Gear is def needed, but tanks who use their CDs can make up for it. If ya get a tank who doesn't use any because, "It is only trash, learn to heal!" then you have a bad tank, and no amount of gear can help them. I have healed a tank in all DL pulling the WP speed run groups, which is prob harder hitting then AK, and had no issue. Now I am nearly all 90 gear, so that can make up for a lower geared tank as well. Manor makes for the best SR now IMO. Only the last hallway is hard to heal, but just cut it into 3 pulls and you should be fine, even pulling more mobs as others die works out.
Sorry for getting off subject, but ya gear is needed most of the time, but a good player who cycles their cool downs can make up for lower gear. Also having low DPS can be an issue as well if the tank and heals are just decently geared. All in all it is best to try SR in a pug, but dont go all nerd rage when the group can't handle it. An extra 10-15 minutes is not gonna kill you to just run it normally.