So... here we go. I've read enough threads on this forum to know I'm getting myself into a thread that will probably question things I never thought about questioning. Here's what I'm looking at. Right now I've got a 95 F350 with roughly 9" lift in the front and 11" in the rear. I'm swapping in some 46" military tires, obvious problem off the bat being axles. Rocks are on my list of possibilities, but the issue with that is that I'd have to lift it more just to clear the diff on the axle. My truck is a diesel, too so the gear ratio would hurt a little. I'd like the truck to stay as low as possible and still be functional off road, and the end goal is along the lines of hav24wheel's rig or the one in this video:
YouTube - F350 diesel on Slick Rock
I'm planning on swapping out my zf5 tranny and transfer with a zf6 and transfer out of a newer superduty. The low first would help with the gearing. Anyways, are there any other possible axles that would hold up to the power/weight of this rig?

 

You should look into building a steering 14 bolt maybe? REALLY strong axle combo from what I have seen.

 

You can build your axles to be as strong as 2.5's.
Superior 35 spline chromo's with CTM's or Nitro joints. If it were me id stay away from the military tires and stick with a swamper of some kind. The militarys are heavy as hell and suck offroad.

 

46s, are a tad big for tons, But if you want super strong front shafts, I'd go with some CV joints...https://www.rcvperformance.com/store...products_id=48 That is my next set of shafts.. I have broke 3 35 spline outers so far.. and only one STOCK inner shaft... But I don't like breaking stuff...

Also, yes lower is better, I have around 7 inches total lift in mine now, haven't taken It out for a full test after my lowering mods, but I'm sure It will be nice..

 

From what I've seen, the mil tires, particularly when grooved, aren't all that bad off road. Add in the cost and the fact that they take forever to wear out and it seems like a worthwhile option for someone without unlimited funds to throw around.

I like the idea of the CV shafts, that might be worth looking into. I suppose I could just slowly build up the axles I've got. Probably just do a LS front diff then to help reduce strain. I know everyone on this forum seems to get off on Rocks and "how cheap they are" until you actually consider any modification to them. If I'm gonna throw a few grand at a set of axles I'd think the ones I've got could be pretty stout. I do hate to break things though.

 

FYI....a 46" military tires prob. weigh more then a 54" bogger in stock form. If you start bouncing/spinning those tires on the rocks you will break more then just axleshafts. You need 2.5 tons.

 

I'm fully aware of their weight as I'm a wheel mechanic in the Army. Again, the biggest issue is the height of the diff on the Rocks. I don't wanna be "that guy" with Rocks and 20" of lift and have a truck that's worth little more than the detailing job it gets every week and can't even be a mall crawler 'cause it won't fit in the parking garage. I suppose I could move the axle forward to clear the engine but that adds to my already long a$$ wheelbase. Not to mention the extreme cost of anything Rockwell related.

I guess maybe some serious bump stops would help but then again, I'm looking at a lot more lift anyways.

 

my, 0.02

forget the military tires in all honesty. they may be cheap up front, but the things you have to do to accomodate them kill the savings, if not soon, than definitely later, unless you are like that corblund guy who obviously doesn't use 4 wheel drive at all. 53's and a d44 ftf!!!!

not trying to be an ***, but i see that you have big radial tires. have you ever ran bias ply tires? do you realize how bad big knobby tires are on the road? i believe the 46's are radial, but they are made for heavy as all hell trucks and won't help the suspension one bit. people often forget that the tires are part of the suspension.

what is your goal for this truck? because in all honesty 46's kill any and all functionality of the vehicle besides being a toy, hell, you should know from 38's how much it sucks to try to do much other than play in your truck.

 

this may come as a shock to you seeing you've never built anything, but sometimes......people actually build vehicles that dont have driving on the road as its number 1 goal......*GASP*.....Crazy i know

 

what's the ply rating on the 46s? 16 ply? If so, you could rin no air pressure at all on a 6-7000 pound rig..

 

If your truck is going to be just a toy for off road use then by all means go for the Rockwells and 46" tires. Then plan on cutting the back half off your frame, and move your front axle forward and bring the rear axle forward as well. Forget leaf springs because of the top loader design you will get nothing but axle wrap. Links will be the order of the day here, and not just simple small joints either. Nothing but big joints will hold up well enough so you will not have to replace them while out on the trail. While you are at it you should really rethink your military tire idea. While a 46" tire would be great there is a reason military tires last so long. They are made to support a lot more weight then you will require. Fatdan 460 has already hit on this idea. Tires are an important part of your suspension. Tires that heavy don't flex well at all. Even while aired down for traction they don't flex. This will leave you spinning your tires and not going anywhere.

If you really want more info then check out Pirate 4x4's site. Personally I think you should really rethink the idea unless it is going to be an off road only rig. Your truck is a little long for a good off road rig and if you are set on the idea perhaps you may be happier looking for a different platform on which to build on.

LT.

 

to quad,

i never said anything about it being the main goal, but why in the **** would he swap to a six speed for wheeling????? all zf's are granny gear 1st mr ****ing amazing floridah ****tard. so diesels need a double over drive for crawling???? and how many vehicles have you built since you happen to be a master builder that couldn't finish a build thread? i just started working again and i'm picking up parts for my bronco right now, so stfu. i don't believe in purpose built vehicles. no sense in having a truck that just does one thing, and i've never had enough parking for more than 2 vehicles at a time.

 

I guess I have two rigs, one for ONLY fun, and one for a DD/occational tow rig... A purpose built rig is a rig you build for what you want to do with it!

 

never had the room to just have a vehicle sit most of the time, that's why i am going so mild on the bronc's motor. i can deal with a welded rear on the street, won't be much different than a detroit, but a crazy high rpm motor with barely any bottom end won't work for me, truck has to be multi-functional. maybe if we get a bigger place early next year that might change.

 

A rig you build for dual purpose, IS a purpose built rig.....


But DON'T run a welded rear on the street. YOU WILL BREAK STUFF..

I ran 35s on a 9inch rear first with a mini spool, broke the cross pin... Than I put a spool in it, broke a axle shaft.. Put upgraded shafts in, than I broke the spool in half... Than I put a homemade mini spool with 2 cross pins in it, than I blew the carrier off the back of the 3rd member... Than I put a lockright in it, worked great untell I put the 39.5 tsls on it......