In Re: axle rating (GAWR), there are several things to consider. Ford may rate a Dana60 at 4500 pounds, while Dodge may rate the same axle at 5300 pounds. There are differences in how the axles are mounted, leaf vs coil, brake package, wheel and tire package and numerous other factours to consider. Dana may rate this same axle at 5500 or even 6500 pounds.
DANA-SPICER rates the axle at its maximum capacity and the OEMs that buy direct typically de-rate the axle quite a bit. Pull up the Dana60 bible on Pirate (thank you BillaVista) and do some decoding, or, at the very least, do some reading.
Dana 60 axles, in Super 60 or Fat Boy form, can be rated as high as 7500 pounds (front/steering axle). Dana 80 rear axles, which are being used by several companies converting NPR to NPS, can be rated at 8000 - 12000 pounds. If you have never seen a real Dana 80, not the D70 Dodge version, up close, they are Massive axles. Shafts are 1.71 - 1.75" in diameter and 1480 or 1550 Series joints are used in the steering versions. Tubes are 4 - 4.5" in diameter and 1/2" - 5/8" inch thick (walls) depending on who builds the axle. Ring gear is 11.5" in diameter and the pinion uses a 1.5" (IIRC) shaft. It is huge. At least once company is using 2.5 ton 'parts' on Dana 80 axles, allowing you to run 2" shafts and 2.5t outers, so that 41 - 43" tires can be run (think ER XV-LT). You would destroy a D60 quickly running these tires. Where do you want to go? What kind of driving do you want to do? Can you change a 220 - 280 pound wheel and tire combo or would a 33" - 35" tire on the end of a #5200-rated Dana 60, be a better choice?
For comparison, a 2018 Australian FTS uses a 5200 kg (GAWR) front axle, while one version of a 2018 NPS uses a 3100 kg (GAWR) front axle.
You can have an axle built by Dynatrac (Don't DO This), Fusion (Wisconsin?) or Crane in Tennessee) to your specs and there is nothing that you will ever do to your NPR/NPS that will break one of these axles if the proper axle for the application is chosen, it is properly installed and suspended, etc.
What is your budget? REALLY well-built, high quality, bombproof axles are going to cost you 20 - 30k, without links, springs, shafts or dampers. Junkyard axles, a rebuild kit and some spray paint will only cost a few thousand bucks per axle.
EDIT: If Dana/GM, Sterling or AAM-based axles are chosen, you have a massive after market to support those products. Try finding a selection of lockers or crown wheel and pinion gears for an Isuzu or Fuso axle in the US.
DANA-SPICER rates the axle at its maximum capacity and the OEMs that buy direct typically de-rate the axle quite a bit. Pull up the Dana60 bible on Pirate (thank you BillaVista) and do some decoding, or, at the very least, do some reading.
Dana 60 axles, in Super 60 or Fat Boy form, can be rated as high as 7500 pounds (front/steering axle). Dana 80 rear axles, which are being used by several companies converting NPR to NPS, can be rated at 8000 - 12000 pounds. If you have never seen a real Dana 80, not the D70 Dodge version, up close, they are Massive axles. Shafts are 1.71 - 1.75" in diameter and 1480 or 1550 Series joints are used in the steering versions. Tubes are 4 - 4.5" in diameter and 1/2" - 5/8" inch thick (walls) depending on who builds the axle. Ring gear is 11.5" in diameter and the pinion uses a 1.5" (IIRC) shaft. It is huge. At least once company is using 2.5 ton 'parts' on Dana 80 axles, allowing you to run 2" shafts and 2.5t outers, so that 41 - 43" tires can be run (think ER XV-LT). You would destroy a D60 quickly running these tires. Where do you want to go? What kind of driving do you want to do? Can you change a 220 - 280 pound wheel and tire combo or would a 33" - 35" tire on the end of a #5200-rated Dana 60, be a better choice?
For comparison, a 2018 Australian FTS uses a 5200 kg (GAWR) front axle, while one version of a 2018 NPS uses a 3100 kg (GAWR) front axle.
You can have an axle built by Dynatrac (Don't DO This), Fusion (Wisconsin?) or Crane in Tennessee) to your specs and there is nothing that you will ever do to your NPR/NPS that will break one of these axles if the proper axle for the application is chosen, it is properly installed and suspended, etc.
What is your budget? REALLY well-built, high quality, bombproof axles are going to cost you 20 - 30k, without links, springs, shafts or dampers. Junkyard axles, a rebuild kit and some spray paint will only cost a few thousand bucks per axle.
EDIT: If Dana/GM, Sterling or AAM-based axles are chosen, you have a massive after market to support those products. Try finding a selection of lockers or crown wheel and pinion gears for an Isuzu or Fuso axle in the US.
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