Need some help folks. I'm probably just way overthinking this, but that's what I do... :smile2:
I've got two Jeeps. '93 XJ and an '04 TJU / "LJ". The XJ is on 35s, Dana44 front and rear, 7.5" long arm lift, highly modified. The LJ is closer to stock. Dana 30 Front, Dana 44 rear, 4" lift on 33s. The XJ has been modified to a 5x5.5" wheel bolt pattern. (CJ bolt pattern). LJ is the stock 5x4.5" bolt pattern. I'm trying to get them both in shape for Moab (and beyond) next year. I'll be driving the XJ, wife will be driving the LJ. We've got two younger boys that will be going with us.
The Dana 30 on the front of the LJ is always on my mind as a weak link. I don't wheel the thing hard (mostly just deep backwoods exploring right now), but I feel the 33x12.5x15 tires are already kind of the limit on that axle. But the 33s are starting the wear out, and I have a full set of almost brand new BFG KO2 ATs 35x12.5x16 tires I'd love to put on the LJ. Except they're the 5x5.5" bolt pattern. (terrible problem to have right? lol). I would love to have both jeeps on the same tire size / bolt pattern just to make things easy on the trail - should the need arise. We're also planning on building an adventure trailer to pull behind the rigs on family adventure, and having that match tire size / bolt pattern would be ideal down the road.
So the options I've come up with for the Wrangler
1) Wheel adapters to convert the 5x4.5 to 5x5.5 bolt pattern and run the 35s, hope the Dana 30 doesn't blow up
2) Buy new wheels for the BFGs in the 5x4.5" bolt pattern for the stock Wrangler
3) Assuming the stars align in a few months, upgrade the LJ to a Dana 44 (ProRock maybe?), with the 5x5.5" bolt pattern, then buy new shafts for the rear Dana 44. (basically the "go big or go home" option)
4) I could put some money into the Dana 30 (axle sleeves, gussets on the knuckels, etc) to add some strength, but my gut tells me that's just delaying the inevitable.
5) Something I haven't thought of yet?
I need to re gear the LJ as it is right now (stock 3.73 gears aren't great with the 33s in the hills), so I'm hesitant to pay to have the Dana 30 re geared as I may end up swapping it for a Dana 44 later anyway. (I can do a lot of work myself, but re gearing axles is something I haven't tackled yet)
I've got two Jeeps. '93 XJ and an '04 TJU / "LJ". The XJ is on 35s, Dana44 front and rear, 7.5" long arm lift, highly modified. The LJ is closer to stock. Dana 30 Front, Dana 44 rear, 4" lift on 33s. The XJ has been modified to a 5x5.5" wheel bolt pattern. (CJ bolt pattern). LJ is the stock 5x4.5" bolt pattern. I'm trying to get them both in shape for Moab (and beyond) next year. I'll be driving the XJ, wife will be driving the LJ. We've got two younger boys that will be going with us.
The Dana 30 on the front of the LJ is always on my mind as a weak link. I don't wheel the thing hard (mostly just deep backwoods exploring right now), but I feel the 33x12.5x15 tires are already kind of the limit on that axle. But the 33s are starting the wear out, and I have a full set of almost brand new BFG KO2 ATs 35x12.5x16 tires I'd love to put on the LJ. Except they're the 5x5.5" bolt pattern. (terrible problem to have right? lol). I would love to have both jeeps on the same tire size / bolt pattern just to make things easy on the trail - should the need arise. We're also planning on building an adventure trailer to pull behind the rigs on family adventure, and having that match tire size / bolt pattern would be ideal down the road.
So the options I've come up with for the Wrangler
1) Wheel adapters to convert the 5x4.5 to 5x5.5 bolt pattern and run the 35s, hope the Dana 30 doesn't blow up
2) Buy new wheels for the BFGs in the 5x4.5" bolt pattern for the stock Wrangler
3) Assuming the stars align in a few months, upgrade the LJ to a Dana 44 (ProRock maybe?), with the 5x5.5" bolt pattern, then buy new shafts for the rear Dana 44. (basically the "go big or go home" option)
4) I could put some money into the Dana 30 (axle sleeves, gussets on the knuckels, etc) to add some strength, but my gut tells me that's just delaying the inevitable.
5) Something I haven't thought of yet?
I need to re gear the LJ as it is right now (stock 3.73 gears aren't great with the 33s in the hills), so I'm hesitant to pay to have the Dana 30 re geared as I may end up swapping it for a Dana 44 later anyway. (I can do a lot of work myself, but re gearing axles is something I haven't tackled yet)