• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

Which axles would you use?

Yea I've gone big then back the other way, I went through Lions Den in under 6 minutes this spring. Didn't spin a tire or back up, now doing the Rubicon trail in all but stock xj with 35's and a open front end...LOL That was fun...... I did make Crawl Magazine this month in my truggy, great time......

20746017_1666184533424225_6263528022640439648_o-XL.jpg
 
Even though this is an old post, thought I would weigh in. I would sell the JK axles, and put that money into the d30 you have, and build up a junkyard Ford 8.8. 4.88 gears, good spicer u-joints, chrome moly axles and be done. If you get the right Ford 8.8 you get 31 spline shafts and disk brakes too! This is the route I took, even going over kill for my tire size. My build is more of a expedition build. I drive the XJ to my wheeling destination. I am also running small tires! 235/75/15s. I went with new gears, air lockers and chrome moly axles, good spicer u-joints with lock rings. No truss but would like too for the front axle and have the Cs gusseted. Would like to know what you ended up doing with your build?
 
The more I look into it, the more I think I'm just going to do this to my son's XJ for the front axle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6N9zCDyWUs&t=418s

He's only running 31s at present, and won't be doing a lot of wheeling. Certainly nothing hardcore, as this is his only vehicle. But by all means strengthen what he's got. For a couple hundred bucks and some time under the welding hood with him (teaching him a new skill) it's money well spent.

Might never be able to get the money out of it if I sell it- I don't care. Time in service getting him dependably to/from work and school does a lot for that, in my mind.
 
After alot of back and forth I ended up going with the JK axles, It came down to the electric lockers. I hate the lunchbox locker in the rear of the xj... Always making alot of noise and scrubbing....That means buying two selectable lockers and having them setup... I've went with the Artec JK to TJ swap truss in the front and standard rear truss. I bought 9 used JK hardrock wheels for the jeep and teardrop and 35/12.50 17 BFG KM2"s. Gonna start the swap in a few weeks. Still need to work out trackbar and steering...

21768324_1721304367912241_7541942295655942628_n.jpg


21687847_473133533068356_4499946921691972559_n.jpg


22540004_1743913562317988_335028152950337145_n.jpg


21762246_1715779231798088_2828429995151655594_n.jpg
 
D30's on rocks with 33's are marginal at best. When you lock it, it gets worse. I got to the point where I could change out a drivers side shaft in less than 15 minutes. Even with the D44 upgrade from a 88 Ford Truck, I still have replace a couple of shafts and I drive very conservatively.

Like your teardrop. Where did you get it? I designed and built a very similar one from scratch.


Sorry old man, I just saw this. I also built mine. I pulled a popup for years but got tired of the setup time and clearance issues. I tried to comment on your build but I couldn't. Probably because I'm not a paying member, I'll have to get on the ball and become a member.

15380461_1330457746996907_2350024511967922468_n.jpg


15380619_1321011354608213_6206947312067557426_n.jpg


15894844_1387829764593038_2707729527062230421_n.jpg


16832285_10206412519391943_9134727537964480385_n.jpg
 
Man that is a cool trailer!
This build is about to get good as well.
 
Go tons, either make steel flares to cover, or buy em. one of the guys I know has an XJ on tons and 39.5" swampers. all he has to do is make his front steel flares and it would pass inspection. or build the JK axles and run em, about the same width, tons would be heavier tho.
 
Back
Top