Official Crawlbox BS thread!

There is but FSM weren't included

 

I wouldn't expect FROR to send any instructions anyway, they would first have to make parts that actually fit right and work first!! I have bought a bunch of stuff from them and it's complete dog shit evrey time to the point where I would never consider a diamond axle.

My issues with crawl box instructions are there are little quirks to installing them that if you don't catch or do it can compleatly fuck you. People, like myself, have posted about these all over the internet since then, but I went off on Jim at inchworm over the phone and the dudes at marlin after I blew my first set of cases up after missing a step that turned out to be shop tribal knowledge. They both told me they would have instructions "soon", that was 2009. Trail gear actually has some good crawl box instructions and a video out there now.

 

Just like you mention about referencing axle specific FSM, they have FSM for first gen pickup that details RF1A and anyone can reference. Plus, nowadays, everyone seemed to be YouTube mechanic certified!

I haven't had any issue with diamond or marlin from the junk I bought. Im not associated with either company, luck of the draw i guess. There pro and con to everything. Now on the other hand, there's a hand full of folks I know that have nothing but issue with crap TG sells, yet they provide a video and instruction but can't manufacture their own line of product correctly. Interesting......

Instruction or not, nothing is in depth and always seen to work against you. You still end up doing your own research, that's what I'm getting at. If you really don't want to spend a few hours browsing the search button, you shouldn't attempt the project and should have someone else with more knowledge do the work for you.

 

So, uh, what was the missing step that was tribal knowledge?

Asking for a friend.

 

What lube to use on the coupler, there was some holes that had to be plugged and others that never were supposed to be on my inchworm plate, and what to do if certain parts were not within feeler gauge spec are the ones that come to my head right now. There was a bunch of others that I cannot remember right now.

 

What had to be within feeler gauge spec? I built my 4.7 with a re-purpose rf1a housing and drop everything in without measuring and 3 years now and no issue.

 

That's kind of my point, if you read what half-ass instructions marlin had, they say to measure the gap between the gears, the coupler and the bearing. They give you a range but don't say what you are to do if you are out of spec. I've been running them since 2008, but I guess the point is don't put steps in to check clearences and specs without guidance on what to do if they are out of spec.

 

Same. I didn't check anything and dropped it all in. No problems thus far, but that's a little worrysom to hear.

 

Grinding for 4.7s, tcase mount bolt hole threads. Some were sealed internally some were not and cause leaks. Bearing sleeve retainer, the old MC fill slot bearing@ 12oclock position, gaskets vs FIPG, shift rail grinding, shift detent springs, sealing on smooth surface vs roughing up the aluminum adapters and powder coating. Literally all kinds of shit.

 

I’ve never had a geared case so no frame of reference, but it is much louder than the stock case, it really whirs doing like 20 or so. The planetary case is silent. There are certainly more vibes with poly mounts, but I wouldn’t change it, truck feels much more solid with the drivetrain stiff to the frame.

 

What are some things I should avoid doing when using my crawlbox?

This is my time with a dual setup so I'm not super well versed in the do's and dont's. I do know that you shouldn't be too throttle happy when in compound low unless you like breaking things.

I know a good amount of you guys are running with an auto transmission. I'm on a 5 speed.

For example:
Was in traffic today and put the 4.7 box in low range and got up to 3rd gear in it just for shits. Crawlbox got suuuper loud. Don't wanna blow out a bearing or anything. I know these are loud setups, but should I not use higher gears with low range like that?
I'm probably just paranoid that I did something wrong on install and will blown it up.

 

Don't leave it in low gear and roll in neutral, then release the clutch unless you want to replace alot of parts.

 

Don't get addicted to it and don't try it on the smallest obstacle you find on the trail

 

So best would to either put it back in high range, or just pop the case in neutral?

I figure I'll be in the 4.7 case most of the time and then switch between that and compound low if I come to a rock garden or something (based on other people's reported usage).
Definitely need a good challenge for it's maiden voyage out, so I don't think I'll need to worry about that one

 

Come to a stop first. If you’re going to fast with the clutch engaged just imagine how high your engine rpm would go, and the stress it would put onto the drivetrain. Not something that comes up often but keep in mind. Normally with such a low gearing, depressing the clutch isn’t even required much on the trail.

