Trail recovery of a Dana 35

[moneypit]

My son in law and a friend spent last weekend end wheelin with the www.trjc.com guys in Pittsfield IL. Since everyone with an LJ has a Dana 44 you don't have to worry about having this happen. We were going up a steep hill with lots of big rocks and trees. The Jeep behind me had 4 passengers and a Dana 35 rear axle. Well he hit it hard when he got onto the big rocks he broke an axle shaft. With a Dana 35 when that happens the wheel and the shaft walk out the axle tube. We winched them to a flat spot and used the high lift to push the wheel back in. Then we took a ratchet strap and threaded it through the high lift jack handle. Attached the strap to the bumper and rocker areas. We lubed up the tire with gear lube and slowly moved the jeep down a steep ravine . Then we had a long pull to get him up and out to a clearing where we could get a trailer to pick him up. This worked so well we didn't trailer him out he just drove real slow about a half mile to the barn and the wheel stayed put. Just thought this may come in handy some day for the rest of you.

[Belfast]

Thanks for posting - I always love learning from other's mistakes. I usually learn what not to do

I have heard of people doing this before, but this looks like one of the more thought-out implementations I have seen.

[surfnsnow]

I saw an add I think in JP magazine where someone is actually selling something simliar to what's shown in the photos. but really, one should put out the cash for stronger axles than dealing with that crap.

[moneypit]

. but really, one should put out the cash for stronger axles than dealing with that crap.[/quote]


I agree there. The ironic part was the Jeeps owner was riding in the back seat. His daughters boyfriend was the driver. How would you like to be that guy. He's not even in the family yet and he wrecked his maybe some day FIL's Jeep. But the owner was not really upset. I think he really wanted to upgrade and this gave him a reason to do it.