Wyoming B.S. Thread

The semi float will definitely be the cheaper option, since you can swap over everything from your axle. Not sure what FROR offers with the full float, but you’d need to source hubs and brakes at a minimum.

 

Cost isn’t really an issue, though of course the semi float is cheaper.

Brian will sell me all of the hubs and brakes and what not as well, my bigger concern is sourcing them again later (on the trail even) if anything ever goes wrong with what I get from him.

My bigger reason for reaching this decision is that the full float seems completely overkill for the type of usage my truck sees. Even if I were to put 35s on, I think that the semi float set up would be just fine, and if I ever wanted something beefier for long travel, etc., I’d really want a wider axle at that point anyway. So buying a full float, narrow axle seems like it’s a middle ground that is (a) too much for what I need and (b) not enough for what I would want.

 

sounds good to me. Just get the chromoly axles and you'll be fine even if for some reason you did jump to 35s some day. The axles are more likely to bend for sure with 35s.

 

Your reasoning is sound, and I think you're making the right decision for your use case. I disagree that the full float design is overkill by nature - I think our trucks should have come with a full float axle from the factory. They didn't for the same reason that they came (and still come) with rear drum brakes, it's a slight cost savings.

 

From center of the upper shackle bolt to the end of my frame is 9.75”, from the center of the front hanger bolt to the center of the rear cab mount is 5.5”. It looks very similar to yours.

 

You're the man Dan! Thanks for doing that. I wanted to be sure before I went and did something stupid... not excited about cutting into the frame to french in the mounts but I do want to do it to avoid the extra height. But making sure I have it all right is tough haha.

 

I hear ya, that’s a bit of a pucker moment. I do wish I had frenched it in, and may go back and do that at some point. It’s pretty stink bug until I load it up.

 

Yes but if you think about the added additional rotating mass under stress that can cause the axle to bend/break. And by axle I don't mean the housing but the actual shaft.

 

My thought is side loading (however minimal) gets amplified as you make the lever (tire) larger and heavier. So minor runout at your axle flange is worse, anything you bump into with the sidewalk of your tire is worse, anything not contacting the tread surface flat is worse and carries a larger change if bending the lever that holds the wheel (stupid semi float design stacks levers on levers since the bearing can't be out at the hub)

 

I'm no engineer but I bent an axle.

Just think off how far out from the bearing the flange is.

 

Pretty sure this is how I bent mine.

Lateral shock load with a bigger moment arm (315s) on a part that was never designed to take that sort of stress without deforming. Also, the fact that the truck was way too heavy at the time didn’t help either.

Live and learn.

 

Bingo.

And Brett proves it can happen obviously with 33s as well. So it's not the 35s fault, they just make it a bit more likely. How much so? no idea. I know Frank has a bent axle though.

 

At one point or another, I've bent both original axles with 33s. I must be a double dick.

 

My half ass guess would be sprung weight is the issue.

That combined with a very hard bottom out like a jump.

 

Both are factors. While the weight of the truck (sprung weight) is probably the biggest source of bending load, bigger tires and heavy trucks/driving like a dick go hand in hand. Lateral load on larger tires, driving fast off road, and overloaded truck (looking at you Mr two bent axle shafts) will all contribute.

 

Huh when did that happen and get replaced?

 

It's been a while. I couldn't remember exactly so out of curiosity, I went through the photo archives, lol.

The first time was in 2015 after a wheeling adventure with Ben in ID. That was the time I just barely made it home, hearing that bearing eat itself is not fun. The 2rd one was in 2016. Zane spotted the wheel wiggle when we were on our way to hang out at 'elk camp' with Mark and Glenn.

 

Now that right there was a hell of a goddamn fire. We're feeding whole 24-in diameter stumps and the flames were licking the bottom of the forest canopy.

 

May 29, 2016. Over 5 years ago. Fun times.

 

Cool read. That's American flag mountain they drove up.

https://electrek.co/2021/09/28/rivi...-pickup-ive-ever-driven-both-off-road-and-on/

Best ev truck I think that's come out so far. Not that I could ever afford it.


and a video..bit cheesy..and obviously never takes his own tacoma anywhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGqexebCcUo