Suburban Build For Camping/Hunting/Fishing

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Vbb199

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Regarding the mighty D60...

I've mentioned this here before but I got yelled at.
I'm going there again guys and this time I'll be more specific..

A stock D60 is theoretically NO stronger than a 10 bolt or D44. The stub shafts on the D60 neck down to the same size as D44/10 bolt axles. THAT is the weak link. Fortunately you can upgrade to D70 stub shafts (no longer in production but the aftermarket has them) that are 35 spline so also have to upgrade your locking hubs.
Then the next weak link is the U joint on the drive shaft.

Yes everything else is stronger and even though you have a necked down stub shaft, the steering U joints on the D60 are larger and way more reliable than the D44/10 bolts.
Friends don;t let friends wheel hard on stock D60s... upgrade the stub shafts! Don't get raped by sasquatch...
"But the internet and every goober on Craigslist said the dana 60 was the BEST!"

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Vbb199

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To dana 60 owners=
Just kidding.

But I agree.
If you have a 300 spline 1" shaft, and a 2 spline 1" shaft, they both have the same potential to break.

Highlights of the 60 are ring gear, pinion gear, carrier, steering knuckles, axle tube, u joints, and hubs and bearings and all.

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shiftpro

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To dana 60 owners=
Just kidding.

But I agree.
If you have a 300 spline 1" shaft, and a 2 spline 1" shaft, they both have the same potential to break.

Highlights of the 60 are ring gear, pinion gear, carrier, steering knuckles, axle tube, u joints, and hubs and bearings and all.

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The best thing IMO about an upgrade D60 (D70 stubbys) are the bad ass 35 spline locking hubs. There's only a few out there,
Mile Marker (stainless and the best, truly bad ass), Yukon (copy of MMarker) and Warn (no so **** hot).
 

Arkansas_V8

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You've been called worse...
I admire your driving skills, but I think it's bad advice to say they are "good to about 35"". Maybe better to say, a good driver who is aware of his equipment limits can get away with the 10 bolt and 35's.
Just that, driving finesse has a tendency to go wrong when you're being chased by an 11" **** Sasquatch.

Stephen Watson even says 33"-35", and 35" reliably. Lol, You are right that you gotta know your limits, and your weak link.


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Overland Suburban

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I wheeled a Dana 44 front for 3 years with 37's and no brakey! That was in a jeep yj though and sasquatch won t go **** in a jeep yj not enouph room! A suburban however has a large back seat! I probably better get my running gear sasquatch proof
 

Arkansas_V8

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I wheeled a Dana 44 front for 3 years with 37's and no brakey! That was in a jeep yj though and sasquatch won t go **** in a jeep yj not enouph room! A suburban however has a large back seat! I probably better get my running gear sasquatch proof


I have had 37s on my 10 bolt for a few years now. Some axles and u-joints are all it has cost me(knock on wood).


Once I started to get used to the weaknesses in the 10 bolt I quit breaking parts. I can not bind it in the rocks. Wooded trails and mud no biggie at all.
 

Vbb199

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I wheeled a Dana 44 front for 3 years with 37's and no brakey! That was in a jeep yj though and sasquatch won t go **** in a jeep yj not enouph room! A suburban however has a large back seat! I probably better get my running gear sasquatch proof
.357, maybe .308, or optionally bigger axle shafts, your choice to avoid sasquatch

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77 K20

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I'm running a D44 with 35" tires. But have aftermarket chromoly axle shafts, Reid racing knuckles as I was going the crossover route. I do not have a locker though. Just a Eaton Truetrac which is a little more D44 friendly.

You can always just lock in one hub with a locker up front if you need to turn sharply and not bind up so much.

I've been dumping money into the house lately instead of my truck (2 years left to pay it off!!). But I might "upgrade" do a D60 eventually as I want to put portal axles on my truck. And they only make them for a D60.
 

Arkansas_V8

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I'm running a D44 with 35" tires. But have aftermarket chromoly axle shafts, Reid racing knuckles as I was going the crossover route. I do not have a locker though. Just a Eaton Truetrac which is a little more D44 friendly.

You can always just lock in one hub with a locker up front if you need to turn sharply and not bind up so much.

I've been dumping money into the house lately instead of my truck (2 years left to pay it off!!). But I might "upgrade" do a D60 eventually as I want to put portal axles on my truck. And they only make them for a D60.

God I want Portals.
 

shiftpro

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I have had 37s on my 10 bolt for a few years now. Some axles and u-joints are all it has cost me(knock on wood).


Once I started to get used to the weaknesses in the 10 bolt I quit breaking parts. I can not bind it in the rocks. Wooded trails and mud no biggie at all.

Oh so now the rest of the story comes out. Yeah you can ride 37s on a 10 bolt... after breaking a bunch of **** and learning how to tip toe. Nothing like breaking parts to learn how to drive! More pain the better ya learn!
 

77 K20

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God I want Portals.


I blame that Dirt Everyday episode where he works with Steven Watson and puts those portal boxes on that CUCV truck for their Alaska trip.
An additional 4" of lift or so, lower gear ratios and 40" tires would be great for me breaking trail for the winter trail rides. Right now with my 14 bolt I'm scraping more than anyone else.


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Josh Helm

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Minus the cucvs... when do you get a good set of axles anyway?
 

shiftpro

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I blame that Dirt Everyday episode where he works with Steven Watson and puts those portal boxes on that CUCV truck for their Alaska trip.
An additional 4" of lift or so, lower gear ratios and 40" tires would be great for me breaking trail for the winter trail rides. Right now with my 14 bolt I'm scraping more than anyone else.


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fuckfuckfuckfuckfu kfuckdkl
 

shiftpro

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Umm ok sorry about that, I'm ok.
SO what would you want those for anyway? I mean unless you lived in Canada and wanted to run 50" tires to drive up into high country and talk to God...
or hunt Samsquatch...
 

77 K20

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Last year a two guys in the off road club upgraded their setups and are running a 39"/40" tire. Before they were on 35s. Amazing what a difference a bigger tire can do. We often run up and over mountain ranges in winter just to see if we can.

The local ORV park has a lot of obstacles that I just don't have the clearance for either.

There is also a massive event every year called Snow Bash. My truck is too little to even think about entering it.

So no- no practical reason. My truck is very capable but "it can be better". :rolleyes:

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