Tera lo or Lo Max...that is the question

[76cjeep]

Alright I'm going to be building up a Dana 300 and I'm torn between the Tera lo 4 to 1 kit and the Lo Max 4 to 1 kit. I've read the info JB conversions has on their Lo Max and I've been running the Tera 3.15 kit in my Model 20 for about 4 years now(with no problems). The info JB conv. has doesn't compare the Tera kit with the Lo Max kit. The Lo Max has big beefy gears which is appealing because they look big and beefy, but the gears are looking straight cut and I've heard everyone went away from straight cut gears a long time ago. Then I've heard with the hellical cut gears(Teras kit) they are stronger. I thought about the Atlas but that's $2000 (give or take a few hundred)and I don't have that kind of money, so that's out.

[LoMax]

Not sure what you are looking at but our gears are helical, not straight cut.
John-JB Conversions

Originally Posted by 76cjeep

Alright I'm going to be building up a Dana 300 and I'm torn between the Tera lo 4 to 1 kit and the Lo Max 4 to 1 kit. I've read the info JB conversions has on their Lo Max and I've been running the Tera 3.15 kit in my Model 20 for about 4 years now(with no problems). The info JB conv. has doesn't compare the Tera kit with the Lo Max kit. The Lo Max has big beefy gears which is appealing because they look big and beefy, but the gears are looking straight cut and I've heard everyone went away from straight cut gears a long time ago. Then I've heard with the hellical cut gears(Teras kit) they are stronger. I thought about the Atlas but that's $2000 (give or take a few hundred)and I don't have that kind of money, so that's out.

[robert-r]

I've just got rid of most the Tera stuff on my rig - including a TeraLow NP231.
As far as Tera Mfg goes - "Just say No!"

[76cjeep]

Hi John,

Just like with any other item talked about through the grapevine of wheelers this came up in conversation. I was asking opinions on the 2 kits and that is one thing I was told(about the "straight cut gears"). Now if it is true or not is ...well I guess not. This is another reason I began this thread.

The main reason I'm putting this thread out here is because I want more info. I know my Dana 20 Tera kit worked just fine in my CJ-5 with 32s and open diffs. Well now I'm going to be building up my 7 with 35's, lockers and a 300. I know the 300 is already a much stronger unit than the 20 by itself. I know what I've read about the Lo Max and I was very impressed. Unfortunately I'm a freak about knowledge and stuff I spend $$$ on, and I need to know everything about whatever it is I may be buying before I buy it. It doesn't matter if it's the truck I just bought, a big screen TV, a digital camera, this laptop, or a low gear set for my Jeep. I just like to know that I did my homework on things.

B-

[76cjeep]

One more thing....I heard, after I'd bought my Tera kit for my 20, that people were having troubles with the 20's case splitting. Although I never saw this nore read it in a magazine.

[Radbassist]

Originally Posted by robert-r

I've just got rid of most the Tera stuff on my rig - including a TeraLow NP231.
As far as Tera Mfg goes - "Just say No!"

Whatever dude....Its all how you drive.


"MY TERA LOW BLEW UP"
Oh yeah? how were you driving?
"I dumped the clutch at 4500 RPM and the thing shattered!"








































You my friend, are a dumbass.

The idiots are over THERE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[butch6924]

What's the cost differential? I've seen the tera kit as low as $550. Personally, that's what would make my decision. I've seen plenty of both kits perform just fine.

[76cjeep]

I saw just recently JB conversions has the LoMax for 550.

[78304CJ-7]

I run the Low Max kit from John, and, I really can't say enought good things about it. the gears are beafy. John is a top notch guy that stands behind his product. I would send my $$$ his way again if need be.

-RJ

[Radbassist]

Oh yeah? Well fuck you guys...........I cant say enought about the TERA Low 4:1 Kit.........Never anYy problems.





How do ya like THAT!

Loosers.

[RedBullJeep]

This post was edited because of a misunderstanding about a t-case we had that was a complete JB Conversions 231 with a 4:1 low range. Though JB did supply the 231, the low range gear set inside was NOT theirs. We had a problem with the low range gearset and assumed that because JB Conversions built the unit, it was their gearset and hoped they would stand behind it. Upon speaking with John today after figuring this all out, I will say that he was not liable or responsible as it was a simple misunderstanding on our side about who supplied the low range. John explained that they no longer do the cases they way they did when we aquired the jeep...he doesn't install anyone else's parts so he won't get into situations like we had...makes sense.

In a nutshell, we had received good customer service from Tera when their gearset had a failure and that is something everyone can appreciate. The replacement gearset has had no issues in over two years of trail, stret and towing.
Now that I heard back from John, I would make the assumption that he offers a great gearset and has the customer service to back it up...sounds like a gearset worth looking into so I will be bringing this up with Dallas who's in the middle of a buggy project for himself including a Dana 300 with a low range kit.

Sorry for the misunderstanding John...When the shop told me they installed a JB Conversions T-case with SYE and 4:1, I made the assumption that all the parts inside were yours.

[LoMax]

I don't have record of any failures but I'll believe it when I see one. If I did have a failure we would replace it or refund the whole price (your choice) as soon as it was reported and returned. I'll admit it is possible for any mechanical part to break but I would be really interested in getting my hands on a broken set of our gears. In fact, I'll write you a check for $600 if you put the broken gears in a box and send them to me.

When did you buy the gears and who was the purchaser?
Thanks
John-JB Conversions

Originally Posted by RedBullJeep

We have a YJ that saw lots of miles on the street and trail. First we put in a Lo Max kit and it broke about a 6 months in, then we put in a Tera kit and it broke about six months in. Same driver wheeling in similar situations the whole time. Both kits performed about the same.

The only difference we found was in speaking directly with the manufacturer about warrantying them. Both spoke highly of their product (as they should) and both said they were surprised we had problems (both acting as though these things never break which is dumb). The only difference in their approaches was when we asked what they could do to help us out. Tera offered to supply the parts if we paid for the shipping and labor...we chose that option. Really, both products lasted the same and the voices on the other end of the line were the same and were worth of getting a title as a decent customer service representative, Tera just stepped up a "little" more when we had a problem...that made a difference to us.
In the long run though, it would have been cheaper to put an Atlas in there in the first place...

By the way, this was Becca's dad driving and NOT me. I woulda busted both kits on the first day...along with the axles, and every panel on that rig...

[sceep]

Originally Posted by LoMax

I don't have record of any failures but I'll believe it when I see one. If I did have a failure we would replace it or refund the whole price (your choice) as soon as it was reported and returned.
John-JB Conversions

John's attitude with me on the phone and in various threads and emails when i was trying to choose our kit was the deciding factor.

the gears are pure beef, and his help with questions was awesome.

lomax all the way.

[RedBullJeep]

Spoke to John about a misunderstanding...great guy...I edited my post above to reflect that.