M35-a3 can you make it a true 6 wheel drive?

[greenjeepster]

Keep in mind that if you put lockers in you greatly increased the probability that you will take it too far and stick it deep. Recovery bills are high when the wrecker can't get to the truck.

I am not even going to get back into the argument about the Cat and Allison Combo not really having enough torque to turn 6 wheels in a muddy situation... If you have more money than brains than have at it.

 

[jwaller]

how much would that cost, that sounds like an idea. then if i get in the mud i can lock the hubs and have true 6 whell drive right. any draw backs?

a pair of locking hubs would prob run you about a grand, welding might be about a hundred. then your out a set of gaskets. cheap mans lockers and there are no drawbacks. you can either have fully locked or 1 wheel drive like you have now.

 

[area52]

Have you actually gotten stuck in the mud or just had it slip and slid some?

Step 1: air down - cost = free
Step 2: chains - cost = varies but not too bad ( maybe $300?)
Step 3: upgrade tires - cost = varies probably around $200 per tire

these are all cheaper and easier than lockers.

 

[Jakob]

What about this...
ARB front axle
Welded front-rear with lockouts
Locked rear-rear
Seems like it would keep all the street manners and not be CRAZY expensive (but not the cheapest either). You could take it from 2x6 to 6x6 or anywhere in between. Just an uneducated opinion.

 

[rwoods]

Here's my two cents: 1000# in the bed makes a world of difference with my A3. Even 500# makes a noticeable difference.

 

[mudguppy]

lock outs are weaker than drive flanges.

if you are comparing the stock drive flanges to Ouverson lock-out hubs, then you are completely wrong.

 

[mudguppy]

a pair of locking hubs would prob run you about a grand, welding might be about a hundred. then your out a set of gaskets. cheap mans lockers and there are no drawbacks. you can either have fully locked or 1 wheel drive like you have now.

why would you go thru the dangerous and back-breaking trouble of pulling a third-member to weld the spiders and not put in a $485 locker?

you can't even get a Detroit locker for a Ford 9" for anywhere near $500...

 

[militarysteel]

i think you should drive it and enjoy it, if you are somewhere , that you need all 6 tires to spin, you still have ground clearance issues, and a lot of weight,

why not get a 4x4 chevy and mud with that,

the stock duce is still incredibly capable!

[media]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7283876601792175239&hl=en#[/media]
6x6 m35a2 m35 Military Truck "duce and a half" AM GENERAL Duce

 

[mahdey]

if you are comparing the stock drive flanges to Ouverson lock-out hubs, then you are completely wrong.

i'm speaking in general terms

As a very avid wheeler drive flanges are always preferred to lockouts in regards to strength.

 

[ken326@yahoo.com]

thats true thanks

 

[jwaller]

why would you go thru the dangerous and back-breaking trouble of pulling a third-member to weld the spiders and not put in a $485 locker?

bc most of the ppl on this site have little to no money for things like lockers. $485 is a lot more than free. pulling the chunk isn't much work with the right tools either.

 

[jesusgatos]

i'm speaking in general terms

As a very avid wheeler drive flanges are always preferred to lockouts in regards to strength.

While I agree with you, that locking hubs are USUALLY weaker than drive flanges, there's simply no reason why they couldn't be designed/manufactured to be just as strong as flanges. There's still obviously going to be more parts, and there's not much that can go wrong with drive flanges. But if Ouverson makes/sells them, I'd be willing to bet that they're comparable in strength to the stock drive flanges (at the very least, wouldn't be surprised to hear they're stronger).

 

[mudguppy]

OEM hubs are much stronger than the stock flanges. the OEM 16spline hubs are the same hub used with the 2" 47spline alloy shaft - just change out the splined collar adapter, but same hub body. they also have alloy drive flanges to use with their alloy axle shafts. these can be used to simply replace stock flanges.

actually, my plan is to upgrade my axle shafts and in the rear, run stock flanges from the front to be the fusible link - when they strip out, put the OEM ones on.

 

[jesusgatos]

Not sure how well that might work. When splines strip, they usually run both parts.

 

[mudguppy]

correct, if both components are close to the same strength & hardness. the OEM alloy axles are significantly stronger than the flanges.

 

[emr]

Im still chocking on that one word Uni Dog..... UGH..........many storys from a few different guys who did alot of mauverse in germany, all said same thing the german guys were there trucks were all that, well storys i got is the deuces and 5 tons ate em up in staying in the game and pulled alot out. simple works. Sure they are great trucks, but really.....ugh. all in fun please...I followed a big one up a dune in my F 350 and some ww2 jeeps follwed it all over the place too, funny how the uni guys think, I ran up behind him just to show it could be done then backed down, not to scratch my truck, and the guy said, gee u could not make it, well lucky for the trucks it was said way past that hill or I would have done K turns all over it, I am ready anytime any one else is ....Randy

 

[mudguppy]

Randy, i can't understand a stinkin' thing that you're trying to say.