Jeep drives down a steep ravine - GIF

[Frank S]

That is along the lines as to how I thought some were done. in my 79 dodge 1 ton after I doubled the frame I dropped a spicer 5531c and a G630 transfer case in behind the dodge 4 sp the front and rear diffs were from a 69 Chevy C60 This was not for any rock climbing or off road adventure truck this was in what I called my Montana bound welding rig If I would do it over again I am sure I could come up with a more reasonable way of doing so but this time it would have to be diesel.instead of the wimpy little mopar 360 pulling all of that extra weight and gears it barely had enough power to get up to 60 MPH

[Frank S]

I'm not up on the 4x4 trends. Here in the mountains where I live, eveyone drops IRS and IFS in favor of one ton axles. My plan is to build a full floating high pinion 9 inch axle for the rear of my truck and high pinion 509 for the front. A 509/609 is using a 9 inch axle and installing the steering knuckles from either a Dana 50 from a Ford F250 (509) or Dana 60 from a F350/450 (609). IFS and IRS use really weak constant velocity joints instead of U joints on the axles. They are weak in OE form. However, I am sure that aftermarket companies have master the art of making them stronger. Also, IFS and IRS only allows flex at one corner, which can cause the vhicle to drag over obsticals. They lack articulation compared to a straight axle. Again, some company somewhere has probably over come this problem.

This pic shows the possible problems with idependent suspension compared to solid axle.

Some guys I know have had good success with the AM General HM1 drive train but fabricate their own upper and lower control arms and long travel coil overs full 4 corner articulation hydraulic control to adjust the camber. I used to toy around a bit with the little M151A1 parts for a couple of guys but they were into small engines and light weight mobility

[Loose Ctrl]

That is along the lines as to how I thought some were done. in my 79 dodge 1 ton after I doubled the frame I dropped a spicer 5531c and a G630 transfer case in behind the dodge 4 sp the front and rear diffs were from a 69 Chevy C60 This was not for any rock climbing or off road adventure truck this was in what I called my Montana bound welding rig If I would do it over again I am sure I could come up with a more reasonable way of doing so but this time it would have to be diesel.instead of the wimpy little mopar 360 pulling all of that extra weight and gears it barely had enough power to get up to 60 MPH

I'm not familiar with Mopar stuff. I do know enough that your rig had some weight to it. It should have been good on snow covered roads. How many fuel trucks had to follow you around? LOL That poor 360 was struggling.

Some guys I know have had good success with the AM General HM1 drive train but fabricate their own upper and lower control arms and long travel coil overs full 4 corner articulation hydraulic control to adjust the camber. I used to toy around a bit with the little M151A1 parts for a couple of guys but they were into small engines and light weight mobility

Yep, those guys are using techniques to make things work that I have no knowledge of. I'll have to do some research on them, it sounds like interesting stuff.

[Frank S]

Lets just say I am glad that gas wasn't the price it is today the total rigged up weight was near 14K Stupidly heavy considering that other welders running around with their bone stock 4 X 4 1 tons with only a machine and a torch and very little tools were around 8500 to 9000 but for some reason when it came time to get into the bad places they got stuck running their on their 245 16's with their big 454s and automatics,there I was with 285/70 19.5 Bridgestone mud grips with my 360 /4 sp / 3 sp /2 sp having to pull them out if you got enough gears and can get down low even a small engine can be a power horse

[Jon]

You guys might like a new experiment we've been trying at 4x4Builds.net. We've been listing daily-updated posts from ONLY build threads on dozens of 4x4 forums, and ONLY from new posts that include photos. You can click on the top "Models" tab, to see only the latest photo posts in build threads for specific 4x4 models.

For example:

Jeep CJ: latest build thread posts
International Harvester Scout: latest build thread posts
Suzuki Samurai: latest build thread posts
Mercedes Unimog: latest build thread posts


Each snippet links directly to the exact new forum post, so you don't have to go searching through a long build thread. You can essentially browse multiple daily-updated 4x4 build threads, without having to scan through dozens of forums. The site uses a combination of automated forum scanning software that I wrote, plus human review.

Still a work in progress, but the concept is interesting.

[Jon]

[Frank S]

I wonder if wearing brown pants when attempting these climbs are optional or mandatory.

[Jon]

[Frank S]

Road! where I'm going I don't need no road. I wonder if he was the only one to do this successfully.

[marksbug]

awe that aint nothing..hear hold my beer..........crap I dont drink.