I want to ask a SERIOUS question here!!!!!!

DOUGHBOYDD2500HD

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Location
RTP
Why do people buy axles and then cut them and shorten them down and stuff like that?? I thought the whole point is to be wide so you have stability and to be low so you keep your center of gravity down. Why destroy a perfectly good full width axle by making it narrow???:confused: I have never understood why people do that. :shaking: I would think that besides getting the tire out away from frame and body panels it serves more purposes than just that. It can act like a bumper and gaurd your vehicle from debris and rocks and embankments and stuff.

I guess I still got a lot to learn in the 4 wheeling world but I have only been at this for a little over 11 years now so still a newbie I guess.:lol: I hope the reason is not for looks because that is BS. I care about looks a lot too but full widths are much cooler than stock little tiny axles. I can only think of one reason you would do it and tell me if this is the reason. Do people who use there rig as DD in certain states have to shorten them to oass inspection laws and stuff. Do they have gay a$$ mudflap laws like VA does and bumperheight laws?? Ok well I would like to hear some other opinions on this topic. Thanks
 
People do this because not everyone who likes to 4wheel want a rock crawler or axles that stick way ouside the body. Also wide is good for stabilitybut but bad for tight places. Just think it you have a baby jeep with a V8 and want to put a stronger rear 9" axle in it the you would need to narrow it, or also change out the front

Some one could also as the question why do people lift their trucks and put big tires on them it they never go off road.
 
Well IMO if you are gonna run full widths on the east coast, get a full size rig to go with it.

My biggest complaint about my K5 is turning radius and tight trails.

Ive turned sections of trails into a white knuckler (way off center) that CJ and samis just cruise through the bottom.

I think this is the only benefit to the smaller rigs. Tight turn radius, and fit through narraow spots.

I like the room for more junk and fat A** hauling comfort :flipoff2:

Now out west, in the desert (where I have never been and just thinking out loud) maybe there is a benefit to small body buggy and axles that give wide stance on the rock gardens..
 
Just a guess. I am fairly new to all of this.

Could it have something to do with the differential being offset or centered? My Jeep has the offset 44. I might be able to buy a full width axle with a centered diff and cut one side down shorter to make an offset out of a heavyer axle.

If I am right or wrong, someone please tell me.
 
DOUGHWHY

I think your profile answers your questions. Web Wheeler and "CRAZY".
 
Totally for looks, I USED to hate the look of full widths under a jeep. But that was mostly due to people using less bs wheels and having the whole tire sticking out past the body. In hindsight, I should have used fullwidths, but I custom built my axles, so I never had a full width frt to start off with.

I know I should have built full widths for my yj, 'cause recently it spends as much time on its sides as it does on the Iroks.
 
ShyHiK5 said:
Now out west, in the desert (where I have never been and just thinking out loud) maybe there is a benefit to small body buggy and axles that give wide stance on the rock gardens..
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Small body wide stance works better on every trail I have ever been on. Main advantage is low center of gravity. I had a fullsize truck on 44's and could not dream of going where my buggy can go because it was to big/tall. Balance is the key to making any vehicle in any sport work.
 
rockmafia said:
Small body wide stance works better on every trail I have ever been on.
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What about the tight mountian trails?

I can think of a few spots at Tellico that turn my blazer into a 3point turn where a jeep/sami/FJ/buggy just turns and goes...

Not arguing Im just trying to learn somen here
 
ShyHiK5 said:
What about the tight mountian trails?
I can think of a few spots at Tellico that turn my blazer into a 3point turn where a jeep/sami/FJ/buggy just turns and goes...
Not arguing Im just trying to learn somen here
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That probably has more to do with wheelbase that width.
 
BODY

Rockmafia is right. My rig has a full cab and would do much better with out it. Don't get me wrong, I like the way my truck works, but it would be so much better with out such a wide body.
 
well rockmafia thats not a lot in the sport today.

When I went to MOAB I saw 50K rigs were a dime a dozen. Hell there was a $109,000 red brand new TJ right in front of me one morning. I mean everyone out west has a lot of $$$$$$$ and buys all the top of the line stuff. I mean back when i got my rubi they went for 28,000 to 31,000 and i payed 30,000 and then if you add up all the parts and shipping costs and labor costs and misc items and podercoating and new harware and paints and paying to have it built and all that I was really close to 50 I would say. But who cares thats why I sold it and got out of the sport. TOO $$$$$ for me. Now I want to focus on helping my closest friends get their rigs set up and trail ready. Thanks.

Hey did you get those new wheels and tires for your buggy yet?????:D :tongue: :Rockon:
 
You'll notice that competitors are using narrower and narrower axles...they're better for tight places and turning. You have more choices when choosing a line up something.
That being said, I still like wider axles.
 
braxton357 said:
You'll notice that competitors are using narrower and narrower axles...they're better for tight places and turning. You have more choices when choosing a line up something.
That being said, I still like wider axles.
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Narrower axles to fit through narrow cones/gates, not something most of us need to worry about. Most narrow comp buggies are also VERY low/small.
 
It's true, though some of us have trees and quad-sized trails to worry about. As was said earlier...most narrow axles for aesthetics.
 
Comp buggies are the only practicle use I see for narrowed axles. My buggy would look better with narrowed axles I think, but oh the stabilty it has with full width. You can drive off just about any side hill or steep down hill you want with it being low and wide. last trip to tellico we drove down, cut across and backed up gaurdrail without ever feeling the least bit "tippy".
 
With a narrow bodied vehicle and wide axles you can sometimes fit big tires with little lift. Also helps keep the COG low.
 
DOUGHBOYDD2500HD said:
I mean back when i got my rubi they went for 28,000 to 31,000 and i payed 30,000 and then if you add up all the parts and shipping costs and labor costs and misc items and podercoating and new harware and paints and paying to have it built and all that I was really close to 50 I would say.
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:beer: WINNER WINNER :beer:
Longest run on sentence ever posted.:flipoff2:
 
jeepercreature said:
:beer: WINNER WINNER :beer:
Longest run on sentence ever posted.:flipoff2:
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not quite...

don't ask why I remember this one...just that it made me laugh:

2offroad said:
The I have a 4X4 and some times go wheeling, but most times I have to work and if the wife don't want me to do anything and the kids don't have anything they need me for and if the rig isn't broken or need of maintance and the daily drivers are in good repair and the house doesn’t need repair or on fire and it's not somebody's birthday or anniversary and the dogs are not loose and the kids are not fighting and I have enough money for gas and the yard doesn't need mowing and the wife is happy with me and my mom says it's OK and ( insert your own troubles here) and it's not too hot/cold/raining/snowing/windy/dry, I might make it to the trail later club.
Membership is free, but stickers are $100 as they are so big.
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Mark was trying to start a new club...

Greg
 
LOL!!!!!!!!!

Give me a few days and some new ideas and I will beat that sentence. Its easy to make mistakes in grammer when you say F the rules.:D :lol: :Rockon: :tongue:

I live in the getto and we dont use no english and that grammer crap when we are all talking bout them there ideas and thingy's we like. LMAO!!!!!!!!! I am not good at typing the same way people talk. Ok I guess he wins.
 
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