 

Gotcha!
and are you saying that I can shift through gears without using the clutch when in low-low?

 

I'm sure you can, the RPM difference between gears is almost negligible. It would be even easier than clutchless shifting on the street.

 

Sweet. I'll have to give that a try

 

Ok. So I'm about half way through reading this whole thread and I think I've got a pretty good understanding of the crawlbox and options, but obviously, its changed a bit over the years, so trying to get straight exactly whats available *now*. (I'm still reading, but I'm ready to purchase asap so looking for maybe a little quicker sanity check here....)

I'm in a 2003 Tacoma Double cab with 5VZ and 5spd manual (yes manual) and planning on keeping the stock chain case for the rear and stick in a 4.7 geared case in front of it. Seems like the sentiment is that getting anything from Marlin is just pie in the sky, however, I got an email from Marlin a couple days ago indicating that they're doing a run of the MC09 Dual Case Tacobox kits. I'd much rather get a nice pre-packaged Tacobox Crawler Box, but perhaps putting it together wouldn't be too terrible....? and maybe is "better" than the TrailGear Creeper box....? I know all about the history of TG and how disliked they are by some--and it def bugs me a bit what they did.... but are there even any other options or are those two it? (As far as "drop in" "bolt in" crawlbox in front of the stock 1st gen chain case). Somebody was talking about Davez having a tacobox of some sort earlier in this thread, but I couldn't tell if that panned out or not?--they def dont list it on their site....

So somebody double-check me on this... if i went Marlin, I'd need:
-MC09 23-spline (part # MCTC-1210) https://www.marlincrawler.com/trans...ra-2000-06-sequoia-2000-07/dual-case-kit-mc09
-MC31 for 3.4L 5-spd (# MCTC-133) https://www.marlincrawler.com/transfer-case/adapters/bolt-pattern/3-4-liter-v6-drivetrains
-set of 23 spline 4.7 gears (marlin shows out of stock, so... is trailgear the only other option?--TG has the sumo gears and their creeper gears--one better than the other?)
-a good pre-95 geared case
-rebuild kit?--seems the 4.7 gears come with new bearings and gaskets and seals--anything else needed or does that kit cover it?
-triple sticks (davez or rads) (shifters, boots, etc)
-dual case xmember ( TG has the dual-case xmember... anybody else doing them?)
-two case mounts (better to mount both cases?--or is one case good enough?)
-resize driveshafts

Or if Trailgear creeper:
-Tacoma Trail creeper crawl box 3.4L 5spd (https://trail-gear.com/drivetrain/trail-creeper-tacoma-crawl-box.html)
-triple sticks (davez or rads) (shifters, boots, etc)
-dual case xmember ( TG has the dual-case xmemeber... anybody else doing them?)
-two case mounts (better to mount both cases?--or is one case good enough?)
-resize driveshafts

$$-wise, the TG beats using the Marlin adapters by a few hundred bucks... and since going the Marlin way would still need TG gearset anyway...seems like the Marlin adapter way is just not worth it unless you can get the drop-in Marlin crawlbox. Guess I'm kinda just thinking out-loud here, but want to make sure I'm thinking it through correctly.

Also, I'm hoping to get in on this stuff with a little bit of Black Friday sale goodness...I see TG (LR/AP/Wheelers) are doing 15% off now and Marlin is doing 10% off now (though doesnt apply on the MC09), anywhere else I should be looking for this stuff?--Anybody know does TG usually do any better discount on *actual* Black Friday or Cyber Monday?--or is it usually just the 15% off all the way through....?

 

Also, what the hell happened to the Lefty?--Did LR kill it after they bought Inchworm?--or did it die when TG bought LR....? I really liked the idea of the Lefty.... With the type of wheeling I do, I def would have been fine just going with a single case with just lower 4.7:1 gearing. Cant do that with the Tacoma chain case and standard lefthand IFS.... So Lefty just a thing of the past now I guess?