74Weld Portal Axles for the Grenadier

[Lars]

New YouTube video discussing building portal axles for the Grenadier. It won't be cheap, but it would be done right. If you want portals (and you should) it's time to get serious...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rs-xdtDh9c

 

[anand]

That would be the third manufacturer (LeTech, Dirtbox, and now 74Weld); interesting to see that much involvement in a niche product for a niche vehicle

 

[Dokatd]

Dirtbox

 

[landmannnn]

Good to hear an expert's view on the front axle.
It does make me wonder why IA chose to have such a small castor angle. From my limited knowledge higher (or normal) castor angles would improve stability and self centering.

 

[DaveB]

That would be the third manufacturer (LeTech, Dirtbox, and now 74Weld); interesting to see that much involvement in a niche product for a niche vehicle

LeTech have had a prototype for over 2 years and now have a product that will come with factory warranty.
As a sideline the current axle manufacturer, Carraro, make portal axles for their tractors so they are very well experienced in what is required.

 

[Dokatd]

LeTech have had a prototype for over 2 years and now have a product that will come with factory warranty.
As a sideline the current axle manufacturer, Carraro, make portal axles for their tractors so they are very well experienced in what is required.

A bit of speculation, but I believe he was talking in terms of pure bolt on portals using the existing axle housings. He may be correct in that case.

Do we know if the LeTechs are full bolt on retaining the stock axle housing or do they require significant fabrication or a complete axle housing swap?

If I was Carraro I would just build a different housing as well. New housings are not expensive to build in terms of materials cost.

 

[DaveB]

A bit of speculation, but I believe he was talking in terms of pure bolt on portals using the existing axle housings. He may be correct in that case.

Do we know if the LeTechs are full bolt on retaining the stock axle housing or do they require significant fabrication or a complete axle housing swap?

If I was Carraro I would just build a different housing as well. New housings are not expensive to build in terms of materials cost.

It is strange that Carraro supply two different housing for lockers and no lockers as it is.
That is why lockers from the factory is the only option as you need to change the housing and axles if going aftermarket.

 

[Dokatd]

It is strange that Carraro supply two different housing for lockers and no lockers as it is.
That is why lockers from the factory is the only option as you need to change the housing and axles if going aftermarket.

That's interesting and I was not aware of that.

 

[dlcmike]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rs-xdtDh9c

 

[dlcmike]

Sorry - I checked to see if this was posted and I didn't see it then poof there it is.

 

[NQ94]

It is strange that Carraro supply two different housing for lockers and no lockers as it is.
That is why lockers from the factory is the only option as you need to change the housing and axles if going aftermarket.

No different to Toyota axles with diff locks. There is about 4 or 5 different rear housings for a 79.Only need a few extra brackets and holes or very minor difference in case machining to have a different part number for essentially identical parts.

 

[ADVAW8S]

Werewolf said they would do portals but they need to get their hands on a Grenadier

 

[ecohen2]

Someone needs to donate one!

 

[DenisM]

A bit of speculation, but I believe he was talking in terms of pure bolt on portals using the existing axle housings. He may be correct in that case.

Do we know if the LeTechs are full bolt on retaining the stock axle housing or do they require significant fabrication or a complete axle housing swap?

If I was Carraro I would just build a different housing as well. New housings are not expensive to build in terms of materials cost.

True, while the material costs might not be a significant impediment, the Reliability and Maintainability engineering as well as dynamic safety testing can be significant for a niche market (remember the MB "Moose test" fiasco?)....

 

[Dokatd]

True, while the material costs might not be a significant impediment, the Reliability and Maintainability engineering as well as dynamic safety testing can be significant for a niche market (remember the MB "Moose test" fiasco?)....

No doubt, at least it's not as severe as aviation.

 

[MurphyMurph]

What percentage of Grenadier owners would actually put portal axles on their rigs? I’m talking have the funds to do it and would really pull the trigger…I’m thinking in the 0.1%-0.5% range.

IIRC, in the Matt Farrah Smoking Tire interview, Lynn Calder mentioned to date around 20,000 Grenadiers have been sold worldwide. 0.1% of 20,000 is 20. If 25% of those are in North America, is that worth it for a company to create a portal kit for 5 customers per year? Really seems like a novelty to me. What is the glaring problem being solved here? Ground clearance?

IMO the vehicle is fit for purpose. Portals are cool but not necessary for the vast majority of buyers. Am I glad they exist (or might exist in the future) for the Grenadier? Yes. Would I pay $35k to have them installed? Absolutely not. I’d rather put that money into a dozen other upgrades that I would get more regular use out of.

Portals and oversized tires are kinda like guys with massive arms: They look cool but suck to live with on a daily basis.

 

[Lars]

What percentage of Grenadier owners would actually put portal axles on their rigs? I’m talking have the funds to do it and would really pull the trigger…I’m thinking in the 0.1%-0.5% range.

IIRC, in the Matt Farrah Smoking Tire interview, Lynn Calder mentioned to date around 20,000 Grenadiers have been sold worldwide. 0.1% of 20,000 is 20. If 25% of those are in North America, is that worth it for a company to create a portal kit for 5 customers per year? Really seems like a novelty to me. What is the glaring problem being solved here? Ground clearance?

IMO the vehicle is fit for purpose. Portals are cool but not necessary for the vast majority of buyers. Am I glad they exist (or might exist in the future) for the Grenadier? Yes. Would I pay $35k to have them installed? Absolutely not. I’d rather put that money into a dozen other upgrades that I would get more regular use out of.

Portals and oversized tires are kinda like guys with massive arms: They look cool but suck to live with on a daily basis.

Why someone "wants" portal axles; why someone "needs" portal axles?
When you know, you know.

 

[WanderingSniper]

Maybe I missed something, but it sounds like this guy doesn't even like Grenadiers or want to build portals for it. He may do a great job IF he ever thinks about it again, but I'd rather go with someone else. I know our vehicle isn't all sunshine and rainbows but he clearly does not want to do this job at all.

 

[Dokatd]

Maybe I missed something, but it sounds like this guy doesn't even like Grenadiers or want to build portals for it. He may do a great job IF he ever thinks about it again, but I'd rather go with someone else. I know our vehicle isn't all sunshine and rainbows but he clearly does not want to do this job at all.

74Weld provides extreme duty portals to the rock crawling world. They make a really good setup for Toyota's, Jeeps etc. I think however he is a bit one track though on this. He is thinking through how his existing products can be reworked to fit the Grenadier and it seems he is currently not optimistic that it will be easy or cost effective. And he is right.

Just wait until real pricing comes out for "kits". The factory option if done correctly could be the most affordable. This assumes some production qty's. I would have paid a fair bit more for portals if they were offered by the factory. But not anywhere near what any forth coming kits will cost.

Bottom line, the guys at 74Weld are being honest and clear.

 

[anand]

Just wait until real pricing comes out for "kits". The factory option if done correctly could be the most affordable.

My guesstimate(for posterity) of the OEM set up is somewhere in the neighborhood of $50k