aaronbtxnc

My truck is a 88 4.0 4x4 standard transmission, so assuming (I'll check before doing anything) it's still original I have the D35 with 3.07 gearing front and back. I have a parts truck that is automatic trans 4.0 4x4, and again assuming it's still stock the gearing in it is 3.55, right? Do I want to switch these out? I know I'd have to do front and rear. Would I have to swith any other parts out or just the "gear boxes". I'm pretty new to all this gear stuff obviously. What are the advantages/disadvantages either way, especially regarding mileage? Truck is primarily used for hauling firewood, mowers, mulch, helping friends move, etc. but will be counted on for delivering pizzas in the snow (albeit we don't get a lot around here, maybe 3 good snows a year). I want it to go anywhere I want to go in the snow. It will never be used for rock crawling/climbing, may see the occasional muddy back road with hills. I'm running 235-75-15's. If I'm looking to have to down shift less going up hills and get better mileage am I asking for the impossible?

Not sure since the post is gone now but I'd bet that's the one I picked up this past weekend, I was able to talk him down from the 7 to something that started with a 5 instead, got a bed liner, extra driver quarter panel, OEM manual (dind't have one of those). Front of frame is #^(#ed up, beige/white interior may be for sale on here in the classifieds shortly. Back half will be my trailer after a while. Just need some dry weather and time... By the way, rented a tow dolly and pulled it home (towards the mountains) with my '88, did fine til my driveway (it was wet) where I dropped in to 4 low to climb on up the hill. I got a pic on my wife's phone and will eventually get it in the "manches earning their keep" section.

I'm trying to put as little money into this as possible, I searched for old boat trailers on CL but the cheapest were about 300, noticed you got yours from a scrap yard, didn't think they'd have trailers there, I'll have to check on that. I don't have the equipment or knowledge to weld, not saying I wouldn't love to learn, but for this I'll have to pay someone else to do it. It's a kinda long term project, just got the parts truck this past weekend and haven't even started pulling parts yet so I've got some time to get a good plan together, which is why I was asking. Thanks for keeping me from screwing this up and\or wasting the money on the tow bar. By the way, do you know about what yours weighs? This may end up also being pulled by the wifes Suby.

So I got a parts truck for the tailgate and doors and am thinking of making a trailer from the bed and back half of frame. Would using an adjustable towbar work for a tongue? The problem I foresee is the towbars ability to rock up and down with only 2 wheels behind it. Would this be a problem? Couldn't I just weld (or have someone who can) the swivel part fixed at the correct angle? Have a plate welded across the frame for the contact points, probably enough extra frame to get a tool box up there too. Found one rated 5000 lbs on eBay for 65.99 w free shipping. Thanks guys,

Thanks for all the responses, I am searching local JYs for some doors and maybe a tailgate too, mine is pretty beat up around the bottom. If I'm even thinking about doing a lift in the future should I go ahead and trim the front fenders & panels before the paint?

First post on here. I have a 1988 Pioneer 4.0 4X4 that I "traded" for about 2 months ago. I have been reading this site getting ideas and help, and appreciate all I have learned already, but have a kinda broad question now. My truck has rust on the top of the cab and really bad on the hood so I'm getting it painted in about a month. What stuff should I do BEFORE the paint job? I have ordered a FEY rear bumper to replace my rotting from the inside stock, my truck has a PO installed tow hitch that is welded to the frame and bumper mounts, so hoping the FEY will go on the OEM mounts and fit over the hitch with minimal alterations. I have installed tow hooks on the front. I would like to find a lighted license plate holder that I could bolt or have welded on the tailgate that would fold down (or up?) when the gate is down to stay legal (I also got a spare tire mount (since the original is lost to the hitch) for the hitch that totally covers the license plate), does anyone know of anything like I'm talking about? My rear slider window is peeling trim type stuff from the top on the inside, are there replacement channels available? What about the doors, I would like to have foldout vent windows where I now have fixed ones, can I put a door from an XJ on here or were there MJs with these? What am I not thinking of that it makes more sense to fix before the paint job? Also still debating color to go with, right now its the metallic looking light blue, either back to that (not so crazy about it), white (the interior wouldn't look too stupid that way), or black (glossy, not hot rod, was thinking aobut that until I saw a pic on here of of one and decided against that, sorry to whoever's that is, but it's not for me). So, any thoughts? Thanks in advance for all your help!