Trail spares - which axle shaft?

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Josie'sLandCruiser

Stop calling it a "FJ."
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Location
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Hi All:

I have a complete set of front and rear spare axle shafts. But is it really necessary to carry all four? Are the long side or short side 'shafts more likely to break on the trail?

Thanks for any advice!

Alan
 
Hi All:

I have a complete set of front and rear spare axle shafts. But is it really necessary to carry all four? Are the long side or short side 'shafts more likely to break on the trail?

Thanks for any advice!

Alan

Short side rear usually.

Rear axles are bulky and add weight to the Crusier, thus increasing your odds of breaking something.

How far from the trailhead/trailer do you wheel? I am a big fan of "spare-share" or leaving it back at camp/trailer.

Hauling all of that s*** around on the trail is crazy. A big 'ole bog with 500# in tools and spares sitting over a 30 year old axle shaft bouncing around on the trail is bad news.
 
I broke a long side rear first time then the other one the next day . Put some disks on it and leave em' at trailhead or the camp spot I've limped home for twenty miles on the rdb brackets that Poser sells on here .
 
Hi All:

Thanks for the responses guys!

When our group goes 'wheeling on weekend trips we drive our rigs to the trail area, and carry everything with us, camping in a different spot each night.

So, though I've carried both rear 'shafts with me on runs, adding the two front half shafts as well as a Birfield, etc. just seems like a lot of weight.

Mind you, this is in a FJ40 with 33X12.5s, running a 2F with H41 and dual Lockrites.
Would carrying just the two short-side half shafts be a safe bet?

Thanks for the advice! :cheers:

Regards,

Alan
 
Hi All:

Thanks for the responses guys!

When our group goes 'wheeling on weekend trips we drive our rigs to the trail area, and carry everything with us, camping in a different spot each night.

So, though I've carried both rear 'shafts with me on runs, adding the two front half shafts as well as a Birfield, etc. just seems like a lot of weight.

Mind you, this is in a FJ40 with 33X12.5s, running a 2F with H41 and dual Lockrites.
Would carrying just the two short-side half shafts be a safe bet?

Thanks for the advice! :cheers:

Regards,

Alan

YOu should be fine with that setup just carrying front axle stuff. I would carry both sides. Lockrights can be brutal on the front end. The rear will be fine. Try to move some of your heavier stuff to the middle under and behind the seats instead of in the cargo area too.
 
Front Shafts are Easy to put under the seats.. Rear Shafts are pretty Rare to break with 33's

Ditto .. the only one that I break was the longer rear .. I thought with a SF rear axle thre rears are the only onw that can let you on the trail ..
 
I used to carry all 4 spare shafts, a birf, a pinion and a set of spiders pre-trailer, strapped down right behind the seats. I would say that stuff weight around 150-200lbs. Beware Murphy’s law.. although on 33s I don’t think you should be breaking too many parts.
 
Never broke any axles on 33's locked - and that was giving it heck (understatement) in loose terrain with a little bit of rock crawling. Since progressing upward thru 35's, 37's and now 39's - have broken three long side rears (two chromoly) and a few stock birfs. I've only seen one short side rear break and that was a friend who got stupid on the gas in rocks running 39" Boggers. If I had to carry rears and wanted to pick - it'd be a longside in a heartbeat. As to the fronts - the inners aren't all that much weight - for long trips away from the trailer I might consider carrying both inners and a birf.

All that being said - depending on how far you are from trailhead - share spares, run rear discs for ability to drive out, and you can always pull a front shaft and run without. In all likelyhood - you might be just as able to bust a t-case, diff or d-shaft - and well you can't carry it all.

Best of luck.
 
share spares, run rear discs for ability to drive out, and you can always pull a front shaft and run without.

that's what I said .. carry a long rear and a birf, in you broke a inner front, always you can pull it and with a front locker go out in 3 wheels .. all in case that you don't have much space really.
 
I care em all.Hate to make someone run back to get stuff I could carry.It don't weigh that much.Heck I even carry a whole extra diff.Cuz you never know.
 

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