It seems like i just finally got my 1 ton axles and now everybodys moving up to bigger and stronger with the use of unimog and 2.5 ton axles. It seems to me that the next evolution is hybryd , portal axles and makes me wonder whats going to be next. Its pretty sweet to see ford 9" portal $10,000 a piece axles that i could never afford or would want to. I mean how big is too big.

What's next? The big money spenders (you know who you are) will get bored with this sport and move on.... and things will come full circle again :)

After buying my 1 ton stuff, and it's not even installed, I'm kicking myself for not researching a little further. The ag division of Dana makes some mighty fine axles, locked and steerable ready for the hydo and away you go. Plenty freaking stout too. Ahh well maybe on the tube rig.

There comes a point where the coolness factor outweighs the functionality. Just GO AROUND that 5' boulder!

WideJ, why go aroun d, when you can go over? People that can't make it over the big boy stuff, manage to go around it. As for the axles, I am all about building a set of portal axles. I mean how hard can it be? Time to look into this aspect of things. Once you figure out the portal setup, the rest is cake walk.

Dimitri

i think that as more companys develope 60 parts the prices will come down to the point that they become resonably affordable.

imagane if you could buy all new aftermarket 60 parts and build a front axle for under 3k.

Hey WideJ, with that type of mentality, eventualy I could see you saying something :rainbow: like just go AROUND that darn trail. Then you'll scrap the heep for a Geo metro!

What I'm gettin at is that's the whole point is to see how far we can push it. I wouldn't want to see our sport get to the point where we just stop pushing to do better. Who wants to beat a tough challenge, then just stop challenging yourself anymore?

I've been wondering about this very thing a lot lately. But you know what? The fact remains that we have yet to build an indestructable axle. They all seem to have their weaknesses and seem to break. I was talking to TyTy about this the other night and I was telling him that I was going to start looking into Rockwell 5-ton axles. I have no idea about their specs, but I'm sure they could be worked to have the ground clearance of a d60 and fit some normal wheels if you took the brakes off, etc. I think that their strength would be unbreakable. (Monster trucks run 2000 hp and 66" tires and only break them every once in a while.) I SAY, make your tranny and engine your fuseable link! :beer:

J. J.

I have heard about Avalanche building a 2.5 diff with 5 ton axles it sounds a little hokey to me but i've never tried it. Does anyone know if its possible. I guess anythings possible with enough $dough$ray$me$

Hydro-static seams like the way to go for infinetly LOW gearing.
No gears:D
A bit slow on the road, but who cares about the road, isn't that why I have a trailer.
With the right set-up, the ground clearance could be what ever you need/want.
I'm kinda surprissed someone hasn't done this...
Mount the power plant wherever you want and run the steering, wheels, porta-power. etc from this PP.

i don't plan on going there, but the idea seems workable.

Cory

I'm thinking 2 things of the future...

1) A rig that can walk when necesary...some sort of self deploying robotic hydraulic walking setup so when you just can't get any traction to the wheels, the rig "hikes up its skirt" and calmly clambers over the obsticle

2) "Drive by wire" - like the "fly by wire" of modern aircraft...pilot doesn't control the actual control surface, pilot flys computer, computer flys airplane. Same idea, driver drives computer, computer drives rig. Like the awful "traction control" available today...but done properly, for offroad, in the future. You may hate the idea - but with competition...it's only a mattter of time. Like the computer controlled F1 cars today.

Bolt-on portals are on the way!! There's already a type available for Land Rovers that I'm working on getting my hands on and they're talking about making them for other axles. The Rover ones bolt on in place of the spindles (yes, we have full floaters from the factory) and give a 6" drop with 1.3:1 reduction. They increase the track width about 3" per side and fit within the stock rims! AWESOME!! :flipoff2: :eek: :flipoff2: :eek: :flipoff2: :eek: :flipoff2:


I have a pic, but I have to resize it in order to post it and I don't have the software here at work. :(

Originally posted by BillaVista
I'm thinking 2 things of the future...

1) A rig that can walk when necesary...some sort of self deploying robotic hydraulic walking setup so when you just can't get any traction to the wheels, the rig "hikes up its skirt" and calmly clambers over the obsticle

Not that I'm validating this idea as realistic or anything :flipoff2: but that would be illegal in most rock crawling comps. I know ARCA doesn't allow any vehicle to change its wheel base by any other means than what natural suspension movement does. That's what a "walking" rig would be doing, in fact.

Again, not that it's realistic and not silly . . . :flipoff2:

J. J.

Im4yotas, did you see the latest issue of JP (probably not, since you're a yota fan, but...)? The Avalanche-built monster jeep on 44"ers and those "titan" axles, etc. Yea, pushing the sport ahead is cool, but give me a brake!

YOU GUYS ARE MISSING THE BIG PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All someone has to do is come out with a portal hub assembly that replaces the stock components, not an entire axle unit. Then lets talk about low prices and a market flood...

Good point Camo, and I have no doubt that it will happen. I am excited to see some new ideas coming out. I think Tera has begun to think out of the box. Have you guys seen that 50 housing, very cool IMO. WideJ, what are you waiting for lets see some portal hub bolt ons??????:eek:

One more thing. That guy bringing up hydro drive. I thinks that is a very cool idea. My hats of to the first rig/fabricator I see with that set up.

You wanna spice up competiton? Run everyone at the same time, with bump-passing and paintball guns! =D

But seriously, portals for D44 etc :rolleyes: If someone's gonna pay for the ground clearance, they better damn well get a stronger axle than that! Bring on the portal Dana 60 boltons =)

-J

a "rambo rockcrawling" type comp. hhmmm, good idea. and on with the 60 bolt on portals!!! well said.:goofball:

Originally posted by patooyee
I SAY, make your tranny and engine your fuseable link! :beer:

J. J.


You're kidding, right? :rolleyes:

Lemme get this straight WideJ, you prefer breakin shit over not breakin shit? Must be another one of those damn heep things:D

And HELL NO I didn't read that frickin JP magazine.:barf:

Originally posted by liveaxle

You're kidding, right? :rolleyes:

Yes.

J. J.