My Umilited Rubicon probably tips the scaled close to 5500lbs. I run 35" tires and 5.13 gears. Plus I tow the Horizon which probably weighs about 1800lbs loaded. Can my D44 handle that much weight? I take it easy in the rocks and foe easy on the throttle. I'm more of a crawler than hammerer. Let hear what the experts think.
D44 time bomb?
- Thread starter F5driver
- Start date
NOMADIC_LJ
Explorer
Well, the JK D44 is stronger than the TJ D44 but I would still say you are very close to pushing it.
I would go with a set of chromoly shafts. This would put you back in the realm of safe.
I would go with a set of chromoly shafts. This would put you back in the realm of safe.
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
Are you running a Jeep OEM TJ Dana 44 or a full size Dana 44 swapped in?
If the former I'd be more worried about it than the latter.
If the former I'd be more worried about it than the latter.
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Chris85xlt
Adventurer
you should be fine but it wouldnt hurt sleeving and guesseting the front axle along with some new stronger shafts 
alosix
Expedition Leader
First off, go to the local truck stop, hit a cat scale and figure out how much you weigh loaded.
The LJ Rubi would have started out around 3857lbs and appears to have a GVWR of 4600lbs.
I find it hard to believe that you managed to add about a ton (2000lbs) of gear to the Jeep without it sitting on the bump stops.
that said, the only weak point I'd worry about in this setup is the rear locker in the LJ Rubi. The LSD gears in it don't appear to like to take shock loads at all. If you even think something might be kinda difficult, it's better to lock the rear of those then attempt it unlocked.
If you ever do kill the locker, the front makes a decent replacement and doesn't suffer from this issue.
Jason
The LJ Rubi would have started out around 3857lbs and appears to have a GVWR of 4600lbs.
I find it hard to believe that you managed to add about a ton (2000lbs) of gear to the Jeep without it sitting on the bump stops.
that said, the only weak point I'd worry about in this setup is the rear locker in the LJ Rubi. The LSD gears in it don't appear to like to take shock loads at all. If you even think something might be kinda difficult, it's better to lock the rear of those then attempt it unlocked.
If you ever do kill the locker, the front makes a decent replacement and doesn't suffer from this issue.
Jason
robert j. yates
Explorer
Agreed...hard to see how your Jeep got up to 5500lbs. Also...make sure your tongue weight is dialed in...that will balance out the weight of the trailer across both axles on your rig.
With that said, I probably have 3500 miles in trips towing a fully loaded Horizon with my TJ (D44) and I recently had my gear guy go through the rear end. No issues to report at all. I'm running 4:56 gears, ARB and Alloy USA chromo shafts. I'm not worried about it.
With that said, I probably have 3500 miles in trips towing a fully loaded Horizon with my TJ (D44) and I recently had my gear guy go through the rear end. No issues to report at all. I'm running 4:56 gears, ARB and Alloy USA chromo shafts. I'm not worried about it.
Cole
Expedition Leader
You guys are missing that he has a JK not at TJ/LJ. The Dana 44 in the JK is substantially different. The only part they share in common with earlier D44s is the cover.
I recently swapped the gears out of my JK Rubicon (4:10s) and have a 74 Chevy 3/4 front D44 with 4:10 also sitting here. The size of the gears, pinion, bearings etc are all VERY different. The JK stuff is HUGE compared to the earlier dana 44s. I really need to take a good picture of it. Technically closer to D60 sized pinion bearings etc. 32 spline rear shafts, reenforced center housings etc.
D44s were used for decades in 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks in the front and rear.
You also need to consider that guys breaking stuff on the trial are mostly running older D44s, running REALLY deep crawl ratios, small pinions, HUGE tires and lots of bounce or throttle.
It will probably do just fine for his application.
I recently swapped the gears out of my JK Rubicon (4:10s) and have a 74 Chevy 3/4 front D44 with 4:10 also sitting here. The size of the gears, pinion, bearings etc are all VERY different. The JK stuff is HUGE compared to the earlier dana 44s. I really need to take a good picture of it. Technically closer to D60 sized pinion bearings etc. 32 spline rear shafts, reenforced center housings etc.
D44s were used for decades in 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks in the front and rear.
You also need to consider that guys breaking stuff on the trial are mostly running older D44s, running REALLY deep crawl ratios, small pinions, HUGE tires and lots of bounce or throttle.
It will probably do just fine for his application.
alosix
Expedition Leader
Man.. How I miss that one
and I even used to have that Jeep sitting in my driveway .Weight good, more than fine with the trailer.
Carry on...
Jason
robert j. yates
Explorer
Man.. How I miss that one
Carry on...
LOL....x2
78Bronco
Explorer
What is the gross axle weight rating for you dana 44? I think my 1978 D44 is 3200lbs. I think the area of concern for you will be the wheel bearings not the axle shafts, ring and pinion and housing.
You should load up and weight each axle seperately at a truck scale. Then compare to what the MFG suggests.
You should load up and weight each axle seperately at a truck scale. Then compare to what the MFG suggests.
Cole
Expedition Leader
I just happen to have both of these sets of gears laying here so I thought I would take some pictures for you guys.
(ignore the blue towel, my workbench is black so the pics of the black gears would be harder to see).
The left is a front 4:10 from a 2008 Rubicon. The right is a 4:10 from a 1974 Chevy 3/4 truck. Both front axles.
(and the dog fur is wolf hybrid, not cracks in the gears)
Ring gear bolts.
(ignore the blue towel, my workbench is black so the pics of the black gears would be harder to see).
The left is a front 4:10 from a 2008 Rubicon. The right is a 4:10 from a 1974 Chevy 3/4 truck. Both front axles.
(and the dog fur is wolf hybrid, not cracks in the gears)
Ring gear bolts.
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