Explorer I
Explorer I
Member III
Off-Road Ranger III
20111
Member III
Influencer II
Advocate I
Member III
They do raise the COG higher and make rigs more topheavy, and they do increase the amount of unsprung weight at the axle, so you end up with a higher pototential for a roll and a rougher ride and slower response time to terrain changes.I heard they weren't great for uneven terrain? Any truth to this?
Influencer II
No.I heard they weren't great for uneven terrain? Any truth to this?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Guardian of Forever in Star Trek's City on the Edge of Forever?I saw the thread title and thought it was a reference to "Stargate"
Advocate I
Influencer II
So I see it the other way, a real crawler doesn't need to be as driveable as an overland rig so fancy suspension work and therefore huge tires aren't much of a problem, but just say you have a vehicle that is equipped with 33" tires and "overland suspension" , now put portals on and be the adult we pretend to be...My first thought is why? On an overlanding vehicle? I could see it on a rock crawler. If you are really going on a trip of the lifetime for perhaps weeks and months, it's just one more thing to go wrong. How will you get it fixed in the Congo? If you are going to Moab for a week and trailering it there....mmmmm!?
My second thought is from what I've heard it allows you to put on larger tires and that puts more stress on the axles, now you have to get bigger axles and that passes the stress on to the diff and drive shafts. KISS.
That said It coolness factor is sky high!
Advocate I
So I see it the other way, a real crawler doesn't need to be as driveable as an overland rig so fancy suspension work and therefore huge tires aren't much of a problem, but just say you have a vehicle that is equipped with 33" tires and "overland suspension" , now put portals on and be the adult we pretend to be...
You keep your 33s. What happens?
You get clearance under the diff like you would be on 40s, you gain a lot of belly clearance and you significantly reduce the load on your drivetrain. Plus you no longer have to regear. If you are smart enough and get rims with high backpacking you can reduce the scrub radius back down a bit or a lot and your tires don't stick out to far (depending on what you had before) the general driving character will be the same you just gained 3-4" of ground clearance and reduced strain on the drivetrain. Yes the twisting and bending forces on your axles will be higher but that is usually much less of a problem than one would think.
Influencer II
So usually, portals come with a gear reduction everywhere from 1:1,15 to 1:1,5 wich reduce the torque and strain on the drivetrain.I agree with you if you keep the 33's(in reality who does?) the gain in under body clearance is a +. Not so sure of the less stress on the drivetrain though. Wouldn't it remain the same or even increase as one tried more technical obstacles?
For me it kinda gets back to what is Overlanding? Is it spending a month doing the TAT or going to Moab on a long weekend and running trails. Or both?
Bottom line is build yer rig how you want it for what you want to do.
Advocate I
Excuse my ignorance, if they do a gear reduction at the axle, does that not lower your hiway speeds? I had a friend with a Volvo on portals and he could only get up to around 62mph. Is that why?So usually, portals come with a gear reduction everywhere from 1:1,15 to 1:1,5 wich reduce the torque and strain on the drivetrain.
Keeping the smaller tires is why I said "be the adult we pretend to be"
Portals are a blessing on rutted roads and muddy terrain.
Influencer II
Good question and, yes you are correct, see it the same as regearing your vehicle.Excuse my ignorance, if they do a gear reduction at the axle, does that not lower your hiway speeds? I had a friend with a Volvo on portals and he could only get up to around 62mph. Is that why?