Marlin Crawler Land Cruiser Products (1 Viewer)

[Dindu Nuffin]

What???

Straight dookie.
Land Cruiser Crawler Gears | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

 

[nukegoat]

...so four pages in I find I might be years out from pinning some definitives on the apparently illusive t-case equation.

That’s fine in the interim but I am not regearing the front and rear because I have heard members state their opinions and lessons learned.

And for what I want to set the rig up to do the consensus seems to be;

leave the front and rear gearing alone (most of the anticipated year-long run will be spent on the freeways/highways),

The rear definitely should be locked,

having the front locked as well is the last bit of insurance before using the winch,

However, where the trail gets painfully rough the T-case will need a solution apparentantly, especially if considering something like the Rubicon.

I am trying to be responsible in sorting through estimating costs, I really want to finish the build in 24 mo.s or sooner but with 3 kids in college I have to be reasonable.

But I take it as a signal when those who came before say they wish there was something better coming out of their t-case.

I am so glad I am not leaving in 2018. I ain’t buying anything off the shelf that hasn’t thrown absolute fits in development first.

...so I wait.

Whats this plan after 2 years? I would regear the diffs. Bad idea not to, IMO

 

[jcardona1]

Looks like Marlin is discontinuing the tcase gears... get 'em while you can.

Marlin, does this mean you're giving up on the LC80 tcase market?

That's a bummer (and that's coming from someone who cheaped out and bought the $300 TG version). Never a good thing to see a vendor pull out of the 80 market. But hopefully it means they're working on other 80 products.

I love Marlin but it seems like they won't put any effort into 80 products because it's not high volume/higher profits (?) like the 4runner/mini truck stuff. The 80 market is a weird place. Half of us don't want/need any drivetrain upgrades based on our intended use. The other half want/need the stuff but are too cheap to pay for it. Then there's a very small percentage that are willing to spend the money and do whatever it takes to get lower tcase gearing. I've been ready for years to pull the trigger on the NWF doubler. Unfortunately that small percentage isn't enough to justify the R&D.

 

[Dindu Nuffin]

That's a bummer (and that's coming from someone who cheaped out and bought the $300 TG version). Never a good thing to see a vendor pull out of the 80 market. But hopefully it means they're working on other 80 products.

I love Marlin but it seems like they won't put any effort into 80 products because it's not high volume/higher profits (?) like the 4runner/mini truck stuff. The 80 market is a weird place. Half of us don't want/need any drivetrain upgrades based on our intended use. The other half want/need the stuff but are too cheap to pay for it. Then there's a very small percentage that are willing to spend the money and do whatever it takes to get lower tcase gearing. I've been ready for years to pull the trigger on the NWF doubler. Unfortunately that small percentage isn't enough to justify the R&D.

But... but...

Hey 'Mudders!

2018 is going to be a big year for us, and one of the things we are most excited about is expanding our product lines.

...except for the 80 series, apparently...

Can't say I really blame them; the non- Cruiser Toyotas are way more common, cheaper, and the market is far bigger.

 

[ccslider]

If I were Marlin crawler I'd invest in some more phone lines so that when you have customers calling you actually get through!

 

[koifish]

Maybe @Marlin Crawler is just making room for those lower gears everybody is asking for?

 

[GW Nugget]

As long as they are making money it should be on the shelf... dont you think? Does this mean they have a limited time to run these & can make more selling something else.

 

[Dindu Nuffin]

Perhaps. The lower gears were the most popular option in this thread, after all.

 

[Laisser aller]

nukegoat At the two year mark I am either departing for 20K-30K mile slow haul through the United States and parts Canada or the wife is packing her chit in the rig and stopping-by the court house to drop-off divorce papers.

The truck will be the son’s one day. So yeah, all the hard parts will be changed at some point.

 

[scottryana]

I am going to be a huge a****** here and I know I am. And this drum/horse has been beat to death, but.....

Maybe Marlin won't put any effort into the 80 market because companies like TG steal their design, send it to China and their gears sit on the shelf because people buy the TG stuff. TG did not pioneer that gear set, and they put a lot less effort on the 80 market than the people who do come out with real innovative products. My $0.02.

That's a bummer (and that's coming from someone who cheaped out and bought the $300 TG version). Never a good thing to see a vendor pull out of the 80 market. But hopefully it means they're working on other 80 products.

I love Marlin but it seems like they won't put any effort into 80 products because it's not high volume/higher profits (?) like the 4runner/mini truck stuff. The 80 market is a weird place. Half of us don't want/need any drivetrain upgrades based on our intended use. The other half want/need the stuff but are too cheap to pay for it. Then there's a very small percentage that are willing to spend the money and do whatever it takes to get lower tcase gearing. I've been ready for years to pull the trigger on the NWF doubler. Unfortunately that small percentage isn't enough to justify the R&D.

 

[ewillis]

I just assumed the standard set of Marlin gears is being discontinued to make way for the low lows...

 

[bwesty]

I am going to be a huge a****** here and I know I am. And this drum/horse has been beat to death, but.....

Maybe Marlin won't put any effort into the 80 market because companies like TG steal their design, send it to China and their gears sit on the shelf because people buy the TG stuff. TG did not pioneer that gear set, and they put a lot less effort on the 80 market than the people who do come out with real innovative products. My $0.02.

Exactly. Well stated. Support innovation and those companies who continue to do R&D and invest into making high quality well engineered products.

 

[cybrstar]

Any updates on your project?

I really hope it involves lower gears!

 

[baldilocks]

Any updates on your project?

I really hope it involves lower gears!

It’s been my understanding that the current low range 3.12 gear set is as low as will physically fit inside the Hf2av case.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

It’s been my understanding that the current low range 3.12 gear set is as low as will physically fit inside the Hf2av case.

Correct

 

[cybrstar]

Well let’s try and cast a new case!

 

[jcardona1]

It’s been my understanding that the current low range 3.12 gear set is as low as will physically fit inside the Hf2av case.

Yeah I don't see how you could possibly run anything lower than 3.11 in the stock transfer case. It's going to involve swapping out tcases or attaching something behind it. And then you're messing with driveshafts and gas tanks. At that point you've scared off 95% of the 12 guys that were interested.

 

[Qball]

Tried to call Marlin about the gears and never heard back from them so I got my gear from someone else for about the same price but not TG. Small business is always difficult to run but the good old saying is if you don't take care of the customers then someone else will.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Tried to call Marlin about the gears and never heard back from them so I got my gear from someone else for about the same price but not TG. Small business is always difficult to run but the good old saying is if you don't take care of the customers then someone else will.

Picture above pretty much tells the story.

If I was Marlin I would not do sht because all that will happen is reverse engineering.

Running a successful small business is super easy if you have never done it.

 

[Qball]

Picture above pretty much tells the story.

If I was Marlin I would not do sht because all that will happen is reverse engineering.

Running a successful small business is super easy if you have never done it.

What has reverse engineering/copying has anything to do with not calling me back? Regardless they came up with the product or not they will need to provide customer service and take my money....they won't call me back to take my money.