tjkj2002 wrote:
ohv_kj wrote:
well lets just say he is a believer in what i have...yes in might brake and yes the limit of the axles are there..but when ppl like you say it can't be done... i laugh...it seems all you have knowledge in is your initial jeep, "kjs are better here, kjs should this" again, until you build something like what i drive, your point is useless... i have seen plenty of Cherokees and such running a big tire on smaller axles...it's all about how you drive...i like a challenge...oh to let you know my jeep rides better then most jeep i felt w/ long arms...and the reason ramble likes telling you all about our shop is because he has seen what we have and knows it is safe... i have put 10,000 miles on it so far and it is fine...keep your rock60 and i'll build my junk yard axles all day...
Just remember that a XJ is also about 1000lbs lighter then a KJ.You got to take into effect the weight of the vehicle in axle selection.Sure you can say the D30A came stock but it was a IFS design that supported zero weight.My KJ is sitting at 5500lbs right now and is way to heavy for a D30.Hey my front axle is a "junkyard" axle,took $4500 to make a good axle,you'd be very hard pressed to match it's strength for cheaper,heck it would be about $5000-$6000 to build a good front HP60,if not more.Sure my rear RockJock60 cost more then a regular rear D60 or C14 but I get the D60 strength without the weight,it weighs only 380lbs complete which is about 200lbs-300lbs lighter then a stock D60 and/or C14 but has the same if not more strength,that alone is worth the price.I'm trying to keep my KJ under 6000lbs but may not be able to.A 3ton vehicle needs big axles and beefy parts that cost more to begin with but will be cheaper to maintain then upgrading later.
....and maybe some day we will see it finished.
So hows it coming along anyway?
I agree w/ some of your points Troy but it is interesting that there is one SFA KJ that is still running the factory 8.25 and stock shaft equipped junk yard HPD30 and has been wheeling for 3 years now and still going strong. (knock wood) Like mentioned, it has a lot to do w/ how you wheel. We all know that Seth beat the crap out of his rig on several Very hard trails before the D30 gave up w/ 35's and I suspect that any D30 equiped rig probably would have had a similar fate under his heavy foot.
Bottom line is you
can build a very capable, safe and strong rig w/ decent enough, "Cheap", parts and wheel for a very long time or you can overbuild for more money and never have to upgrade. (or somewhere in the middle of those)
I decided recently that my KJ is at pretty much where it will stay. No bigger tires, no exo cage, no V8 swap, no Rockwells or portals, etc. I'm gonna wheel and enjoy it and then start a new project when I can. I guarantee I will get every penny back in enjoyment out of this rig, heck I'm almost there already AFAIC.