Full Width Axle Rant

[mhughes165]

ok, so im trying to grasp onto a idea, what are the advantage of our smaller trucks, lets see, they have a narrower wheel base, which allows us togo alot of places a full size truck couldn't. i would pretty much say thats the main reason we wheel small trucks......

NOW with that in mind, what sense does it make to put full width axles into a small truck, especially one u want to drive on the road and still run tight trails?
i have the mentality if i wanted to be falling in everyone elses ruts i would be rocking a full size truck. id like to be able to run a trail and have my tires fit between the trees that i decided togo through, where the fullsize trucks just sit back and whimper because there too wide.

NOW, if its a rock truck full width has many many advantages i give you that.

basically im just trying to make it all make some sort of sense, in NJ full width axles under a truck with a cop that knows the laws leads to you having to pay impound fees for your truck that should have never seen the pavement, according to the stability test facilities full width axles under a small truck are not legal unless by some miracle u have full tire coverage and a way to mount your mudflaps front and rear.

ok, let the argument begin

 

[nb11]

Agreed. Not that my truck ever sees nor is it capable of extreme offroad conditions, but i do think it's cool to pick alternate ruts on muddy dirt roads than what has already been formed by full-size trucks.

 

[wahlstrom1]

Stability, and it's easy to point and shoot wide tires through a small space and around trees etc. Wide bodys, not so much...

 

[The Jester Race]

First off wheel base is the distance between the front and rear axle, track width is the distance between drivers and passengers side tires. Full width axles give you a wider track width.

The problem with full size trucks on tight trails is the full size bodies, it's easy to maneuver tires around/in-between/over an obstacle. Usually if you are running full width axles you're running larger 35"+ tires so getting high centered in full width ruts is a non-issue.

The main advantage to full width axles is the added side stability. Stability is increased something like 30-60% only being 6" wider. I'm too lazy to look up the actual numbers right now.

New Jersey blows. I live in the Communist Peoples Republic of California and the cops out here couldn't give a flying **** so long as you have rear mud flaps that cover to the outer tread of the tires and hang to the center line of the axle. Unless you're not running any fenders at all, then you might get harassed. Hell people make tube buggies street legal out here.


-Jester

 

[mhughes165]

Stability, and it's easy to point and shoot wide tires through a small space and around trees etc. Wide bodys, not so much...

most of the time the wide body doesnt stick out as far as the widest point....the axles.

 

[mhughes165]

its not a non issue, point blank a close to stock track width with our trucks and the exact same tires will almost always go further then the same truck with full width axles.

the axles with your wheels and tires always stick out further then the body on any lifted fullsize truck ive ever seen, and stability, if i can pass stability with out increasing my track width, whats the point, now like i said before if u play in the rocks alot then its a different story, or if u just do alot of climbing in general

First off wheel base is the distance between the front and rear axle, track width is the distance between drivers and passengers side tires. Full width axles give you a wider track width.

The problem with full size trucks on tight trails is the full size bodies, it's easy to maneuver tires around/in-between/over an obstacle. Usually if you are running full width axles you're running larger 35"+ tires so getting high centered in full width ruts is a non-issue.

The main advantage to full width axles is the added side stability. Stability is increased something like 30-60% only being 6" wider. I'm too lazy to look up the actual numbers right now.

New Jersey blows. I live in the Communist Peoples Republic of California and the cops out here couldn't give a flying **** so long as you have rear mud flaps that cover to the outer tread of the tires and hang to the center line of the axle. Unless you're not running any fenders at all, then you might get harassed. Hell people make tube buggies street legal out here.


-Jester

 

[The Jester Race]

the axles with your wheels and tires always stick out further then the body on any lifted fullsize truck ive ever seen, and stability, if i can pass stability with out increasing my track width, whats the point, now like i said before if u play in the rocks alot then its a different story, or if u just do alot of climbing in general

The point is to be MORE stable. Like both wahlstrom1 and I said, it is easy to manuever tires between an obstacle, a body not so much.

Pulling numbers out of my ass just for argument sake. Lets say a full size body is 80" wide and a mini body is 72". Both trucks have the same exact axles and tires and their track width is 85". The obstacle: two trees 78" apart. Which one will make it through the obstacle?

