How big?

[BigBadChevy]

Im wanting to put tractor tires on my mudder. I have no particular size in mind but I dont want to run anything too big for my axles. Whats the biggest size tire (DOT or tractor) I should run on a 14bolt and a dana 44 before having to switch to 2.5s?

(Also I might be attempting to put a steerable 14bolt under the front. What size could I run once that happens?)

[stevenpetry]

how about search first, then post. Oh, and in the mud section would help too.

[OffRoad]

35s will be ok. 38s might be pushing it.

something like a 12.4R16 R1 should fit on a 16x10 and work nice for you.

leave the front open, weld the rear. you'll go lots of places.

[BigBadChevy]

38s? really? I have 44s on it currently. And the guy who had the truck before me had 47inch tractor tires on it.

[Georgia boy '88]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

38s? really? I have 44s on it currently. And the guy who had the truck before me had 47inch tractor tires on it.

So that's what the number on a Dana axle means, the size tires you can run on it.

[sjracer]

Originally Posted by stevenpetry

how about search first, then post. Oh, and in the mud section would help too.

this^^^^^^^^^^

[HAPPYJOHN]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

38s? really? I have 44s on it currently. And the guy who had the truck before me had 47inch tractor tires on it.

Was that when you two were at band camp?


If you're just doing mud pits, straight ahead kind of stuff, whatever you can clear will probably be ok.

And that "mud forum" suggestion was serious, you mudders kind of tend to stick together, and don't really play well with the group at large.

Most of us don't get the the whole "tow/drive to an empty, wet field, get stuck on purpose, see the same-old, same-old" type of thing.

[Georgia boy '88]

Originally Posted by HAPPYJOHN

Was that when you two were at band camp?


If you're just doing mud pits, straight ahead kind of stuff, whatever you can clear will probably be ok.

And that "mud forum" suggestion was serious, you mudders kind of tend to stick together, and don't really play well with the group at large.

Most of us don't get the the whole "tow/drive to an empty, wet field, get stuck on purpose, see the same-old, same-old" type of thing.

I'm honestly kind of confused as to how it holds up to the tires he has.

The last 8lug 44 I bought was off of a mud guy, who was originally running a 44" tsl on a 44/14 combo. He said the first time he put it in 4wd he blew a u-joint, so he swapped in a d60 front.

[Cuda K5]

i have seen conservative drivers destroy 44 shafts with 35" tires

[440_Offroader]

Originally Posted by Cuda K5

i have seen conservative drivers destroy 44 shafts with 35" tires

Did that wheeling in snow, although not being too conservative.

[Jeep CJ7]

Originally Posted by Cuda K5

i have seen conservative drivers destroy 44 shafts with 35" tires

Weakest link in the 44, the u-joints, survive because these guys are like drag cars: they do not turn. Usually you break your front end when you put stuff in a bind. Going straight in slippery mud prevents binding. Stuff they get away with in a mud pit wouldn't last 2 minutes on a trail.

[BigBadChevy]

Jeez....I posted in the newb section cuz I figured it was a newb question....

Mudders dont play well? Who said I was a mudder just cuz I have a mud truck. I have like 4 trucks I wheel and only one is a mudder. And I dont think we should be divided by "style" of 4x4. All I wanted to know was how big of tires I can run without blowing up my axles right away. I dont just go mudding. I do a little of everything with the truck. I bog, I trail ride, I run over cars, etc.

Has anyone heard of McLean Creek, Alberta? thats where I go. Anyone whos been there knows its not just mudding.

[Proeliator]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

Whats the biggest size tire (DOT or tractor) I should run on a 14bolt and a dana 44 before having to switch to 2.5s?

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

38s? really? I have 44s on it currently. And the guy who had the truck before me had 47inch tractor tires on it.

In that case, there is no way in hell the guy who had it before you really wheeled it.

Stick with smaller ags as advised.

[BigBadChevy]

Originally Posted by Georgia boy '88

So that's what the number on a Dana axle means, the size tires you can run on it.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[MochaMike]

Depends if it is open, locker or selectable.
Weight of the rig & driving style.

With a locker:
D44 35"-36" with a light foot, but you will break eventually
D60 40"-42", same as above.

Chromoly shafts & good joints can take you 1-2" bigger.
Running open front will help to limit breakage as well.

[HAPPYJOHN]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

Jeez....I posted in the newb section cuz I figured it was a newb question....

Mudders dont play well? Who said I was a mudder ...........

Uh, you did. Your question SPECIFICALLY said " on my mudder" In case you forgot, I've quoted you, below....

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

Im wanting to put tractor tires on my mudder.............

Since you were asking about your "mudder" truck, that's how we answered.
You posed a "mudder" question in a general forum, so you got "general" answers. Straight-ahead driving put a much lower load on the u-joint (weak link in the 44 axle) than multi-use off-roading.

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

If you truly have no sarcasm meter, consider that you're not going to run 14" tall tires on that 14 bolt, are you?

Edit: X2 on what Mocha said above.

[BigBadChevy]

To MochaMike: Thank you for your straight forward answer. It is much appreciated.

To HAPPYJOHN: So having one mudder truck makes me a mudder? If you went to a gay bar once does that mean your gay? For someone with the name "Happy"John, you're not so happy are you? All you've done is sarcastic attempts at insult. It seems like you're the one who doesn't "play well".

And for the 44s on 44. If you think about it, it kinda makes sense......Dana35 can handle 35s, Dana 44 can handle 44s. A 14bolt is kinda obvious at what it is....

But thank you for wasting my time and yours by instead of giving a simple "You're axles can handle this sized tire" you had to give long negative answers.

