaned towards performance as much as we do looks, more folks would be running 32's or 31's, especially when they aren't properly re-geared or lifted properly. I just don't need the minor clearance benefit for what I use my TJ for. I have 3.73 gearing with a 6 speed manual and I am staying on 32 x 11.5 on a 2" lift (yielded 2.5"). Looks great IMO. Heavier 33's would have also meant more wear and tear on the front end over time and less stopping distance...unless you upgrade the brakes too. I did the more conservative approach, I went with lighter 15" rims, 32's, and a two inch lift. I do a lot of city driving and about 5-10% highway driving in my TJ. About 1% is offroad that requires no more clearance than stock. I am still very glad I didn't throw on 33's without re-gearing. In the future I may rethink it depending on how I use the TJ, but re-gearing and lifting it higher will cost me a lot more money than I want to sink into my TJ project to do it properly (higher lift, SYE/rear DS/adj arms, re-gear, bigger brakes etc.). I don't plan to sell my TJ, but if I had to sell today for some reason, I wouldn't likely get any of that money back. Just something for folks to think about...
Actually, the 5K rpm rev limit in 4LO with 33s and 3.07s in a Sport is over 70mph. God it is great on a gravel road, reminds me of rally driving a 240Z 45 years ago..... But a bit wilder.
From my understanding, if we are going up in tire size we are gaining in height and width. So going from 32 to 33 is not a simple 1 inch in gain.
My 2006 with 6sp has 3.07. When purchased, it had 285/75 mud tires (roughly 33's).
In less than a month i went down to 265/70 all terrains (roughly 32's), and difference in performance was very noticeable.
My 2006 with 6sp has 3.07. When purchased, it had 285/75 mud tires (roughly 33's).
In less than a month i went down to 265/70 all terrains (roughly 32's), and difference in performance was very noticeable.
Considering how under-geared you are, it might be possible to go faster in 4lo than in 2wd. You never have to shift the transfer case! Just drive to the trail in 4lo. That is definitely an advantage I never thought of. You're starting to shift my view here.
I have a TJ with 3.07 gear ratio and have been running 33" tyres for two years.
I often hear people say that you lose power with 33's / 3.07.
That hasn't been my experience.
I am not an engineer, so I can't give an explanation, but when I got my 33's fitted I immediately noticed a slight increase in power, which seems to be the opposite to everybody elses experience. Whatever the reason, I'm more than happy with the outcome. Any ideas?
You're in New Zealand, so everything works backwards.
Chris
Since doing a re-gear is for most a one time and done, this is not something most can do themselves and is not a cheap mod.
I am not sure if somewhere on the forum there is a chart that would show something like this type of chart.
A 4.0 w/ 3.07' would give you a similar feeling as running 29" tire's with 5:13' or 30" on 4:88's. I sure this does not make any sense at all.
Anyway something a jeep owner could buy cheap or borrow a set of certain tire size that could simulate the feeling of what the power would feel like on different tires sizes. Not saying that they would need a set of 30's, 31's, 32's etc. but even if they had the orig. tires and a second tire size it could give them the feeling of the power difference. Not the height or drive ability just the feel for power.
Tell me if I F'd in the head for even thinking this
Since doing a re-gear is for most a one time and done, this is not something most can do themselves and is not a cheap mod.
I am not sure if somewhere on the forum there is a chart that would show something like this type of chart.
A 4.0 w/ 3.07' would give you a similar feeling as running 29" tire's with 5:13' or 30" on 4:88's. I sure this does not make any sense at all.
Anyway something a jeep owner could buy cheap or borrow a set of certain tire size that could simulate the feeling of what the power would feel like on different tires sizes. Not saying that they would need a set of 30's, 31's, 32's etc. but even if they had the orig. tires and a second tire size it could give them the feeling of the power difference. Not the height or drive ability just the feel for power.
Tell me if I F'd in the head for even thinking this
FWIW I'm running 3.07 ratios on 33's (4.0l with 6 speed). On-road its ok if I stay in 4th changing up to 5th on flat freeways, 6th is a non-event. I'm even getting quite good economy out of the thing. Offroad it's still ok and totally usable but crap because I know what the same setup with 4.56's is like.
On the 32 to 33" step-up, it's quite the step with the 3.07's. I'd say 32's are quite usable but not great, 33's you really notice the upsize.
I have a set of 4.56 ratios and master install kits ready to go in, just need to organise lockers and fitting.
On the 32 to 33" step-up, it's quite the step with the 3.07's. I'd say 32's are quite usable but not great, 33's you really notice the upsize.
I have a set of 4.56 ratios and master install kits ready to go in, just need to organise lockers and fitting.