Axle swap complete!

[Rockcrawler]

Well, when I bought my truck it had everything I wanted but the 3. 73's (too good a deal to pass up), so I posted an add.



I was actually getting used to the 4. 10's, not as annoying as i expected with the quieter truck (had an 01) and the 315/70's I put on.



I got an email from a guy with the twin to my truck, 20 miles from me. He drives mostly local and after doing the tire switch decided he'd rather have 4. 10's.



8. 5 hrs later, we each have the axles we want, pretty straight forward, left the calipers with each truck and changed everything else. We left the front shafts attached to each respective front axle, going to take a special compact torx tool to get it off. These will be a real bch when rust sets in.



Just thought I'd pass the info on in case someone was considering a similar swap.

 

[Hammerhead]

Kudo's to Rockcrawler!

The Swap, as he said, went off without a hitch. Quite a high powered operation for two guy's in the driveway but it went great and I believe we were both suprised at how quickly it was completed.

If any TDR member is in the neighborhood of a rockcrawling event ,you should take the time to go out and support Ken. He's built a fantastic rockcrawling machine and I believe he will Kick A$$ on the circuit. Oo. Good Luck Ken

 

[lawdog]

Ok now, how much of a difference is there with the 315's between the gear sets. I do not know for sure which gear to finally decide on, I may use the stock tires for the winter and use nice rims and 315's for summer when I get my truck this fall, or sooner.

 

[Hammerhead]

For me the 4. 10's go with the 315's perfectly. I pull a mowing trailer around several days a week and the 315's made it noticeably less powerful pulling the trailer at highway speeds. If you pull a trailer and will be traveling any distance at highway speeds then I would do one of the following: A= get a fueling box, or B- get the 4. 10 gears. Ken's truck has an Edge box and it MORE than makes his truck powerful enough to pull his trailer at whatever speed he wants. I don't want to speak for him but I think his motivation for wanting the higher gears was the amount of rpm's that he was turning while traveling. I will say that around town all the way through 5th gear the 3. 73's were ok, but once you hit 6th the truck just fell on it's face. It's my understanding that the 315's w/ 4. 10 gears take the truck exactly back to where it was with 3. 73 gears and the stock 265/70/R17 tires. That is about all I can think of but if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

 

[Rockcrawler]

Hammerhead hit it...

each change is mathematically 9%/240 RPM's at highway speeds. I travel east and west to comps at 77-82 which had me at 23-2450 RPM. I prefer being closer to 2k.



Between the six speed and the 315's I'm just a bit "taller" than my 01 mith similar power and 3. 55's/5 speed and 295 tires. With my old truck I was always looking for one more gear. I think I'll be happy- first big trip in 10 days to Cedar City UT.

 

[dnitzel]

Rockcrawler, done much off-roading or rock crawlin' yet? Hows the '03 compair?

 

[BHolm]

dnitzel,



I think you have the wrong impression. I highly doubt he is running his '03 Dodge in rock crawling competitions. I am sure the Dodge is the tow vehicle for the REAL rock crawler.



Rockcrawler,



I have an acquaintance that helps out at most of the crawler events. He is with the RockWare guys from Co Springs CO. His name is Chuck Henry or maybe better known as "Q". I have an M-B G-wagen, as does Chuck. I've done quite a bit of wheelin in it though nothing like the competitions, I still street drive it.



Brent

 

[dnitzel]

I was just asking as I've had mine out climbing hills and such and towing the camper and quads back home. I though it did quite well and it remined me of my Jeep Cherokee with the OR package. Of course the Dodge is a bit bigger. I was just wondering if any one else had much off-road opinions on the '03.

 

[Rockcrawler]

Like Bholm said...

My Dodge is the tow rig/support vehicle. That said, It sometimes gets wheeled mildly to get closer to the comp (with tools/parts, without trailer)- nothing much to me but you won't see any grocery getter SUV's where I go either.



The truck does pretty well, the antispin is light years better than the POS in my Dana80 on the previous truck



I've seen the Rock Ware vehicles around and have met quite a few guys from CO Springs



I'll see if I can post a buggy pick, I had to shrink the heck out of it- not one of my talents

 

[lawdog]

Thanks for the info, I will be pulling a trailer in the winter and mostly empty in the summer, I plan on nice wheels and the 315's for the summer and stockers for winter