New: Ultimate Dana 60 Semi-Float Rear Axle for JT Gladiator

[Sweetums]

Just hit 48k on 37s. Jumping, drifting, wheeling and towing. No issues. Maybe I’m just lucky

Sliding around in loose soil is a lot different than crawling in 4-low on Moab slickrock; the sandstone causes way more binding.

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[Ericshere03]

They do make a full float UD60 axle for JT. I have them installed on mine.

Tons with 42s is pretty great. It does amazing off-roading and so far I haven't found anything it can't do.

Ok captain overkill, haha… we were talking about the Dana 44 full floater … or should I say “full floater” … ultimately for strength, a real full floater is a no brainer, not to mention HD 1 ton brakes

but since we have your attention, how’s the ride with the full float setup? Full floats are a few hundred pounds heavier, I’d imagine you’d feel the weight, especially on washboards …

 

[Zachanadandy]

Sliding around in loose soil is a lot different than crawling in 4-low on Moab slickrock; the sandstone causes way more binding.

Our JLUR on 39s just passed 42k miles, the Rubicon, John Bull, pritchett canyon, etc on bone stock xr 44s. If you're trying to Rock bounce you'll need tons on anything over 35s. If you're wheeling like it's a $65k rig with straight sheetmetal and paint you'll be fine. Binding isn't the issue, bouncing and spinning tires that suddenly find traction is, at least in my experience.

 

[MaximusTX]

Ok captain overkill, haha… we were talking about the Dana 44 full floater … or should I say “full floater” … ultimately for strength, a real full floater is a no brainer, not to mention HD 1 ton brakes

but since we have your attention, how’s the ride with the full float setup? Full floats are a few hundred pounds heavier, I’d imagine you’d feel the weight, especially on washboards …

I guess that makes way more sense. It was still early. I don't have anything really to compare it too. My first gladiator was a 23 lifted on 35s that I only had for a couple months and never took it off road and then I bought this one that someone else built and had to get rid of it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

While I understand and don't disagree with the spirit of your post, I have a few comments.

To my knowledge the Power Wagon has only been offered in the big cab, short bed option since it was brought back in '05 or whenever, so a single cab doesn't exist unless you build it yourself.

Also, yes, it runs the big shouty V8 that we all (or mostly) want, and giant axles, but the body is also around a foot wider than the Gladiator, so there are plenty of trails where it's going to take damage where a Gladiator's sheetmetal can sneak through. Also, even once you V8 and 1-ton swap a Gladiator, it's probably still a couple thousand pounds lighter than a Power Wagon, so it'll probably still break stuff less.

I totally understand your point. There is a lot of crossover between a Power Wagon and Gladiator, and certainly some Gladiator owners could have saved money on their build by just buying a Power Wagon instead. I might be one of them even though mine isn't all that built, but I wanted something smaller to daily and that wouldn't get so pin-striped out in the desert.

As for this axle, I didn't see pricing, but if it's reasonable enough, I could see it making sense as an alternative to re-gearing a factory axle. Otherwise, like others have said, people wheel the factory axles on 38's and 40's all the time and they hold up, so this doesn't seem like much of an upgrade.

I agree that the Jeep would still fit on some tighter trails better, but the weight difference isn't several thousand pounds period. The power wagon weighs 6862lbs. My Gladiator weighs 6k with stock v6, axles, etc. Just lift, 37s, stubby front bumper, and winch. If I v8 and 1 ton swapped it would likely weigh more than a stock power wagon. Sure adding 42s to the power wagon will add weight, but they'd add nearly the same weight to my JT as the power wagon comes with 35s. There no chance you're building a JT on tons with a v8 that's lighter, and especially not thousands of pounds lighter.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

I mean, if you want lightness, a V8, and 1-ton axles, just daily a 12-yr old honda civic and build a CJ with a small block 350, axles, 37's, and you'll go basically anywhere and weigh next to nothing compared to a Gladiator or Power wagon for about the same total price

 

[Ericshere03]

Our JLUR on 39s just passed 42k miles, the Rubicon, John Bull, pritchett canyon, etc on bone stock xr 44s. If you're trying to Rock bounce you'll need tons on anything over 35s. If you're wheeling like it's a $65k rig with straight sheetmetal and paint you'll be fine. Binding isn't the issue, bouncing and spinning tires that suddenly find traction is, at least in my experience.

That’s good to hear … I’m a bit different in that I have the eco diesel and tow 5-6000lbs, that’s a lot of constant torque, however no shock loading … I’m thinking these are actually really good axles. Well engineered.

