Which Drivetrain Setup?

[Cascadia]

No I'm not against coils and shocks, they've always worked great for me. I just don't want to have to do the work twice.

Not saying I'm considering it but how strong are those LR t cases and trannys. That's some good gearing for a stock case.

 

[Gravy]

I have at least $6500 into axles alone...

Coco: I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've personally seen at least 5 toy tcases grenade. Most of them with upgraded inputs, outputs, etc...
No toy 8" ring gear will handle a 40" tire and my driving style. NO upgrades beyond that point will fix the issue of small ring/pinion.

The main reason blinged out toy axles can live under rigs with 37"+ tires is low weight and lack of power. Add either of those things and you will get familiar with trail breakage.


Anyways, back to the OP's original idea.
It can be done: horse trading and buying a used rig is one way to do it, but it won't be without challenges.
I consider my build one of a high functioning budget build.

 

[kobyhud]

We blew apart a land rover transfer case on 32" tires during a loose hill climb. Shortly thereafter we blew the rear ring and pinion. Agreed that the aluminum v8 makes decent power, that was about the only thing we liked about it.

 

[zukijames]

what kind of case was it.. where was the failure.. blew apart? were the bolts loose?

 

[zukijames]

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/7273322

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/9917553

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/9428635 this one has more wiring and stuff to deal with but good deal

 

[zukijames]

toyota


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1061687&page=2

 

[kobyhud]

Kind of hard to tell, it was transfer case soup. On the ring and pinion in the rear it was the ring that failed, it took out both of the low spline count shafts with it.

 

[Marsh99]

Steve are you ok?? You repeated just about everything you said

But I would have to disagree. Toyota axles can handle (if built) 40-42" tires. I wouldnt go much higher. I really dont think the output will be a weak link. Granted, it is all on drivers style at that point. But a great example is Goose's truck. He may have 1 ton axles, but he still has a dual toyota case.

I was talking to him about if he ever had issues with breaking output/input shafts, and he (if I remember correctly) said he didnt. He did upgraded to the 23 Spline chromolys. He said the only issue he had was his adapter came loose one time if I remember correctly.

Toyota axles are a lot stronger than most think. I know of many guys that are running 40+ on theres. I plan to run atleast 39.5s on my project (when I can find the perfect starter rig, I am planning lightweight flat-tow rig[Samurai])

Coco what are you wheeling these days?

I would rather beat a rig on 35-37 then baby a rig on 40's

To keep cheap and not breaking, its all about being light and under powered.

 

[zukijames]

yeah i would not recommend the stock axles i was thinking buy a rover for a grand sell axles, doors, ect and get a good motor trans and t case for cheap buy some dually 1 tons (cheaper than srw.) then buy some wheels and tires from here

http://www.trailworthyfab.com/H1-Hummer-Wheels/

http://www.trailworthyfab.com/Tires/

 

[zukijames]

Coco what are you wheeling these days?

I would rather beat a rig on 35-37 then baby a rig on 40's

To keep cheap and not breaking, its all about being light and under powered.

there is a guy named al from idaho .. he wheels with george breakall alot.. he has 39 red crawlers doesn't break stuff and climbs alot of stuff but he knows his rigs and his tires hook up so he can crawl alot of things that other guys end up having to bump pretty hard

not a good example but here is his truck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-kKUfq8p0 he's at 2:45

the guy before him breaks once in awhile with 39's (if i remember correctly)but he has a 44 front axle ..

also guys are all over 60 .

the first truck.. has a toyota /dana 60 hybrid axle.. around 4k just for the axle , the second has build 44 front and a 60 rear i believe , the last one allen just has toyotas with longfields and arb front and rear i think..

http://webejeepinmoab.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_4071.jpg

 

[Coco]

Coco: I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've personally seen at least 5 toy tcases grenade. Most of them with upgraded inputs, outputs, etc...
No toy 8" ring gear will handle a 40" tire and my driving style. NO upgrades beyond that point will fix the issue of small ring/pinion.

That is what I am getting at. Low power, light weight, and knowing your rig you can make anything last. Toyotas will handle 40-42" tires IF you know how to drive, and such. This is mostly what I was getting at. If your rig is light enough, and you know what your doing, and such toyotas will last just fine.

As for the R&P, you can put all your gearing in the t-case/t-cases and run stock R&Ps. Which are bigger than say a 5.29. Really there is a lot you can do to make a toyota axle last, and still have gearing. My 85 had stock 4.10s, and the single 4.7 case, and had plenty of crawling ability.

I dont think much survives your driving style right? I kid I kid.

Coco what are you wheeling these days?

I would rather beat a rig on 35-37 then baby a rig on 40's

To keep cheap and not breaking, its all about being light and under powered.

My rig that I am currently wheeling cost me around $1500, and parts are pretty cheap when I break them. The upgrades are where it hurts.

 

[I Lean]

Knowingly building a rig that you'll have to baby is not the best way to plan a buggy.

Less gearing in the axles = more stress on the drivetrain, increasing the chances of breaking an output.

 

[Marsh99]

My rig that I am currently wheeling cost me around $1500, and parts are pretty cheap when I break them. The upgrades are where it hurts.

I am not talking about your R/C crawler

 

[Cascadia]

that's what I was thinking.

 

[Gravy]

I dont think much survives your driving style right? I kid I kid.

Nope.

Toyota axles don't go rock racing much.

Knowingly building a rig that you'll have to baby is not the best way to plan a buggy.

Less gearing in the axles = more stress on the drivetrain, increasing the chances of breaking an output.

^These are wise words^

 

[Cascadia]

Looks like I'm going to try and find a rig that is already built and then either tube that out and keep part of the frame, or move everything over to the chassis I like.

 

[Cascadia]

There were so many awesome built rigs for sale 3-12 months ago that I wish were available now. Looks like I missed out on all of them. Especially Cody's and Carl's.

 

[sixstringsteve]

just out of curiousity, but why would you tube out a rig rather than keep it full body and just tube it as it gets destroyed? I'm just curious.

This rig seems like a great starter rig to build on how you want it:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=19764728&cat=402&lpid=4&search=

 

[Cascadia]

I just don't like the look of a beat up body and I lime the look of a buggy. In my opinion I think that rigs that are rusted out and all dented up look trashy. Plus I want my wife to wheel with me and she won't go in anything ugly.

 

[Cascadia]

Only issue with yota trucks is if they're single cab I don't fit too well. In the 81 I had to take the e brake out cause my knee was constantly hitting it and I was steering with my thighs.