Re: Opinion on 3/4 ton axles and 36\" tires
It realy depends. You have to keep in mind big GM trucks are heavy.
Most people have good luck with 35's, and then you think, "Oh 1" taller can't hurt".
Thing is those groundhawgs or swampers you are running are a lot more heavy and are a bigger actual size than a standard radial 35" tire. They also have a lot more traction. Add all that together and it really is a big step up.
Now for personal experience. I broke a D44 stub shaft with swampers that actually measured 36" x 12" x 16". It was patheric. I had the rear in the air on the 14BFF lip (unlocked, spun the aired tire). So I go moderate throttle, the fronts are slowly churning up relatively soft dirt up front. All of a sudden, the stub shaft goes.
Now I don't know about you, but I do know you know SD terrain. Do you really want to be out in the middle of a trail sitting on a pile of mud tearing off a 100 pound tire and wheel to get to a u joint that's going to be a pain in the ass to get out? What if you take out more than a joint or a shaft? I was luck to be able to drive off with my break. I haven't torn an axle apart all the way yet, so I wouldn't have been able to fix it within the day, I would have had to leave my truck on top of a rock on a fire road for a week.
In the end, I spent a chunk of money on a nice set of matched one tons and proper steering, but I'm happy. I'm running the same 38x13x16 and I HIGHLY doubt I'm breaking anything, even with the 30 spline stubs.
A D60 can be argued in the figurative, but as for me, personally, you can't beat the peace of mind it brings, even not wheeling. You never really worry about upgrading to CTM's or alloy shafts. You never consider tubing the whole thing out just to save weight to make the D44 live. Of course you may do these things with the 60 when you get extreme, but for now, you can wonk the thing all over and not fear any major breakage axle wise. If you have a decent tranny set up and a reliable motor, you're good to go.
Anyway I digress
Run the D44 untill you break it, or untill you break it so much it becomes a pain in the ass. Be easy on it and save for a D60
On a side note, I've been meaning to mention, a few years ago people were worried all the D60's would be snatched up and lost forever. Albeit expensive, you can now build your own D60 out of parts ordered from various shops. Crane knuckles and Currie (I think) centersections. Most people replace all the internals anwyay.
Anywho take it for what you will
