Do you carry spare rear axle shafts on your rig?

[bonesaw]

Im torn between space/weight of carrying a set of rear axleshafts with me on my upcoming rubicon trip. I am currently running poly performance rear shafts in my full bodied heavy (5600 lb+) fj40 with a healthy sbc 350 powerplant, 36inch iroks, 4.88 gears, with orion 4:1 xfer case reduction

What are your experiances, do you tote spares?

I could leave them in the tow rig but that wont help much with a shaft failure 10+ miles into the trail.

Thanks

[Rat70FJ]

On any serious trail I do. In my experience, if you carry them, you won't need 'em. If you don't,...........

Kinda like all those insurance policies you have.

[yzftaco]

My spares are zip-tied (very heavy duty ties) to the rear underbelly of the rig. Right where an aux gas tank would go.. Been there for a while, and I don't even notice them.

[77WarPig]

carry the short side only if you are worried about breaking and also about weight-it will be the one to break

[peesalot]

I am set up similar, 6.0, sm420, 4.10, orion on 37's...
I have the poly rears and have hopped it hard, broke an arb and axles lived but with the new 6.0 I am seriously considering carrying a spare third and axles. The idea of leaving them in tow rig is what I have been doing. On Rubicon it is a drag but really not to much of a problem to ride out to tow rig and get the parts if needed. I look at weight, a third = 90 lbs and the axles are prolly 30 ish maybe so all in all it is not that much weight and you will be going easy with a 5,600 lb rig anywho.
When are you going ????
If it is for Rubithon, you bring the axles, I'll bring the third member and we'll be covered.

[texican]

Originally Posted by peesalot

If it is for Rubithon, you bring the axles, I'll bring the third member and we'll be covered.

I carry a pair of rears, inside onw of the old Confer tool box that go against the fenderwells, never needed them my self but used 3 of the short sides over the years on other guys rigs......LSLC when we go on long trips always pool our parts supply we have dang near enough stuff among all of us to assemble a rig in camp......

[John Smith]

Having broke a short and long side, I carry both. I also do what Texican does for events. Certain people bring certain parts so we are all covered.

[bonesaw]

I just got my internet back after my move from OK to CA and can post a couple pics of my solution to carrying spare axle shafts. I decided to carry one of each a short and long side for my rear axle. My front axle if it breaks is free floating so I could just unlock the hub, but since the rear axle is C-clip style I wanted to be prepared. I decided to place both spares under the tub, they have been covered with wd40, wrapped in a plastic bag, and covered with an aluminum foil tape that resists heat from the exhaust melting the bag. Overkill....probably


The main holder of the axles is a wood clam-shell device I built. I already had 4 3/8 bolts/threaded rod that went through the body which also function to hold my battery boxes in place. I used these threaded rods as my mounting spot for my clamshell holder.

enough words...

[bonesaw]

more pics of mounted shafts

[orangefj45]

if i was running a ff rear axle, i'd carry spares. but with a sf, it's just a bunch of dead weight.......

[Skrewball]

i have seen the PP rear axles take quite a beating and not break, the most damage i've seen them take is bending the flange.

fluid film works really well for coating metal to keep it from rusting. it stays put much better than wd-40 or PB.

sweet axle holding do-dad!!!

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

if i was running a ff rear axle, i'd carry spares. but with a sf, it's just a bunch of dead weight.......

Huh? Do you mean you would carry SF shafts but not FF?

I've always carried both, particularly when running difficult trails a long ways from home. I went through 3 SF shafts before upgrading to the FF 5+ years ago. Knock on wood zero FF failures but I still carry spares, the plus is they are easier to carry then SF shafts. Just Differentials is now offering chromo FF shafts, I just got a set off of their first batch, they look great!