Good evening, this may be an old question. But to a new jeeper is all important. And I hope to get the gurus attention lol. I got a 2001 tj with a dana 30 in front and dana 44 in back. With 3.73 gears. A 4" lift and running 33's on wide rims. I'm looking to set it as a daily driver for local to and from work but also taking out to do some camping "freeway driving" and yes been in yuma AZ. I'm souronded by dunes, so yes some sand dunes jeeping is getting done. But I will not be doing any rock crawling or suvir trails or hard core off roading just light around the desert stuff. What is the best gear ratio for my jeep and do I need lockers? After i put in the lift and tires on the jeep feels Sluggish and I jump on the freeway and I'm at 2800 rpms to run 65. And my trannie does a hard low shift at times. Also is killing gas like it hates it lol. Thank for the help guys.
Looking for input on the right setup for my TJ
- Thread starter TuryV
- Start date
Jeep looks fantastic.
You need to regear and a transmission service may be due. I can't name the ratio for that model but @Jerry Bransford can.
Your bad ratio is creating a deep throttle position...the regear will improve that ...you'll notice it takes less pedal to get the job done.
Lockers are great if you want the best traction possible, at the same time a stock Jeep is agile and very capable. I can't say when lockers become mandatory...but there is a point ...I think you will find some opinions on that here.
One of me best friends lives where you do, I hope to visit there one day.
You need to regear and a transmission service may be due. I can't name the ratio for that model but @Jerry Bransford can.
Your bad ratio is creating a deep throttle position...the regear will improve that ...you'll notice it takes less pedal to get the job done.
Lockers are great if you want the best traction possible, at the same time a stock Jeep is agile and very capable. I can't say when lockers become mandatory...but there is a point ...I think you will find some opinions on that here.
One of me best friends lives where you do, I hope to visit there one day.
Much appreciated Andy. The jeep is coming along. I'm a long time reader but just recently joined when I got my tj. I look forward to get all your advice. Thank you sir.
Definitely work the crowd...we have some excellent people here that really know the vehicle. Don't accept bad performance with your TJ with this forum available.
I started with one that was really out of whack...it's extremely common, and a ton of posts later learned to improve, maintain and enjoy it.
I was in mine tonight...and I was like...I could pretty much drive this thing daily if suited my job (it doesn't , I'm a contractor and tow a a 7x14 enclosed trailer that is a shop on wheels)
Regearing was a big step for me, the cost and just the idea that I had to change something the vehicle was built around ....but honestly, I won't own one that isn't geared close to correctly...the 4.0 can't compensate for incorrect gearing like a big V8 can, and the 4.0 is a good little engine that's fun to drive on road and off when matched to the right gears. The difference is night and day.
Stay around.
With your setup, 4.0/32RH auto, and 33’s the most common recommendation is 4:10 gears, though some go deeper.
My ‘02 has the same engine/transmission and tires as yours, and I’m running 4:10’s. It seems to work well highway and off road.
It’s the recommendation I’ve seen Jerry Bransford give for our setup many times.
If you want to play with different gearings, you can go here: grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
That’ll give you an idea of rpm’s at different speeds with different gear ratios before you spend any money.
My ‘02 has the same engine/transmission and tires as yours, and I’m running 4:10’s. It seems to work well highway and off road.
It’s the recommendation I’ve seen Jerry Bransford give for our setup many times.
If you want to play with different gearings, you can go here: grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
That’ll give you an idea of rpm’s at different speeds with different gear ratios before you spend any money.
Darkwing327
TJ Enthusiast
I have the same diffs as you but running 31s so stayed with 3.73s. Can't remember the deepest gearing you can go on your carriers, but think somewhere around 4.88.
What I wanted to chime in with is on the lockers. I had my Jeep for a number of years and used it as a town runabout and a plow rig. Then a couple years ago, towed it behind the RV down to Moab and saw what others were doing. It was amazing. I didn't want to get caught out on what I thought looked like pretty hard trails being a 4wd newbie, so when we got home I put ARB lockers front and back, rock rails, etc, etc. THEN I finally took my Jeep offroad in the mountains around here. Well that opened my eyes to what these things are capable in STOCK format. They are incredible.
I certainly didn't need to do what I did to my TJ to take it where I want to go. I don't regret doing it, but the advice I would give you is this. Go wheeling with friends and see if you get hung up anywhere....especially in the sand. Then see if you need lockers or if a set of recovery boards would do. So far in two years I've only locked up twice...and only because I could...not necessarily sure if I needed to, but nice to have the option.
What I wanted to chime in with is on the lockers. I had my Jeep for a number of years and used it as a town runabout and a plow rig. Then a couple years ago, towed it behind the RV down to Moab and saw what others were doing. It was amazing. I didn't want to get caught out on what I thought looked like pretty hard trails being a 4wd newbie, so when we got home I put ARB lockers front and back, rock rails, etc, etc. THEN I finally took my Jeep offroad in the mountains around here. Well that opened my eyes to what these things are capable in STOCK format. They are incredible.
I certainly didn't need to do what I did to my TJ to take it where I want to go. I don't regret doing it, but the advice I would give you is this. Go wheeling with friends and see if you get hung up anywhere....especially in the sand. Then see if you need lockers or if a set of recovery boards would do. So far in two years I've only locked up twice...and only because I could...not necessarily sure if I needed to, but nice to have the option.
Another capability thing that needs to remembered, and this is basic...is simply lowering the tire pressure. It's like doubling the footprint or more while not changing the final drive.
It's not a substitute for a regear...but may be the answer for some trails rather than lockers.
It's not a substitute for a regear...but may be the answer for some trails rather than lockers.
TY.
Darkwing327
TJ Enthusiast
Yessir! If I were to start again, the list of most used items I have put on my TJ this far would be (at least for my current area of mountain wheeling)
1. Viair pump to lower tire pressures (does ARBs and tire pressures)
2. tera2low to cruise around in 2 wheel drive low range
3. hand throttle
4. no mod necessary to disconnect....or quick disconnects if you like
5. armor - diffs, steering, oil, rock rails
6. lockers
7. winch
Other than the chrome mirrors that is a very good looking Jeep.
Have you asked the owner of the red Jeep YJ(?) in that garage about what you should do? Even with what looks like chrome tailgate hinge and spare tire stop he may offer some advice.
Have you asked the owner of the red Jeep YJ(?) in that garage about what you should do? Even with what looks like chrome tailgate hinge and spare tire stop he may offer some advice.
Sand likes to suck traction. If you plan for a lot of road driving I would go with selectable lockers (if you can afford it) or a minimum of limited slip (not really a whole lot cheaper). Best to have this done with the re-gear. The diff is already pulled apart.
Either option would give you the best on road manners while greatly improving off road sand.
Now, I've never owned an auto trans, so bare that in mind when I say I would go more than 4.10 gears. I have an 06 with the 6 speed on 32's and 4.10's (Rubicon). Any bigger tire and I would want deeper gears. Does the auto trans help overcome that? I don't know, but unless you are looking at hours of 70 mph highway driving I'd lean towards 4.88's.
--just one guys opinion--
Either option would give you the best on road manners while greatly improving off road sand.
Now, I've never owned an auto trans, so bare that in mind when I say I would go more than 4.10 gears. I have an 06 with the 6 speed on 32's and 4.10's (Rubicon). Any bigger tire and I would want deeper gears. Does the auto trans help overcome that? I don't know, but unless you are looking at hours of 70 mph highway driving I'd lean towards 4.88's.
--just one guys opinion--
akajibio
TJ Enthusiast
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