So who’s running a Advance Adapters dual transfer case kit TX-2 ? Like it / hate it/ thoughts
Advance Adapters Dual Transfer Kit (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter VA.CRUISER
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I hate to say this ... but go Marlin.
There is a pretty large gap in price. I'm wondering if it really is get what you pay for. Or are there only minor differences.
Right now an AA is $340 shipped, Trail gear is $470 shipped, and Marlin $719 plus shipping and backordered. Someone wote inchworm is back and is identical to MC08 minus color and is even being sold by Marlin Crawler. I thought inchworm was bought by trail gear and retired.
Did you end up choosing one to go with?
Right now an AA is $340 shipped, Trail gear is $470 shipped, and Marlin $719 plus shipping and backordered. Someone wote inchworm is back and is identical to MC08 minus color and is even being sold by Marlin Crawler. I thought inchworm was bought by trail gear and retired.
Did you end up choosing one to go with?
That is what I heard.
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I bought the Advanced Adapter one but ended up with a complete donor rig with dual cases that had a old Inch Worm adapter. So just swapped in the complete package.
I wonder if Marlin ever fixed their bearing issue in their dual transfer case adapters. If I personally had to do it again I'd go with an AA adapter.
BlueCruiser84
SILVER Star
Interesting. Anyone know why the AA kit is so cheap? Marlins kits have been back ordered for a while. I have nothing against trail gear, personally, and their kit looks fine. AA is cheaper than TG, though and that makes me wonder.
CNC'd plates rather than cast... re design of re design of re design of design. I think Marlin came up with something "original" after the ones he was selling with advanced adapters. Charged extra for it. Redesigned it again. Charged extra. Their chromoly coupler. Charged extra. Now the market is forcefully paying premium.
The s***ty thing is.... that allegedly the Mc08 isnt even ready to go out of the box. Their maximum capacity bearing is alleged to have a guaranteed failure. Right out of the box it is alleged to need a $130 bearing upgrade.
I say allegedly....because I dont own modern marlin design... I've just read about it on the internet. I was just about sold on the newest marlin adapter to replace my OG AA adapter(later than marlin, but before AA dual bearing mod) until I got into some heavy reading that (probably not coincidently) wasnt on Marlins website.
Might be able to just mill out my adapter to accept the upgrade bearing that the latest and greatest marlin plate allegedly needs anyways.
Definitely some research to be done.... then again, I think there is a lot to be said for the marlin coupler and total splin input. In a single bearing plate, with modern marlin input/coupler, I have fairly good wear characteristics 15k miles in.
Theres no argument a double bearing or dual row or max cap bearing reduces coupler wiggle... but that doesnt mean anything if the coupler and input arent machined to a tight tolerance in the first place or not put together with high quality grease. Seeing as the coupler doesnt get lubed by gear oil. But I wonder if the single row bearing design is actually as inferior as the marlin crew makes it out to be....
Interesting. In 2014 my Marlin adapter gear, and input gear stripped out. I sent it to Marlin for repair, and it was my understanding they "upgraded" the bearing. Now, I'm concerned.
Can you provide more details as to what happened?
(what grease was used on install, how it was installed, what model of plate you had, what coupler/input it was, what is was upgraded with, etc)
I reckon what I was reading wasn't a bash marlin buy my product instead, post(s). Considering they were running marlin, and sourced the upgraded bearing themselves, to continue running marlin, in upgraded fashion. Although for marlin to all the sudden take this new bearing on....they're backpedaling quite a bit of marketing.
IMO has nothing to do with buying marlin or not, or supporting American business or not. If your product does not work, then....??? The MC08 is a nice plate. I wouldn't buy it and run it without immediately pressing the bearing out and "upgrading" it. Big Mike is a salesman, his dad is an original engineer.... Big Mike is running Marlin, as far as I know.
A late answer to the OP but, I've been running the Advance Adapter TX2 since about 2010 or 2012? Don't remember for sure. No problems after MANY miles on and off road.
Two complaints. First is that the dual bearings were Chinese. I chucked them and replaced with NACHI. 2nd is that the machined edges were razor sharp and I took the time to smooth out the casting and sharp edges.
FWIW My son ran the TG adapter with zero problems and he can break a steel ball in a rubber room.
Two complaints. First is that the dual bearings were Chinese. I chucked them and replaced with NACHI. 2nd is that the machined edges were razor sharp and I took the time to smooth out the casting and sharp edges.
FWIW My son ran the TG adapter with zero problems and he can break a steel ball in a rubber room.
inchworm sold to low range who now has the same address as trail gear.
I Have Been running the marlin dual case since 2004, its been behind a 2003 4.3 with a 4l60and an advance adapter since 2009, never had a problem with the marlin case. detrsyed many rear diffs. Seems to hit 2 hard need to let off the gas before it shifts. The 4.3 was not one on my better ideas, If i were to do it over I would have looked for a 22re turbo instead, lot less work .The marlin case has held up well.
Yes, it all looks part of the trail gear family.
Trail-gear and Marlin are right next to each other. I bought my MC08 from Trail-Gear and they had Marlin drop shipped it.
Revive!
Inchworm dual case adapter is now made in house by marlin crawler.
When did they acquire inchworm? from trail gear?
And is the cnc machined billet (stronger) clockable inchworm adapter worth 1000$ plus shipping compared to AdvanceAdapter cast heat treated (356-T6) Tx2 at 405$ shipped.
Big price difference, I have a hard time forking over that much more hard earned $ I know you get what you pay for generally, but both products have recent upgrades (2025) so are we comparing apples to apples, or is the clockable rear transfer case from inchworm the true advantage- IF you use that feature!
If you don’t clock it to gain underbelly clearance, is the inchworm/marlin worth the extra 600$ plus if you’re on a budget build.
83’ 22R w56 dual’s 4.7 35’s 5.29 Grizzlyx2
Inchworm dual case adapter is now made in house by marlin crawler.
When did they acquire inchworm? from trail gear?
And is the cnc machined billet (stronger) clockable inchworm adapter worth 1000$ plus shipping compared to AdvanceAdapter cast heat treated (356-T6) Tx2 at 405$ shipped.
Big price difference, I have a hard time forking over that much more hard earned $ I know you get what you pay for generally, but both products have recent upgrades (2025) so are we comparing apples to apples, or is the clockable rear transfer case from inchworm the true advantage- IF you use that feature!
If you don’t clock it to gain underbelly clearance, is the inchworm/marlin worth the extra 600$ plus if you’re on a budget build.
83’ 22R w56 dual’s 4.7 35’s 5.29 Grizzlyx2
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All I can say is that my AA T2X is still holding up. I did decide to replace the Chinese bearings it came with to Nachi bearings before installing it.
My only complaint was that the casting is rough and the machined surfaces had razor sharp edges. I worked the casting before assembly. Otherwise it's been working fine for years. It was only about $200 back then.
I'd love to have a Marlin Crawler or Inchworm case but I also have a limited budget.
My only complaint was that the casting is rough and the machined surfaces had razor sharp edges. I worked the casting before assembly. Otherwise it's been working fine for years. It was only about $200 back then.
I'd love to have a Marlin Crawler or Inchworm case but I also have a limited budget.
