Gladiator Max Tow vs Non Max tow option rip out

[ShadowsPapa]

Everything I have found from reliable sources is that Gladiator got thicker axle tubes - but that it was across the JT line, not limited to Rubicon or wide axles, etc.

Like I said - the rags/blogs/magazines too often twisted the order of words and left our commas.
All you have to do is drop a single comma, or ignore a pause in speech when someone is talking about them to mix things up.

Listen to someone speaking and saying "Gladiator gets axle tubes 10mm (slight pause) thicker than Wrangler.
Suddenly in the game of telephone/journalism, that becomes something that it isn't.

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[Wheelin98TJ]

This is easy to confirm. Someone with a Rubicon measure the outside of there axle tube and someone with max Tow measure theirs and someone with a Mojave measure theirs.
Unfortunately I painted my rears with very thick POR15, so my measurements wouldn't help us ..

That will confirm the outside diameter, but not the tube thickness.

Everything I have found from reliable sources is that Gladiator got thicker axle tubes - but that it was across the JT line, not limited to Rubicon or wide axles, etc.

Like I said - the rags/blogs/magazines too often twisted the order of words and left our commas.
All you have to do is drop a single comma, or ignore a pause in speech when someone is talking about them to mix things up.

Listen to someone speaking and saying "Gladiator gets axle tubes 10mm (slight pause) thicker than Wrangler.
Suddenly in the game of telephone/journalism, that becomes something that it isn't.

I get a 404 error when I try to access that web address.

 

[Redfour5]

This is probably been ask but, here we go. I "believe" I understand the differences between max tow and non max tow, but I know I could be missing something??? But if buying a gladiator that your going to rip out all the suspension, control arms, springs, and change front/rear gearing out anyways, is it worth buying the max tow? Is max tow really only 1 inch wider? Is that really worth it? Im looking at the Rebel Offroad Front coilover kit with rear spring kit with king coilovers up front and king shocks in the back with teraflex long arm kit. So is just going with a non max tow going to be okay, or should I still get a max tow? Is there some extra strength that comes with the max tow? Thank you for all your help....

I think someone else noted this but the "Max Tow" has "wide axles" that have a notable advantage "beefier tubes," and about 1.5 inch wider. AND, it has a 4.10 rear end diff... Also, a reason to look at a Rubicon is the high clearance fender flares that allow for beefier tires/wheels. THAT alone could be a deciding factor for you with what you are doing.

IF you wanted ALL the bells and Whistles and safety stuff High Altitudes have the wide axles also, although I am not sure why but they do not have the high clearance fenders but I think that can be after marketed if you go the bucks and with all you are doing money does not appear to be an issue. If you are doing it all for looks, most of it won't make a difference in terms of what you are asking.

 

[DanW]

No, not 10mm thicker, it's 10mm compared to 8mm of Wrangler.
And I have screen shots of articles stating that all Gladiators got that.
People keep saying "10mm thicker" when it's 10mm, not 10mm thicker, and it's compared to 8mm Wrangler.

The Wrangler has 8mm thick wall axle tubes.
Gladiator has 10mm thick wall axle tubes.
Mojave has thicker - but 10mm thicker would imply 3/8" of an inch added to an already 3/8" thick tube wall making that front axle tube 3/4" thick!

All Gladiators are supposed to have 10mm thick axle tubes - that was compared early on to the Wrangler at 8mm. Jeep said "Gladiator gets 10mm thick axle tubes" - that's compared to Wrangler.

Imagine axle tubes over 3/4" thick because 10mm is over 3/8" thick and if you say "10mm thicker" than an already 10mm thick axle tube you are adding almost 7/16" to an already over 3/8" thick wall because 10 mm is over 3/8", almost 7/16" thick.

2 mm thicker makes perfect sense. That´s 20% greater thickness and likely, strength. Any more than that really does not make mathematical or practical sense.

Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

2 mm thicker makes perfect sense. That´s 20% greater thickness and likely, strength. Any more than that really does not make mathematical or practical sense.

Thanks for pointing that out.

10 is 25% more than 8.

 

[DanW]

10 is 25% more than 8.

LOL, yep. Even more significant. I had 10mm in my head, so wrong denominator. Thanks!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

2 mm thicker makes perfect sense. That´s 20% greater thickness and likely, strength. Any more than that really does not make mathematical or practical sense.

Thanks for pointing that out.

I did some digging on tube strength and you are pretty much spot-on with that - strength follows thickness at about a 1:1 but diameter is where you get into more complex math.
So if you use the online calculators for strength (which guys building race car roll cages, frame structures and so on use) you see it's really a big gain in strength when you are talking the forces they use as examples.
A 20% increase in strength is a big deal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

10 is 25% more than 8.

I know people joke about "bean counters" - but thankfully they exist to help some of us along.
The whole universe relies on math.
And that makes it even better - 25% gain is a pretty big deal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

IF you wanted ALL the bells and Whistles and safety stuff High Altitudes have the wide axles also, although I am not sure why but they do not have the high clearance fenders

The point isn't high fenders, the point of the wider axles is ride and stability towing.
Ask the Pontiac people of years ago - "Pontiac wide-track" - better ride, better handling on the highway.
Step away from the "Jeeps are only for off-roading" mindset for a minute

High Altitude is a beefed-up, fancied-up Overland. Most of those buyers won't give a rip about high fenders - they want an amazing ride

 

[dayusmc]

That will confirm the outside diameter, but not the tube thickness.


I get a 404 error when I try to access that web address.

If it is 2mm wall thickness the outside diameter should be bigger. It the wall thicknes was just going inward they would have to use completely different bushings and bearings.
I could also measure my JLU tube outside diameter to see if that is the same or different than the gladiator

 

[DarthAWM]

Everything I have found from reliable sources is that Gladiator got thicker axle tubes - but that it was across the JT line, not limited to Rubicon or wide axles, etc.

Like I said - the rags/blogs/magazines too often twisted the order of words and left our commas.
All you have to do is drop a single comma, or ignore a pause in speech when someone is talking about them to mix things up.

Listen to someone speaking and saying "Gladiator gets axle tubes 10mm (slight pause) thicker than Wrangler.
Suddenly in the game of telephone/journalism, that becomes something that it isn't.

Now the final question is, Is that 2mm difference between the JL Dana 30 and the JT Dana 44 or between the JL Dana 44 and the JT Dana 44

 

[dawghauler]

I believe the max tow got larger brakes to handle the increased payload

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I believe the max tow got larger brakes to handle the increased payload

Same brakes. The parts interchange. That's another "thing" that makes its rounds on forums.

The smaller tires help with the braking - larger tires cause a need for more braking power.
Once you put on larger tires, now the brakes don't have the same mechanical advantage they had with smaller tires.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

If it is 2mm wall thickness the outside diameter should be bigger. It the wall thicknes was just going inward they would have to use completely different bushings and bearings.
I could also measure my JLU tube outside diameter to see if that is the same or different than the gladiator

The axle bearings are not pressed in the housing. The axle bearings ride in the bearing retainer.

 

[dayusmc]

The axle bearings are not pressed in the housing. The axle bearings ride in the bearing retainer.

I stand corrected....

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