Stability of full size truck vs full width axles on smaller truck?

[urbex]

Wow...signed up 4 years ago, and never posted anything...didn't think it had been that long, lol. Anyways, thinking about picking up another square for a toy...previously had an '89 Suburban on 37s as a rock toy, but life had taken a different course than intended, and sold it. Have also been through a number of Jeeps, half a dozen Scouts, a couple S10s/S10 Blazers, a Ram 1500 on 38s, and a few other 4x4 tow rigs.

Recently met someone who's driving a K5, and I found myself just a bit jealous, lol. My current rock toy is an '87 Samurai, and while I love it off road, the lack of cargo area is pretty limiting at times, as is the super short wheelbase on big climbs/descents. Have almost rolled rear over front a few times on big drops that everyone else didn't have an issue with, lol.

Something I've been thinking about recently, that I've never seen discussed before, is if there's any real differences in stability off road, between say a K5, or stuffing those full size axles under something like a 4 door S10 Blazer. Obviously there's far more than just overall track width at play here, and I'm not looking for a doctorate dissertation level analysis here either. More of a curiosity, as realistically speaking, I'm not likely to have the ambition to SAS on an S10 anytime soon anyways, lol, and will buying a K5 for more inside room. I used the K5/S10 Blazer as an example, as they're both right around 107" wheelbase.

 

[Justin V]

Most folks will do more than just throw full width axles in...

My buddy's jeep is stretched enough to have zero approach or departure issues with 42's... another buddy's sammi is stretched nearly a foot and a half.

Watching @mrk5 wheel his crew cab is fun.

Extra wheel base helps. Scott will tell you that he has trouble in tight spot's with the crew, >too long< but getting the tires to the extreme corners of a vehicle will always improve stability. On or off road.

 

[mrk5]

Check out @r3dd0g S10 build. His is an extended cab and it's an awesome rig with all fullsize running gear. I think the only original powertrain item left is the 4.3L which I think he plans to replace with a 6.0L.

 

[6.2Blazer]

There is no reason the stability would be different between a fullsize truck and a small truck with fullsize axles. If the overall width and center of gravity are the same then the stability is the same........if, and that is a big IF, all the other variables are the same. I think it would be very hard to keep all of the other variables exactly the same when doing this as things like the amount of lean/sway in the suspension or simply the "squish" of the tires when leaning over will make a difference.

 

[urbex]

I know there's more than just the track width, as I said in the original post. I'm just trying to take a better approach to my next truck, rather than just "hey, that looks cool!', and attempting to avoid having to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I would like to convert all of the drivetrain from my current K5 to a smaller body like an S-10. The main reason is simply to have the smaller and narrower body, and maybe a little lighter, which would be less prone to trail damage.

 

[urbex]

I'm going back and forth...I like the idea of smaller body/less chance of damage, but then I also like the idea of more interior cargo space too. It was nice being able to sleep in the back of the Suburban on weekend trips, but then it's also nice that I can stick my Samurai in and out of places that even a lot of Wranglers can't go, much less full size vehicles.