Trail Gear 3:11 low range TC gears, $600 (1 Viewer)

[bulhas]

Since everyone seemed to miss this: Positive material identification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Positive Material Identification (PMI) is the analysis of a metallic alloy to establish composition by reading the quantities by percentage of its constituent elements. Typical methods for PMI include X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and optical emission spectrometry (OES).


I used to work in a machine shop and have to send samples off for PMI testing.. though even in that environment I don't know whether the testing is destructive. It'd be interesting to see how Marlin/TG compare to OEM.. especially if it didn't require eating the cost of each of the gears just for the data.

Edit: also, will PMI tell us anything about heat treatment? or just the alloy itself?

i have a set of stock gears and marlin gears, Ill run by a couple shops I know in town and see if someone will do a quick under the table job for a case of beer for me! Than atleast we have a baseline

no it wont mention anything about the heat treatment, but will be able to tell the metalurgy which can start to tell you where it was made, as china metal is slightly different than japan and USA

most are XRAY now

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Just read the instructions. The have done a very detailed job.

 

[White Stripe]

I try not to buy from TG as much as I can avoid it. Sometimes their prices are just too good to pass up. But I feel like I am buying an item from a corporate giant and I am just a number and they don't care if I am happy with the product or not. Marlin is one cool dude from what I have experienced in talking and hanging out with him and very down to earth. Now as far as the owner of TG is concerned, Ive never met the guy, never seen him, its just a big corporation and I feel like I am giving my money to a machine and parts come out of it. Im sure the TG gears are decent, but if they break and smoke the tcase housing and all, I doubt they will care or help you out. But their stuff is usually cheaper just like any big company's stuff due to the quantity they sell.

 

[ALX4X4]

I can only comment on the Mark's 3:1 redustion gears behind my LS2 6.0 manual. They are quiter than std and I've had no problems. I did have someone 'test' drive my car in low range 2WD (I have a PT conversion) by dumping the clutch on 2nd low on the bitumen..... The rears squealed on the bitumen and I swear the front left came up off the ground, but the TC gears handle it with ease. Stock 4.5 auto and FT 4WD ? Wouldn't even raise a sweat. I reccommennd the Marks for piece of mind.

 

[Qball]

Marlin gear invested in R&d and came out with a good product at a fair price. TG probably bought one and sent to China to have it copied. If it's half the price then it's hard to pass up but at only 20% discount with a obvious/blatant knock off it is so not cool......for the customer. Who buys a knock off LV bag at only 20% discount?

But the positive side is that I am even more convicted to buy the Marlin gear because the alternative knock off is only slightly cheaper and is of unknown origin.


The reason iPhone is so good even when they are made in China is American manufacturing process and QC.

 

[1973Guppie]

yes but couldn't it be said that marlin knocked off mark's 4wd? I believe these were available before Marlin. I have no bias towards anyone in this fight but just playing devils advocate.

LandCruiser 80 & 100 Series Low Range Gears

 

[Qball]

yes but couldn't it be said that marlin knocked off mark's 4wd? I believe these were available before Marlin. I have no bias towards anyone in this fight but just playing devils advocate.

LandCruiser 80 & 100 Series Low Range Gears

That's is possible, but even if marlin did copy the design at least he gave us 35% off AND made in Japan gears so it at least is a good alternative. Not to mention he made it available state side for us.

If a knock off is from china I expect MUCH steeper discount. For a piece of machined metal I would be shocked if TG'a cost per unit is even close to 100 bucks a piece especially he doesn't have any R&D cost, my guess is some where between 45-90 dollar to the port in Los Angeles depends on the quantity.

 

[NLXTACY]

IIRC Marks and Markin's gears are different designs. If you put then side by side I think the only similarity is the gear pitch, angle and size.

 

[1973Guppie]

That's is possible, but even if marlin did copy the design at least he gave us 35% off AND made in Japan gears so it at least is a good alternative. Not to mention he made it available state side for us.

If a knock off is from china I expect MUCH steeper discount. For a piece of machined metal I would be shocked if TG'a cost per unit is even close to 100 bucks a piece especially he doesn't have any R&D cost, my guess is some where between 45-90 dollar to the port in Los Angeles depends on the quantity.

yeah but again we don't know where they are made, you are assuming they are made in china.

 

[Elbert]

don't follow all the debate....get off the porch and get the gears from Marlin....a long time supporter of Toyota 4WD..

 

[Qball]

yeah but again we don't know where they are made, you are assuming they are made in china.

Yup! Now and days the question is always whats's NOT made in China.

Not to dog China because I'm made there too but when people go get stuff made in China should also pass along the savings instead charge just a little bit less. Also knowing people in the import business I know what it takes to get quality products out of China, you have have have boots on the ground and watch them like a hawk.


