Official Crawlbox BS thread!

Well this got fun.

So, unless I'm doing it wrong, the Marlin is NOT cheaper. Its a few hundred bucks more (doing it piecemeal since you cant get the fully assembled crawlbox from them), PLUS I'd still have to get a geared case somewhere.... Obviously the TG 15% off makes a bit of difference right now.

But also still gotta use TG gears anyway right now cause nothing else is available... (guess i can wait and wait for Marlin gears.....)

Not saying it might not be worth it--I've used some of Marlin's stuff before and I liked it and I think they've done some very innovative stuff over the years and deserve respect there.

Just, they most certainly are not less $$ right now (and the amount of $$ doesn't even matter if you can't actually get the stuff....)

 

Maybe it's the materials? Maybe the spline cut is too short?

Hell, I haven't seen a v8 break a KP yet while gunning it through obstacles but seen BJ break on the newer axles.

 

The TG gears neck down after the splines on the input gear which the Marlin total spline doesn't.
The marlin gears also have the whole built in oil pump dealio through the gears. They claim to be quieter too, but I have no reference point to compare that one too.

In the end they are both probably just fine and will hold up no problem (given you're not doing stupid stuff with your truck) but I would argue that the necking down on the input gear is a weakness on TG's side of it

 

I'll take mine off and sell it to you, lol

 

I'm listening....

 

Stupidity never pay off.

 

You'll be more unique as a 5 speed DC. But these folks will hate you for going red

 

I wish I had your setup, but with my MT.
So much work for triples though.

 

BF is here. Just place an order for a doubler and source a stock 23s rf1a and you're good to go

 

This is what I was trying to get him to explain. Educate rather than just say something is better. Thanks. I knew the tg gears necked down. Didn’t know about the oil thing

 

Blond baby! Blond!

 

So, perhaps, a built TG unit but swap in a marlin's total spline input gear...--those do show available right now on Marlin's site... Or perhaps marlin adapter stuff plus the TG gears but use the marlin total spline....

My truck won't be doing any big rock crawling any time soon, maybe one day. But i def want to get a bit lower gearing. And I'd like to do it with the /least/ modification as possible. (Def no atlas for me.) I can handle putting in a crawlbox and doing driveshafts, but I dont want to get into any big fab reqs at this time. Hope that make sense.

 

Don't work like that. MC total spline is for the 2.28, not the 4.7. You'll have to buy the complete 4.7xd gears to get the total 4.7 spline

Your best bet is buying TG adapters, sourcing a used rf1a or AA HD case, and MC 4.7xd. Either way, will still be cheaper than buying a fully assembled unit from TG. You'll get better internals this way.

Or...
-MC front adapter, because you'll need to buy MC coupler anyway
-TG rear adapter

But I think MC is finally selling the front and rear adapters, but at 900 for the rear, that's steep

 

Ah. Didn't notice they had only the 2.28 total spline separately. Thanks.

 

It's $1k for the rear, ouch....

You can probably run all MC adapters and their xd gears for about the price of their built unit. But need to source a rf1a

 

Lol I just put my duals in. I think that money could be better spent on other parts of my truck that have been neglected

I inquired about this, but you unfortunately can't buy just the rear TG adapter.
I bought my coupler by itself from marlin

 

Yup. That rear adapter is pricey! And then Marlins front adapter is another $400.

Versus TG... full front and rear adapter kit is $700 shipped right now with 15% off.... :-/

TG also states this about that adapter kit "We have greatly increased the oil flow in and around the Adapter for cooler operation. We have also increased the strength of the casting by making the walls thicker." Who knows how recent that change is....

I mean, i didn't mean to turn this into an "i'm a cheap bastard" issue, but, I am a $$ conscious bastard in the sense that I want the best bang for my buck and don't want to overpay for something.

 

You'll be happy you went that route.
With sales and stuff, I ended up building mine for a lot cheaper than I initially thought.
Good luck sourcing an rf1a case. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did in California

 

Atlas!