[TEX]

Okay, since it's a newbie question & a serious one, I'll say this. A lot depends on the weight & HP of the vehicle. If it's a really light, really fast truck, you can get away with more front tire by staying up on top of the mud. If you're down "IN" it & heavy, there's no way a 44 front will even handle a 39.5 TSL for long. Also helps to have decent shocks. I've seen many coil-sprung Fords bust 44's in mud with 35's and V6 engines when they start wheelhopping. I blew the ring gear out of my 10-bolt with 31's in a full-size. I also had a small-ujoint 44 (Scout II) survive an entire season of side-stepping the clutch at 5,500 with 38X12.50's under a 400HP Jeep.

Generally speaking, 38.5's are about it for an all-motor reasonably light mud truck with a 44 frontend. You may break stuff on occasion, but it shouldn't be EVERY time you're out.

[HAPPYJOHN]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

..... All you've done is sarcastic attempts at insult.

For insulting you, I apologize. I had no wish to truly offend you. ( and if you really thought those were insults, you should probably stay in this area. ) I had no knowledge of your other vehicles, so I was addressing the question that you posed. There is no simple "these tires will work on these axles" answer, due to variables, like terrain, weight of vehicle, gear ratio, traction aids, etcetera.



And for the 44s on 44. If you think about it, it kinda makes sense......Dana35 can handle 35s, Dana 44 can handle 44s. A 14bolt is kinda obvious at what it is....

But, by that logic, you could run a 60" tire on a Dana 60, 70" tire on a Dana 70, and so on. Again, my answer was not mocking, just trying to get you to look at your question in a different light.

But thank you for wasting my time and yours by instead of giving a simple "You're axles can handle this sized tire" you had to give long negative answers.

How is this a negative answer; "If you're just doing mud pits, straight ahead kind of stuff, whatever you can clear will probably be ok."

One last thing, this is Pirate. sarcastic, impolite, and obnoxious answers are S.O.P. here. Lurk around, and you'll see what I mean, and you'll see that my
answers were not bad. Grow a thicker skin.

[BigBadChevy]

Thanks Tex. HP wise its not exactly a power house. Just a 350 on propane with a mild cam and heads. The truck is all gearing. But it is very heavy. Its a regular cab long box with a sleeper on it, giant bumpers, 2 propane pigs in the box, etc. Probably close to 7000ibs (guess). What I dont get is everyone on here is saying my axle wont hold up, yet this is my second truck with a 44/14 combo with 44x18.5s and ive never had a problem. And everyone I know with big trucks around here have 44fronts with tires ranging from 44s to 49s.


John, I was not actually offended in any way, I was simply just stating that I had a simple question (it does have a lot of variables, but still) and you responded with "go somewhere else you mudder" answers. And if you read back I did say I have 4 vehicles I wheel only one being a mudder. I realise Dana60s and 70s would be a little ridiculous, but looking at my 44s on my 44 I thought it might be possible, Im not exactly on expert on axles.

[HAPPYJOHN]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

.....

John, I was not actually offended in any way, I was simply just stating that I had a simple question (it does have a lot of variables, but still) and you responded with "go somewhere else you mudder" answers. And if you read back I did say I have 4 vehicles I wheel only one being a mudder. I realise Dana60s and 70s would be a little ridiculous, but looking at my 44s on my 44 I thought it might be possible, Im not exactly on expert on axles.

Fawking noobs.

I didn't actually SAY that, I seconded it, and that was AFTER I answered the question that you posed. I thought, given your join date, and post count, you might not be aware that there is a forum dedicated to the question that you specifically asked, populated by people who mud all the time.

You wouldn't ask a camping question in the cooking forum, would you?

( thin-skinned noob. )

Originally Posted by stevenpetry

how about search first, then post. Oh, and in the mud section would help too.

^^ the suggestion

Originally Posted by HAPPYJOHN

If you're just doing mud pits, straight ahead kind of stuff, whatever you can clear will probably be ok.

^^^ my answer.

And that "mud forum" suggestion was serious.....

And seconding the suggestion.

..

Sounds like a great truck, any action shots?

Oh, and welcome to Pirate.

[Corey Young]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

Probably close to 7000ibs (guess). What I dont get is everyone on here is saying my axle wont hold up, yet this is my second truck with a 44/14 combo with 44x18.5s and ive never had a problem. And everyone I know with big trucks around here have 44fronts with tires ranging from 44s to 49s.

I have broken Dana 44 shafts with 30" all terrains and a 6cyl. A freind of mine had 41" tractor tires on a 10bolt/14 bolt and both front shafts broke in the first hole he tried. I had another rig running 38x11 Boggers and I broke Dana 44 shafts every weekend.
But I know a guy that has Toyota axles and 49" IROKS and it hold up fine
It just depends on the terrain you drive on.

[deanschool]

Originally Posted by BigBadChevy

What I dont get is everyone on here is saying my axle wont hold up, yet this is my second truck with a 44/14 combo with 44x18.5s and ive never had a problem.

Im not exactly on expert on axles.

if you know this, then why ask? you run what you feel comfortable with. if you run what other people do, then whats the point? lighten up your truck and youll make it live for a little before you break u-joints-shafts-ring gears. just be conservative.

as for the second part of the quote, we can tell.

[Snocross 100]

no one is trying to be mean but what their all saying is they will hold up but not for very long. when it breaks fix it or go dana 60. i broke both front axles in my ford hp dana 44 the first weekend i had it in the snow with a 3.4 v6. its a ticking time bomb dut if your going to upgrade in the future then run it till it breaks and if it does throw new axles in it... chromos are 860 bucks and i have not broke them but i wish i could go back and do a 60. just my 0.02

[Snocross 100]

i have a friend with a supercharged 502 and 40 inch boggers that still runs a 44 because of weight. all he does is mud bogs with it tho