i think i want to go from my 35's to 36's or even 37's but am i gonna break the front end with beach riding and occasional moderate trail riding? any input would be helpful in my decision.

 

Doubtful, if you're easy on it. There are some here who've wheeled (and really wheeled) 37's on X's. You just gotta be cautious with the skinny pedal is what I'm told.

 

with a set of chromoly shafts, i would feel comfortable running a 35" tire even with lockers. just stay easy on the skinny pedal and you're pretty good to go even with stock shafts.

EDIT: looks like jeeperjkj beat me to the punch

 

I have an X and I plan to put chromo shafts, arb air locker, axle sleeves, gussets, 5:13 gears, and maybe a rockkrawler truss.......THEN hopefully I plan to go 38's (Nitto Mud Grapplers 38X14.50X17)

I think you will be fine if you beef up that front axle and stay off the skinny pedal like everyone has said.

 

unfortunately, you can try and beef up a d30 housing all you want but it won't change the fact that your weak links will be your axle shafts and u-joints. even with chromo shafts, 37's would be pushing it especially if you have lockers.

 

My 2cents, the D30 and D44 share the same U-joints and the shafts are also pretty close to, where the real difference is in the ring and pinion and spider gears. The D30 can really take a lot of abuse but it is best to be easy on it. I ran 35x15.50 on my YJ with a 5.9L V8 and a detroit locker for several months in Moab before I switched it out to a D44 and never broke it.
I knew I was pushing my luck with the V8 but I wanted to see how much it would take and I pushed it pretty hard before I pulled it out and it still held up.
Anyway I think the D30 is a lot stronger then people think and especially with the 3.8L it holds up really well to most wheeling with 35's.

 

Don't forget the smaller pinion shaft, too.

 

thanks for the replies. it seems that if i put the locker in the front, which i already have, i should probably stick to 35's to be safe. is it just the weight of the tire and wheel that hurts it so bad? wonder if i can get some really light weight wheels and not to heavy of a tire to help out?

 

I have an X with 35 inch BFG A/T, 4.88 gears and ARB and I went wheeling last weekend and broke my front axle shaft. But I was all over the gas and caught a rock at 4,000 rpm. So I can testify that they will break, but it takes some work. Next chrome moly (northridge @ $600) and I will let you know how that stands up.

 

Sorry to hijack the thread but thanks for the replies......I figure why waste the money on the dana 44 and just beef the 30 up a bit until i do plan to put 60's under the belly for the extreme.

I wheel pretty moderately and so I think the 37's would hold up. Has anyone made any HD u joints yet???