I won't be surprise to see these gears popping up on alibaba.com in a month or so for 200. If you want to save some money then just wait a little and watch alibaba.

 

[ReformedJeeper]

I bought my marlin gears when they were 20% off during their labor day sale, close to the TG price. I say why reward the copycat, spend your money with Marlin. At least they took time to design their own stuff (from everything I know they didn't rip Marks off). I have 37's, 4.88s, and marlin gears and still don't think they are low enough (went wheeling in icey slush this weekend and had to use way more throttle then I would have liked). If TG figured out a way to do 3.4:1 or 3.5:1 then I would give them my business. I doubt spending money with TG will lead to more innovative products for the 80 market. They will wait for someone else to design something and then make a knock off for a few bucks less. It will actually discourage people from making innovative products. Why reward this business model?

I wish they would make a knock off of the marks crawl box (since it's NLA) or come up with a doubler. We already had 2 vendors making 3.116:1 gearsets, but no one really getting us a real low range solution.

 

[Qball]

I bought my marlin gears when they were 20% off during their labor day sale, close to the TG price.

Doh! I totally missed that sale!

 

[MItchell17]

While I cannot speak for the competition, I would like to clear up a few of the questions asked here.

1) Our Land Cruiser gears are made in Japan by the same manufacturer of our comp 4.7 gears & is chromoly steel.

2) Their gears are not made by our manufacturer.

3) We have zero reported failures.

We have been making and using these gears in our own rigs for many years & have had great success.

Have confidence in your transfer case knowing your getting Time Tested & Superior Quality Genuine Marlin Crawler Gears!

Land Cruiser Crawler Gears | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

 

[tweeek]

So I had a chat with NSOR, they are the Canadian Trailgear distributors. He contacted their rep, and according to him, these are produced at the same factory that their ring and pinion gears are machined.... in China.

I dont think that they are automatically going to grenade on you, nor am I aware of their R&P reputation, but at least now you know for sure where they are made and I figure from previous comments that is enough for many of you.

 

[1973Guppie]

So I had a chat with NSOR, they are the Canadian Trailgear distributors. He contacted their rep, and according to him, these are produced at the same factory that their ring and pinion gears are machined.... in China.

I dont think that they are automatically going to grenade on you, nor am I aware of their R&P reputation, but at least now you know for sure where they are made and I figure from previous comments that is enough for many of you.

good info, thank you.

 

[Mandrake]

I can't comment on the quality of these gears, but I can say from personal experience that the customer service at Trail Gear is absolute fxxxery. If- no, WHEN- you have a problem, rather than help you make it work, they'll just dick you around with unreturned calls and emails, and when you do get ahold of them, it will come out that the part they sold you won't actually fit your rig, because they prototyped it on a modded rig and, well, tough s*** for you, the end user. Or some other stupid ass reason.

Fxxx those guys. I gave them a chance and went waaaaaay out of my way to help them help me, and they burned that bridge over a $12 part. I won't bog this thread down with my personal trials and tribulations with these dick heads, but if you want to now the scoop, pm me.

Spend the money with Marlin; they actually know what they're doing, care about YOU as an individual, and will gladly help you work through any issues you have. You guys looking to save a buck aren't factoring in the value of knowledgeable after- sale customer support.

 

[Rwhat]

I'll have to say Marlin crawler customer service is top notch. 15 years ago he made me. Custom shifter for a W56 via speaking to him over the phone. That came out perfect. I recommend a co worker to take his tranny there and it was broken down right in front of him and he took his time to explain it. The customer was a old school gas turbine field tech so he liked that.

After finding out that TG is a copy of Marlins. I have to say fawk them. I misunderstood and thought possibly TG was selling Marlins TC gear.

 

[jcardona1]

While I cannot speak for the competition, I would like to clear up a few of the questions asked here.

1) Our Land Cruiser gears are made in Japan by the same manufacturer of our comp 4.7 gears & is chromoly steel.

2) Their gears are not made by our manufacturer.

3) We have zero reported failures.

We have been making and using these gears in our own rigs for many years & have had great success.

Have confidence in your transfer case knowing your getting Time Tested & Superior Quality Genuine Marlin Crawler Gears!

Land Cruiser Crawler Gears | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

So yeah..how 'bout a doubler?

 

[MItchell17]

Well the biggest problem with that is the fuel tank, you will need to relocate it to run duals but there really is not a good place to put it.

The other thing is the overall size of a fj80, we base our duals off the rf1a case. Its right at home is a 4 cyl mini truck but in all reality it would be not be up to the size & weight of a FJ80.

Sorry but no dual case at this time for the FJ80.