For you 1/2 ton guys...

[muddermilitia]

What tire size are you running and what's your axle setup (gear/locker/shafts/u-joints)?

I'm thinking of running a 10/12 bolt combo on the buggy I just bought to save weight. I want to run a 38-40" tire and I hope the buggy will weigh under 3k lbs.

Thanks

 

[79k20350]

It can be done but one issue you cant get around are the front u joints. When turning youll have to be VERY careful or you'll blow em quick.

 

[muddermilitia]

Isn't there an aftermarket company I can get stronger 10-bolt joints for?

 

[rollin36s]

1 tons are cheap fork out the cash it will save you in the long run . a 1200 dollar dana 60 is cheaper then the amount of parts your gonna break runnin big tires on a 10 bolt.....i

 

[pauly383]

Springers Mazda powered buggy is under 3k with dual aluminum transfercases , driven by the Mazda transaxle .

All that torque and hasn't broken a rear 12 bolt shaft with Iroks in the size your looking for , the 12 bolt shafts are stockers from back on his green blazer , I can't remember when he broke a front , but the fronts are Alloy USA .

 

[muddermilitia]

1 tons are cheap fork out the cash it will save you in the long run . a 1200 dollar dana 60 is cheaper then the amount of parts your gonna break runnin big tires on a 10 bolt.....i

I already got a big ol 1-ton doubler equipped trail rig, I'm looking to save weight on this one, then I dont need to buy another big tow rig. I'm hoping my dad's astro van will be sufficient to tow this buggy once its done

 

[TDAWG1]

Chromolly shafts from Yukon Gear they are awesome. ORD has them or can get them at a good price.

 

[obijuan]

10 bolts 37 SSRs stock shafts and ujoints, auburn LS rear and open front. all on my loaded blazer with ~8 inches and the top always on.

 

[Stomis]

I'm not true half ton more like 3/4, but I'm running a dana 44 / 14b (10.5in ring with 6lug outers). 36x12.5 TSL's locked front and rear. I feel iffy on it but I'm starting to feel my setup is perfect.

 

[rollin36s]

maby its just me i broke axle shafts with 36 tsl radials on a 10 bolt....am i unlucky

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Ugh...forget his screen name on here...wrath over on orc/chevy built a light weight truggy that was pretty much a cab, a frame, most of a hood, and a half ton drivetrain. The problem he had was that the tires just got too big and heavy for his half tons. Last I knew he was going front and rear steer with 1 tons.

 

[Stomis]

Theres a guy (Think his name is grumpy bastard or something) on Pirate. Hes running 38x14.5s on a high pinion dana 44 front in a 3000 pound s10 truggy.

 

[Chevy305]

10bolt front and rear 35" Mickey Thompson MTZ stock front and rear has a lock right and chromo shafts. Never once had a problem other than the time I tried to hold a brake stand then i swithed to chomos and never tried it again and never had a problem.

 

[twoslo4five0]

39s half ton,locked rear..and yes i do wheel it (well only once so far)

 

[muddermilitia]

Theres a guy (Think his name is grumpy bastard or something) on Pirate. Hes running 38x14.5s on a high pinion dana 44 front in a 3000 pound s10 truggy.

Thats grumpy old fart and his truck is strictly a straight line mud truck so that combo will hold up.

Looks like Im just gonna use 1-tons with 1/2 ton brakes and try to save weight wherever I can. Already have a drw d60 and a van 14bff, i'll just use Solid 6-lug hubs and 1/2 ton brakes and d70 spindles in the rear with Solid hubs and 1/2 ton brakes

 

[MaxPF]

Run 1/2 tons dude. If you hit your 3k target you will have a rig that weighs half (or less) of what a loaded, trail ready, full-bodied K5 weighs.

FWIW, on my K5 I run 37" FC-II's on a 30 spline 10b front with stock shafts, and a 14bsf rear with e-lockers on both axles. My hope-to-start-soon tube buggy build will run similar axles but I hope to keep it under 2700lbs ready-to-wheel. I should be able to run 38-40" tires with no problems, judging by what I have seen others get away with.

 

[muddermilitia]

One thing I think most guys are forgetting is the terrain that I will be wheeling here in the midwest and east coast compared to the terrain out west. Here wheelspeed is required for most obstacles, so "taking it easy" sometimes isnt an option

 

[420indiana]

I am running 35" ground hawgs 10 bolt 28 spline axles front and rear. I have broken a ujoint on the drivers side up front,but I had it hopping on a hill and should have let out of it but did not.I wheel the Blazer hard on midwest trails,hills and, rocks.I have had good luck with the setup but I would love to upgrade,until then I hope the old 10 bolts hold up!!!Run it the worst thing that will happen is it will break!!