Perhaps chromoly shafts, REM polished gears and a little cryo treatment is all we need. But at that cost we get real close to these semi float 60s

 

[Ericshere03]

I agree that the Jeep would still fit on some tighter trails better, but the weight difference isn't several thousand pounds period. The power wagon weighs 6862lbs. My Gladiator weighs 6k with stock v6, axles, etc. Just lift, 37s, stubby front bumper, and winch. If I v8 and 1 ton swapped it would likely weigh more than a stock power wagon. Sure adding 42s to the power wagon will add weight, but they'd add nearly the same weight to my JT as the power wagon comes with 35s. There no chance you're building a JT on tons with a v8 that's lighter, and especially not thousands of pounds lighter.

HA! I was just going to add that our gladiators weight almost as much as a ram 1500, I’m surprised the power wagon is that light on a 2500 chassis.

 

[Ericshere03]

I mean, if you want lightness, a V8, and 1-ton axles, just daily a 12-yr old honda civic and build a CJ with a small block 350, axles, 37's, and you'll go basically anywhere and weigh next to nothing compared to a Gladiator or Power wagon for about the same total price

This is why I’ll never sell my LJ, unless I can trade for a CJ8 … too small and too fun not to keep as a real Jeep. Wheeling a big, pretty, expensive gladiator adds a lot of stress and its size removes a little capability…

 

[Rob_R]

The power wagon weighs 6862lbs.

According to the door sticker, my stock '24 Power Wagon weighs 7212lb. I have never weighed it so I only assume that is close. My stock '23 JTR weighs 5140lb according to the door sticker.

 

[GoHack]

Do the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon's come w/the new full-float Dana 44 HD axles like the 2024 Wrangler Rubicon's have?

 

[Zachanadandy]

According to the door sticker, my stock '24 Power Wagon weighs 7212lb. I have never weighed it so I only assume that is close. My stock '23 JTR weighs 5140lb according to the door sticker.

Add the bumper, winch, v8, and axles to get them to the same starting point... and they are within a couple hundred pounds guaranteed. No you aren't 1 ton swapping and v8 swapping and still weighing thousands of pounds less. I don't believe the stock JT is as light as they claim. Like I said, mines been on the scale and it's 6k pounds with very little mods. 37s on stock wheels. Stock control arms, lift springs, stubby bumper that weighs little more than the plastic one that came off, and a winch with synthetic line. I don't see an added 900lbs there and I've never looked at the door sticker.

 

[Ericshere03]

Do the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon's come w/the new full-float Dana 44 HD axles like the 2024 Wrangler Rubicon's have?

NO! And there lies the problem … but seeing as I can get a factory full float JL axle for $1600 bucks from the dealer, it may not be a bad idea to have some heavy duty mounts welded on and a truss. After selling the stock axle, it may be a cheap and decent upgrade

 

[Rob_R]

Add the bumper, winch, v8, and axles to get them to the same starting point... and they are within a couple hundred pounds guaranteed. No you aren't 1 ton swapping and v8 swapping and still weighing thousands of pounds less. I don't believe the stock JT is as light as they claim. Like I said, mines been on the scale and it's 6k pounds with very little mods. 37s on stock wheels. Stock control arms, lift springs, stubby bumper that weighs little more than the plastic one that came off, and a winch with synthetic line. I don't see an added 900lbs there and I've never looked at the door sticker.

I am not arguing with you. I am just stating that what my stock JTR and a stock PW weigh to give you a frame of reference. Factory options have an effect on the door sticker weight statement. The door stickers should be close to the actual weight as that is what is a State Trooper will use if they weigh your vehicle for suspicion of overloading.

I have no idea how much weight will be added to a Gladiator using larger axles, wheels, suspension, and V8 engines and I don't really care.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I am not arguing with you. I am just stating that what my stock JTR and a stock PW weigh to give you a frame of reference. Factory options have an effect on the door sticker weight statement. The door stickers should be close to the actual weight as that is what is a State Trooper will use if they weigh your vehicle for suspicion of overloading.

I have no idea how much weight will be added to a Gladiator using larger axles, wheels, suspension, and V8 engines and I don't really care.

Good thing I don't use my Jeep for commercial use and will never have a state trooper want to weigh it. Nobody is putting non-commercial vehicles on the scale for over loading unless you're well beyond negligence and riding around on the bump stops with 5k+ pounds in the truck. I couldn't argue how accurate the sticker weight is as I've never left anything stock for long. Between dump trips and the truck scale at my wife's company I can tell you they all weigh a lot more than the sticker says.

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