Good plan. If a new axle is in the future, then just run what you already setup previously. That way you can get it out on the trails where it belongs!
Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift
- Thread starter Wildman
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Good plan. If a new axle is in the future, then just run what you already setup previously. That way you can get it out on the trails where it belongs!
OP
Because I need the spacers on the front. I'll try to find another HP44 that has the weld on radius wedges. Stock Bronco HP44 is 65" wide so it'd be great and only add an 1.5" to how wide I am. With the two spacers I'm 63.5" WMS right now.
Or I might get a Dynatrac HP44 and build a Hybrid 44/60 or just go big and get a Dana 60.
OP
Off to an appointment but should be home early afternoon so once I get home I should be able to spend a few hours in the garage. Assuming things go OK.
OP
I'm thinking this is the smartest approach to take. There are times I'd like to have a Dana 60 but up til now it hasn't been needed. But these M/T Baja Pro XS tires and larger than the old Swamper SX tires I'd ran previously so I may find that my HP44 doesn't handle them. So getting some trail time with my current setup would then point me in the correct direction as to what axle I want to use.
If I was to go to a Dana 60 I'd most likely get a Dynatrac but RockJock isn't out of question either. Or maybe do one of the 9"/10" housings and build a Hybrd 609?
Either way I'd like to stay around 65" WMS so it'd have to be custom.
Looks like I wasn't over whatever bug I had/have since I got sick while I was at my doctors appointment this morning. So I'm going to relax and take some meds for the flu and see how I feel tomorrow.
I agree with your approach. See how the current axle/ball joints handle those tires and let that tell you what the next axle should be. A hybrid 9"/10" would be sweet, but spendy. I looked at custom 9"/10" housings with 05+ Super Duty Cs/knuckles and the pricing was pretty high. Then the tons I picked up made that decision for me. Get healthy first though!
OP
Since I'm running ball joint eliminators that shouldn't be a issue & I've got RCV shafts so I'm hoping I won't have issues there. But I'm known for breaking shit so who knows.
Like I'd said above I'd love to get a Dynatrac HP44 housing and then get some Dana 60 knuckles and build a Hybryd 44/60. ARB makes a 35 spline locker so I can have larger shafts and then larger u-joints too. I'd build it for 65" WMS and run 5x5.5 wheel hubs so I wouldn't need new wheels.
I'd asked a few years ago how much a bare axle housing cost and it was around $2200. Cut the tubes to the length I need and weld the knuckles on. Then I'd have the strength of the Dana 60 outers but the size of a HP44 center section. Since I need a wider axle it's a strong possibility. And I could run D50 gears using the Jantz kit so I'd have stronger gears too.
If you're gonna pay up for big boi axles, might as well run big boi tires IMO.
Remind me again, what wheelbase did you end up with, Rick?
OP
I haven't totally confirmed it but I'm like 99.5" WB. So based on that 38" tires are really the largest I should run if we follow the opinions on here.
GR builds or built their TJ's with 100" WB & 40" tires.
And I'm only building one axle.. if I start with a bare housing it'd save me money in the sense that I could do it in stages as I could afford it.
And yes building a Hybrd 44/60 would cost about the same as building a Dana 60. But if I don't need that huge center chunk then why bother with it? I might try going to 39" tires at some point but that axle would be fine.
If I wanted 40's or larger I'd have to start with a LJ I think.
Have you seen the PNW builds of Nate (dirt lifestyle) and the Muddy Beards guy? Both run TJs ~100" WB on 40s, and from what I've seen, they do pretty well around here.
I haven't observed those builds enough to form an informed opinion, but as of now, I think that's about optimal for WA trails. What I do know for certain is my LJ @ 103" on 35s is wayy too much WB.
Not if they still use Artec brackets...
Definitely would consider them for a bare housing tho.
OP
I'm not quite ready to start axle shopping just YET...
Got to fix the motorhome first which wipes out all my extra funds for a while. Then once I've recovered from that I want to update my solar system in the motorhome. Once that is done I should ahve enough seat time with the Jeep to know which direction I want to go.
If I GO BIG as PNW suggest them I'd do a 14 bolt rear and either a 14 bolt or Dana 60 front. But then I'd be stepping up to 40's or larger while I was at it.
But I appreciate the input and will look at ECGS when the time comes.
Yep I've watched some of both their videos. Remember I'm not trying to build just for the PNW as I hope to start traveling once the motorhome is sound. So it needs to work OK everywhere.
I disagree. My Toyota was around 108 on 38s and had no issues in the PNW
OP
I think it depends on which trails you're trying to run. And admittedly I haven't been on ANY trails in WA since 2014 so I'm sure they all have changed a lot in 10 years.
OP
Most of the same places I used to wheel other than Rimrock. Having the sub 100" WB was a good thing on some of the trails in Rimrock. It'll be interesting to see how much they've changed. Longer WB rigs were doing 3-6 point turns in some spots. And being wider than 80" wasn't a good thing either.
I suppose preference is part of it, as is belly height. Just so damn tired of bellying out all the time.
I won’t exclude the possibility of me just being a shitty driver tho..
OP
We weren't going to mention the driver error part....
How wide are you? I'm just over 80" right now. Before I was only 75" wide so gaining 5" will be interesting.