Tire and gearing question: 2005 TJ Sport

[Ducati2]

I’m still new to jeeps so bear with me.. I’ve purchased a 2005 TJ set up for rock crawling, but now need to start flat towing it a good deal. It has a 3 1/2” Rusty’s long arm lift kit with 33/12.50/15 cepek trail country tires.
Front differential = Detroit front locker DETROIT LOCKER-TRACTECH 912A585 Detroit Truetrac - Dana 30 27-Spline
Rear differential = Dana 44 positraction, New 3.73 gears in rear 44 differential
NOW for the question- if I go to a 31/10.50/15 narrower tire for easier towing, will I mess with this gearing set up since it is also shorter? Will it look stupid w the 3 1/2” lift?

 

[bbaldwin237]

Tire height is really the only dimension that matters for hearing. That's in theory and not accounting for increased weight and effort required to turn that weight. But 3.73's are a stock gear ratio found in many models that came with 29-30" tires. They are more appropriate for a 31 than a 33 anyway.

 

[Ducati2]

Tire height is really the only dimension that matters for hearing. That's in theory and not accounting for increased weight and effort required to turn that weight. But 3.73's are a stock gear ratio found in many models that came with 29-30" tires. They are more appropriate for a 31 than a 33 anyway.

Thanks for the quick input bbaldwin

 

[KennethS]

Rock crawling on 31s sounds like a mis-match to me.
But 31s and 3.73 gears is a better combo than 33s and 3.73 gears.

 

[Ducati2]

Any other thoughts?

 

[Ducati2]

Rock crawling on 31s sounds like a mis-match to me.
But 31s and 3.73 gears is a better combo than 33s and 3.73 gears.

Previous owner was crawling with 35s, but put on the 33s before I bought it.

 

[KennethS]

I guess I don’t really understand why the narrower tire would be easier to tow.


Edit: Dang, 35s and 3.73 tires? I stall with 32s and 3.73 gears - I really need lower gears. Can’t imagine trying to climb an obstacle with 35s.

Have you considered narrower 33s? I see 33x10.50 available from many manufacturers.

 

[jjvw]

Rock crawling on 31s sounds like a mis-match to me.
....

Gatekeeper.

....
But 31s and 3.73 gears is a better combo than 33s and 3.73 gears.

The Rubicon came from the factory with 31" tires and 410 gears, which still wasn't deep enough for the automatic.

 

[Rickyd]

A lift kit doesn't mean it is a "rock crawler" the previous owner did some things that highly compromised the jeep. None of those mods should be taken into account moving forward.

3.73 and 35's is a good way to overheat and destroy a 4 speed auto. Rusty's has a rep for being sub standard quality. The jeep has limited slips,not lockers. It was thrown together as cheaply as possible to fit big tires.

To your title question- what are you going to do with it? Hard trails?cruising?Do you want to spend money to regear?

31's fit on a stock tj. It is your preference on whether they look funny at 3.5" lift. maybe you can scrounge up some old 31s on wheels to put on for 5 min and look at.

The trouble with long arm kits is many of your stock suspension brackets get cut off. To lower your jeep and have a standard style suspension you would need a competent offroad fab shop weld new brackets on.

If it was mine I would regear to something like 4.88,leave 33s and start trying to replace rusty's parts with rockjock,jks or other quality pieces as the rusty's fail.

 

[Ducati2]

I guess I don’t really understand why the narrower tire would be easier to tow.


Edit: Dang, 35s and 3.73 tires? I stall with 32s and 3.73 gears - I really need lower gears. Can’t imagine trying to climb an obstacle with 35s.

Have you considered narrower 33s? I see 33x10.50 available from many manufacturers.

yes I know about the 33/10.50/15, but hoping someone wants to trade for my 12.50, as money is tight.

 

[lBasket]

Edit: Dang, 35s and 3.73 tires? I stall with 32s and 3.73 gears - I really need lower gears. Can’t imagine trying to climb an obstacle with 35s.

Skill issue

 

[Ducati2]

A lift kit doesn't mean it is a "rock crawler" the previous owner did some things that highly compromised the jeep. None of those mods should be taken into account moving forward.

3.73 and 35's is a good way to overheat and destroy a 4 speed auto. Rusty's has a rep for being sub standard quality. The jeep has limited slips,not lockers. It was thrown together as cheaply as possible to fit big tires.

To your title question- what are you going to do with it? Hard trails?cruising?Do you want to spend money to regear?

31's fit on a stock tj. It is your preference on whether they look funny at 3.5" lift. maybe you can scrounge up some old 31s on wheels to put on for 5 min and look at.

The trouble with long arm kits is many of your stock suspension brackets get cut off. To lower your jeep and have a standard style suspension you would need a competent offroad fab shop weld new brackets on.

If it was mine I would regear to something like 4.88,leave 33s and start trying to replace rusty's parts with rockjock,jks or other quality pieces as the rusty's fail.

Sounds like I do need to go to 31s, I sure don’t want to blow my automatic transmission. The previous owner told me it was a ‘rock crawler’. I know little about jeeps. There is however many pounds of undercarriage protection.

 

[Ashim]

For now you can just turn off the overdrive.

 

[KennethS]

Skill issue

Oh definitely. And the ability to work a clutch on an obstacle. AIST is critical. I’ve been able to restart (clutch interlock bypassed) and continue, but stalling where others have not can be daunting. I accept my inadequacies and strive to learn from my experiences.

 

[lBasket]

Oh definitely. And the ability to work a clutch on an obstacle. AIST is critical. I’ve been able to restart (clutch interlock bypassed) and continue, but stalling where others have not can be daunting. I accept my inadequacies and strive to learn from my experiences.

Hell yeah.

My best advice would be to not be afraid to slip the clutch, they can take a whole lot of abuse IME. That and don't let it get to your head it happens to all of us sometimes!

 

[KennethS]

Yep, I’ve seen folks incorrectly go WOT under a sticky situation when they should have been gingerly applying throttle, so I have learned from the mistakes of others. But I have realized that rock crawling with a manual transmission is not as easy as with an automatic transmission. It takes a bit more attention, just as it does with open axles versus lockers.

 

[lBasket]

Yep, I’ve seen folks incorrectly go WOT under a sticky situation when they should have been gingerly applying throttle, so I have learned from the mistakes of others. But I have realized that rock crawling with a manual transmission is not as easy as with an automatic transmission. It takes a bit more attention, just as it does with open axles versus lockers.

More gas less clutch, less gas more clutch... They can both do the same thing!!

Don't let those steering wheel holders convince you you can't do whatever you want with a manual