What gear ratio and lockers should I go with?

[Godzilla 54]

I'm currently in the process of lining up parts for my 2004 TJ. IVE DONE THE 350- Turbo400 thing in my CJ5 years ago. Dana 44's front and back with 4:56 gears a Detroit locker in the rear and limited slip up front, on 35" Gumbo Monster Mudders. I drove it every day and it was a blast, but with today's costs of fuel and parts, I'm satisfied with my 4.0 (except for it being a gas hog), and an Automatic transmission. It's got a 4 in. Lift and 33's now from previous owner, and 3:73 gears open ends. I drive it daily. Staying with the 4.0 and automatic, what gears and locking devices are the best for my on/off road TJ ? The steering has been upgraded, but I'm putting a short arm kit on lowers and uppers front and rear, with bigger brakes. So, give me some suggestions please.

 

[06lj]

I'm currently in the process of lining up parts for my 2004 TJ. IVE DONE THE 350- Turbo400 thing in my CJ5 years ago. Dana 44's front and back with 4:56 gears a Detroit locker in the rear and limited slip up front, on 35" Gumbo Monster Mudders. I drove it every day and it was a blast, but with today's costs of fuel and parts, I'm satisfied with my 4.0 (except for it being a gas hog), and an Automatic transmission. It's got a 4 in. Lift and 33's now from previous owner, and 3:73 gears open ends. I drive it daily. Staying with the 4.0 and automatic, what gears and locking devices are the best for my on/off road TJ ? The steering has been upgraded, but I'm putting a short arm kit on lowers and uppers front and rear, with bigger brakes. So, give me some suggestions please.

Personally I'm going with 5.13's on my 4.0/42rle on 33's. I'd go even lower if I wasn't limited by the Dana 30.
You can use this calculator to look at different ratios and decide. http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
For daily driving I'd suggest selectable lockers. ARB or Eaton are the most popular choiced depending on if you want air or electric. An auto locker can be used in the front to save some $ if you don't use 4wd on the road especially in winter conditions.

 

[Chris]

See this thread for gear ratio recommendations:

What gear ratio should I install in my Jeep Wrangler TJ / LJ? (and other re-gearing FAQs)

 

[Godzilla 54]

Personally I'm going with 5.13's on my 4.0/42rle on 33's. I'd go even lower if I wasn't limited by the Dana 30.
You can use this calculator to look at different ratios and decide. http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
For daily driving I'd suggest selectable lockers. ARB or Eaton are the most popular choiced depending on if you want air or electric. An auto locker can be used in the front to save some $ if you don't use 4wd on the road especially in winter conditions.

Thanks for the info

 

[Mrholland]

@Godzilla 54 lockers?!?!?!? You trying to start a war


Welcome to the forum

 

[Godzilla 54]

@Godzilla 54 lockers?!?!?!? You trying to start a war


Welcome to the forum

No War, just pickin brains for the best answers to draw my final decision from. I value every opinion. War as in Battle of Whitt's, or I just Destroy Tokyo ? Lol

 

[Zorba]

In with "Ox" before the artillery starts firing!

 

[Godzilla 54]

@Godzilla 54 lockers?!?!?!? You trying to start a war


Welcome to the forum

Ty, sorry it took so long to respond, but I wasn't paying attention.

 

[Godzilla 54]

Thanks for the info

Thanks.

 

[tworley]

I wheel with a lot of folks who have ARBs, myself included. The only issues I've had in 6 years are two pressure switches failing, and a journal oring on the internal seal housing failed. The pressure switch kind of surprised me. I replaced with an Amazon unit that failed again within a year. I am back to the ARB pressure switch.

The oring--you'll hear no complaints from me on this as the seal housing and locker itself have been in/out of the axle many many times for regears and maintenance.

As for gearing--I went deep as I could. 5.13s. Loved it on the hwy as I had power throughout the entire speedometer range. Offroad, low gearing just rocks.

 

[NCunlimitedLJ]

513s for the win on 33s - never have to turn off o/d again.
Selectable locker of your choice for the rear, but hard to stomach investing the same in the front Dana 30. Any lunchbox will do there just fine and maintain good hwy behavior.

 

[Firstjeepbuild]

Personally I'm going with 5.13's on my 4.0/42rle on 33's. I'd go even lower if I wasn't limited by the Dana 30.
You can use this calculator to look at different ratios and decide. http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html
For daily driving I'd suggest selectable lockers. ARB or Eaton are the most popular choiced depending on if you want air or electric. An auto locker can be used in the front to save some $ if you don't use 4wd on the road especially in winter conditions.

I was thinking of putting in a manual locker in the fron due to cost. I am concerned about tj

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I was thinking of putting in a manual locker in the fron due to cost. I am concerned about tj

Manual (usually known as selectable) lockers are more expensive than automatic lockers. Are you in a part of "Washingington" (per your Profile) where you'd have to drive on icy roads or trails? If you're not, an automatic lunchbox locker is the least expensive type of locker you can install. If the roads or trails you drive on get icy, it's best to spend the extra $$$ and get a selectable locker like an Eaton E-Locker or ARB Air Locker.

 

[voodooridr]

Manual (usually known as selectable) lockers are more expensive than automatic lockers. Are you in a part of "Washingington" (per your Profile ) where you'd have to drive on icy roads or trails? If you're not, an automatic lunchbox locker is the least expensive type of locker you can install. If the roads or trails you drive on get icy, it's best to spend the extra $$$ and get a selectable locker like an Eaton E-Locker or ARB Air Locker.

That's a great answer to a question that's been nagging at me, since icy roads tried to spit me into a ditch several times over the winter.
Thanks Jerry

 

[Firstjeepbuild]

I am thinking about a manual locker in
The front of my Jeep and I have concern about winter driving in the snow and ice you say don’t do it. I assume this is because if I put the Jeep in 4 WD my rear axle will be locked in with its open differential and my front axle would be locked in with the manual locker making the front axle act substantially different than one than the rear axle. This would be dangerous on roads that have snow or ice.

 

[Firstjeepbuild]

Manual (usually known as selectable) lockers are more expensive than automatic lockers. Are you in a part of "Washingington" (per your Profile) where you'd have to drive on icy roads or trails? If you're not, an automatic lunchbox locker is the least expensive type of locker you can install. If the roads or trails you drive on get icy, it's best to spend the extra $$$ and get a selectable locker like an Eaton E-Locker or ARB Air Locker.

I am in eastern Washington and we get snow and ice occasionally for a month or 2 at a time.
Thank you

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I am in eastern Washington and we get snow and ice occasionally for a month or 2 at a time.
Thank you

That's the part of Washington I like, my oldest daughter graduated from CWU. For there I'd go strictly with a selectable locker. Or if you can get away without lockers on the trails you like, an Eaton Detroit Truetrac LSD would be a good choice.

 

[voodooridr]

@Jerry Bransford While we're on the subject of icy roads, I'm getting ready to order a set of AT's for winter, would I be better off getting 10.5's or 12.5's ??

 

[Jerry Bransford]

@Jerry Bransford While we're on the subject of icy roads, I'm getting ready to order a set of AT's for winter, would I be better off getting 10.5's or 12.5's ??

10.5. The wider the tire the more easily it can slide on ice and hydroplane on wet roads.