Hi there, I primarily rock crawl. I have an 09 4 door Rubicon with a 3.5 inch Rock Krawler lift. I plan to go up to 37 inch BFG KM2s. I have been asking my buddies if I should get new axles or keep my dana 44's. Some say the dana 44s will do just fine, others say get a front and rear truss, and others say upgrade the axles. Any one out there running 37s, rock crawling, and on dana 44s? any issues?

Thanks

 

I ran the same setup, 3.5 RK, Rubi, 37" KM2's. Wheeled mostly rocks at Rausch Creek, BDS Outback, Southington Off Road, and a few local trails. I had C Gussets and lower CA skids but no truss. After a year the D44 housing snapped in two. So, I would truss or sleeve for sure, or upgrade to a PR44 housing.

 

gusset the C's and save your money for axle upgrades. the d44's will work for some time depending on how hard you wheel it. If you haven't already upgraded your axle shafts, I'd recommend Ten Factory.

Have you upgraded your stock drive shafts?

 

It depends how you are on the skinny pedal. The more weight spinning and the faster it spins the harder it is on things. I would recommend c-gussets for sure.

From what I understand the housing problems are due to inferior manufacturing and added stress from the track bar acting as a lever. Someone correct me if what I've read on this subject is wrong.

 

I have gusset's. But have not upgraded the stock drive shafts. What gears do you all think, 4:88 or 5:13?

Thanks for all the tips!

 

We run a wide array of NASTY socal rocks and will say c-gussetts sleeves up front then upgrade your axles....I snapped one at truck haven.....done 96 mile tow home....


I sold that one now have a 2dr and snagged Rubicon axles with rcv front and ten factory rear....

If you wheel hard do axles no question. No one likes to wheel with a unprepared person who breaks then has to be fixed or towed because of it....now a prepared person who breaks is a different story its trail juju.....lol

I still bring spares to certain places and will at Johnson valley hammer trails and some of the superstition trails.....too far a drive and WAY nasty rocks.

 

OK, lots to think about. Thanks

 

since you primarily rock crawl I would go 4.88
with 5.13 the RP gets smaller and you raise your chances of breaking something

 

If your an auto id go 5.38 hands down

 

Thanks everyone, it was helpful!