crawlerboxes

[timbercruiser]

OK, I'm looking for a good way to crawl. I was thinking of Orion, but then saw the rockbox was cheaper (plus more gear options!). So now I'm thinking of that or Marlin. Any thoughts? I'm looking for ease of installation (as little fabbing as possible) and price.
Its a stock 78 with a 3-speed t/c. If I save enough pennies, it'll have 35's next summer.

P.S. I did a search and didn't find the answer I was looking for.

 

[woody]

Rockbox is cheaper until you realize you must also redo your driveshafts....add $300-500 for that process....

I like Marlins since you have options for the 1st box low range, but again, you have driveshaft changes...

I like the Orion since it bolts on and you have few other changes to make....

 

[timbercruiser]

The Orion would be easiest. Bolt it in (right?) and go play.

 

[Wolfman]

why not a non usa 4 speed from man a fre 4.925 1 st gear for 650.00 complete bolt in transthe final crawl will be almost 50 to 1 . 4.925x2.313x4.11. price wise its the best thing going then save up for the marlin 2.28 crawl box and you will have 50 to 1 or 100 to 1

 

[G-Cat]

Is the orion available for the H55F? Anyone?

Thx

 

[Cruiserdrew]

How about forget the crawler box and just use an sm420 transmission? It's cheap, bullet proof, low geared and you already own the correct transfer case. There is also minimal fabrication involved and the driveshafts will basically fit.

With that said, the Marlin Toybox is really nice, but I'm not sure the 3 speed transfer case is strong enough to handle the torque multiplication.

 

[timbercruiser]

why not a non usa 4 speed from man a fre 4.925 1 st gear for 650.00 complete bolt in transthe final crawl will be almost 50 to 1 . 4.925x2.313x4.11. price wise its the best thing going then save up for the marlin 2.28 crawl box and you will have 50 to 1 or 100 to 1

I considered that option. I want 35's without regearing the diffs, so I figured t/c regear would be easiest and least $$.

 

[DocB]

I've heard lots of stories of broken stuff behind a crawler box due to the abovementioned torque multiplication. A 4:1 T Case for me would be ideal; as low as I would ever need prolly. Couple that with a non USA H41 4 speed and it would be a crawly (and expensive) set up.

 

[Cryptic]

How is the orion when considering long term, lots of mileage? Is it quiet on the road? Does the machining and quality of the gears look like they will stand up to say 200k miles without undue wear? A crawl box is nice because in 1:1 it doesn't have to transfer power through its gearsets, just direct drive. The added length of a crawl box is a pita in a near stock 40 tho. The orion would be ideal for a truck that sees lots of road miles, but Treeroots post on oil contamination/breakin wear has me worried.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Yes there is a more breakage with the aditional torque but I still love going stupid low. I went sm420 to toybox to cruiser splitcase and love it. If you got the pennies I would get a crawler box of some sort.

 

[timbercruiser]

Apparantly, I'll need to relocate the frame crossmember with a rockbox?
If so, then the Orion is starting to look good. Does AA have any holiday sales? If so, will the Orion or rockbox be included? (I'm not holding my breath)

 

[bustanutley]

Orion is currently on sale for 1370 on AA's website

 

[timbercruiser]

Anybody want to loan me 1370?
D'OH! No budget yet!

 

[treerootCO]

I am no longer worried about the initial breakin metal in the oil thing. I have talked with multiple people who are running Orions and all of them have reported the same. The gears need to wear in as well as the thrust washers. Some of the metal is from the casting process.

All the Orions that were built with newer doner parts don't seem to have the problem of shifting into neutral by themselves.

Overall I am very pleased with the Orion.

 

[78 One owner]

If you PM hammerhead the measurement of how far the rear of your TC is from the crossmember, he can tell you whether or not you would have to move the crossmember to install a rockbox in your truck. Mine fit in beautifully without moving the crossmember, but, nothing about mine is stock anyway.

Whether to do that or go with the Orion is a difficult decision. I chose not to put a lower gearset in my truck and go with a doubler because I use my roughly 2:1 lowrange all the time. Putting a significantly lower gearset in the TC would hamper my truck as a trail rig. I just aquired a '74 FJ to build into a "flop truck", or as some people are calling them, a "Cruggy". This new rig will probably get a 203/205doubler setup to save money and be nearly bulletproof.

 

[timbercruiser]

Thanks for all the input, gang. It'll probably be determined by budget and if a rockbox will fit without mods.

 

[teapot]

i want to hear more about the orion hd before i make a decision on what to buy