So I was finally able to confirm that my 2000 Tracker 2dr., 5spd is equipped with 4.62 gears. I am planning to add a 2" - 2 1/2" lift and 235/75r/15 tires. My concern is loss of power. Let's face it...these little rigs are not big on HP and toque to begin with.

 So knowing the gear ratio, would 4.88 gears bring things back to where they should be with the larger tires? A lot of folks have recommended 5.12 gears, but that is with the assumption the truck had 4.88's to start with.

 My plan is to do a rear and front axel swap so I can add a ARB rear locker and new gears.

Thanks

I would put 5:12 gears in out of a 96 and newer Sidekick/Tracker with a 5 speed .

If I go with 5:12's what do you think the engine RPM's will be at hey speeds (65-75 mph)? Right is at 70mph I am at 3100rpm.
 I would not want to be 3500+ RPM for long trips.

I run 512 gears with 30" tires and my rpms are around 3000 or so. these little engines red line is 6500rpm. locker for the rear with 512 gears is easier to find without machining ring and pinion

My 4-door Tracker is equipped with a 5 speed tranny and came with the 4.62 gears from the factory.  I initially ran 235 series tires for a while with the 4.62 gears, but they were just too tall with a larger diameter tires, so I swapped out the 4.62 gears for a set of 4.88 gears from an automatic tranny equipped Tracker. 

I now run Cooper 30" tires and the 4.88 gears are perfect for this size tires and for 235s as well.  The 4.88 gear sets give me just a little more mechanical advantage than when I was running stock size tires.  When I checked my speedo against actual GPS indicated speed, I am now actually running 2MPH slower than indicated by the speedo. 

So... now I actually have a little acceleration in 5th gear and i can comfortably run 4th gear from around 35MPH all the way up to 65MPH if I want to.  I'm still able to achieve 24MPG on average out on the highway too.  I have a set of 5.12 gears for my truck, but seriously, it pulls so well now with the 4.88 gears I don't need them.  Plus, with trackers, when you go with more diff gear you also increase the mechanical advantage of your low range transfer case gearing so you get even more UMPH! when in low range.

5.12s are slight over kill for 30" or smaller tires UNLESS you are running some much heavier mud terrrain tires (that can pack-up with mud while off road and weigh another 50#s) or if you drive your truck off-road more than you drive it on the hard ball.  In either of the above cases, I think the extra mechanical advantage you would have from the 5.12 gears would come in very handy.

I'd say these 4.88 gears have added about 200RPMs now to any given speed I'm driving (over the 4.62 gears).  When I was running 235 series tires with the stock gears the actual GPS ground speed was about 2MPH faster than the speedo indicated.  Now the actual GPS ground speed is 2MPH slower than my speedo indicates.  This comes in handy when I'm driving through reduced speed zones (for me) cause I tend to have a bit of heavy foot on the pedal.

Thanks NP.....just the kind of info I was looking for.

For my use of the truck, I would prefer to maintain some on road manners. When I go on long outings, I am sometimes on the hwy for 2-4 hours. Having the motor revved up at higher RPM's for that length of time would worry me. I have just shy of 108k on it now and try and try not to rev it above 4K rpm.

 So hopefully in the next few months I will get the time (and money) to get the front and rear axles and gears swapped and the lift and bigger tires added. As well as the ARB rear locker. I was quoted around $5000.00 for everything. Kinda laughed at putting that kind of money into a 16 year old car worth only $3000-4000. But trying to replace it with something similar (Jeep) would run me way more. And I know the history and maintenance on the Tracker.

I have just shy of 108k on it now and try and try not to rev it above 4K rpm.
 Kinda laughed at putting that kind of money into a 16 year old car worth only $3000-4000. But trying to replace it with something similar (Jeep) would run me way more. And I know the history and maintenance on the Tracker.

Initially I had the very same thoughts about my Tracker, but came to the same conclusion.  They are good, reliable little trucks, they are fun to drive and you can't replace their capabilities for the amount of money you have in them and so you should get the utility out of the investment.  Especially if you keep it and drive it for many years. 

I've owned my present Tracker for over 8 years now.  I have never owned ONE vehicle for as long as I have owned this thing.  I've probably dumped over $5K into it over the years... but I still drive it frequently and I still enjoy driving it.  I never expected or intended to get back my investment dollars from all the modifications I've done to him.  I did them for me and for my enjoyment.

I paid 1900 for the ARB with install and 1500 for the thirds with install so if you do it all at the same time you should be able to shave another 3-400 off that. and 1800 was the total in labor out of the installs. Call Trail tough see what they would charge. I had off road warehouse do mine but I am in southern cal. I am thinking you are in norcal so he is not that far from you. and the price savings would more than cover a motel for a couple nights if you chose to drive the 400 miles to get there if its that far

The price quoted is for the following....installation, parts, etc. All work done my Trail Tough. I am only 2 1/2 hours from Medford:

2" TT lift kit
Replace axle/third member front and back with new gears
Install ARB locker in rear
New 235/75R/15's

 Quite a bit of work. I am ok with the cost. Just need to get the truck up there and drop it off.

Your truck will put a stupid grin on your face every time you drive it after you have those mods installed.  People will look at you strangely at stop lights because you will be smiling... for no apparent reason.  It's O.K. though.  It is a perfectly normal reaction.

Quote from: BigBamBoo on November 12, 2015, 07:15:19 AM

I have just shy of 108k on it now and try and try not to rev it above 4K rpm.
 Kinda laughed at putting that kind of money into a 16 year old car worth only $3000-4000. But trying to replace it with something similar (Jeep) would run me way more. And I know the history and maintenance on the Tracker.

Initially I had the very same thoughts about my Tracker, but came to the same conclusion.  They are good, reliable little trucks, they are fun to drive and you can't replace their capabilities for the amount of money you have in them and so you should get the utility out of the investment.  Especially if you keep it and drive it for many years. 

I've owned my present Tracker for over 8 years now.  I have never owned ONE vehicle for as long as I have owned this thing.  I've probably dumped over $5K into it over the years... but I still drive it frequently and I still enjoy driving it.  I never expected or intended to get back my investment dollars from all the modifications I've done to him.  I did them for me and for my enjoyment.

I agree.  I have sometimes questioned the money and effort I have put into my 1994 Sidekick but them I realize that it is still a hell of an offroad fun ride for the money. 
My stepfather gave me the truck about ten years ago.  Only about 5 years ago did I take an interest in for offroading.  Over the past two years I have done lots of rust repair, added a snorkel 3" lift, 30" mud tires, locker and just last week a winch.  Now it is a sweet little offroad rid that gets awesome gas mileage to boot. 
    All in all I have about $3000 in mods it plus regular maintenance items and lots of labor.  What could I possibly get for that.  A decent Jeep Rubicon 'would be over 10k easily guzzle nearly twice the gas.  I'm not a Jeep hater, I think they are great offroad vehicles but I still feel the Zuk is more reliable.  I lament the fact that these zuks are no longer manufactured.

What could I possibly get for that.  A decent Jeep Rubicon 'would be over 10k easily guzzle nearly twice the gas.  I'm not a Jeep hater, I think they are great offroad vehicles but I still feel the Zuk is more reliable.  I lament the fact that these zuks are no longer manufactured.
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That about sums it up!