Can you figure this one out or do I need to hold your hand?

-Jester

 

[wahlstrom1]

It's all how you play with you wheel back spacing and tire width. My truck was only 1" wider per side on half ton fullwidths and 17x9's with 4.5"BS and 12.50" wide tires then it was with 15x10's with 4" of BS and 14.50" wide tires...

 

[mhughes165]

The point is to be MORE stable. Like both wahlstrom1 and I said, it is easy to manuever tires between an obstacle, a body not so much.

Pulling numbers out of my ass just for argument sake. Lets say a full size body is 80" wide and a mini body is 72". Both trucks have the same exact axles and tires and their track width is 85". The obstacle: two trees 78" apart. Which one will make it through the obstacle?

Can you figure this one out or do I need to hold your hand?

-Jester

neither, u cant fit a truck that measures 85" from outside of tire to outside of tire through a hole 78" apart, doesnt matter how wide the body is generally as the widest point THE WHEELS TIRES AND AXLES will not fit, now a mini truck would measure smaller across with normal track width and go right through....u actually just proved my point even more so

and u are also assuming that the ONE obsticale are the only trees to deal with and u have all sorts of room to manuever

 

[wahlstrom1]

Actually it will fit when you go through at a bit of an angle... But there's no point in teaching those that won't listen...

 

[The Jester Race]

neither, u cant fit a truck that measures 85" from outside of tire to outside of tire through a hole 78" apart, doesnt matter how wide the body is generally as the widest point THE WHEELS TIRES AND AXLES will not fit, now a mini truck would measure smaller across with normal track width and go right through....u actually just proved my point even more so

You are correct a stock width mini truck will fit through without any problem, with careful maneuvering the mini truck on full width axles will get through, but there is no way a full bodied truck will.

Full width axles aren't for everyone. People who chose to run them do so for a reason, be it for stronger axles, more stability or whatever. It typically is not a blind decision. If you don't like them or don't see the advantages of full width, don't run them.

Different strokes for different folks.

-Jester

 

[mhughes165]

Actually it will fit when you go through at a bit of an angle... But there's no point in teaching those that won't listen...

ok, im listening, u have ur said obsticale, that if u have the proper angle u can fit through, what do u do about the other pair of trees 4 feet infront of the first set, u sit there wishing u could make it through because u cant angle the truck for the first one without screwing your angle on the second one


what do u do

 

[The Jester Race]

ok, im listening, u have ur said obsticale, that if u have the proper angle u can fit through, what do u do about the other pair of trees 4 feet infront of the first set, u sit there wishing u could make it through because u cant angle the truck for the first one without screwing your angle on the second one


what do u do

You work that shit till you get through, get your tire up on the tree and go through that shit sideways, or you bust out the chainsaw, it's a good time to stop for firewood anyways.


-Jester

 

[Surrey]

This argument is a double-edged sword, really.

Yes, the full width gives you better stability, but nobody mentioned how you can get much stronger full-width axles... Can't run 40's on a d35 for long.

The small truck with full axles can get more places than a fullsize truck, and a small truck with small axles can get more places than a small truck w/fullsize axles. Thats pretty obvious...
The usefulness of fullsize axles comes down to where/how you wheel. If you absolutely cannot fit with fullsize axles, then they are useless to you. If you can fit where you wanna go with 'em, there is obvious advantages.

 

[Tony Raine]

It's all how you play with you wheel back spacing and tire width. My truck was only 1" wider per side on half ton fullwidths and 17x9's with 4.5"BS and 12.50" wide tires then it was with 15x10's with 4" of BS and 14.50" wide tires...

approx. 3" wider per side is all the difference between fw and rbv.

with fw, i can run 15x8 rims with 4" bs, and be dang close to the width i had before with rbv axles and 15x10 rims with 4" bs. and i am not putting excess stress on wheel bearings when fw, since my rims are centered.

i'm in arkansas, i can run with NO fenders, and not get pulled over. but i am going to make some flares, and install some big mud flaps. mainly because i am a nice guy, and i dont want to throw a rock into someone's windshield.


oh yeah, #1 reason why i am swapping fw axles? because i want to, and its my truck.


if i want to run tight woods trails, i have a 4x4 honda atv, and a dual sport suzuki.