Rockwells for Jeeps are OK

Rockwell axles with Jeeps

The benefits to Jeeps and other short wheel based rigs with Rockwell 2.5 ton axles is the short wheel base and the limited turning radius of the big military rig axles. Easily overcome in larger rigs with four wheel steering, smaller rigs can get away with one steering axle.

The biggest difficulty with Toploader military axlesand short wheel bases is similar to the issues in other trucks. You do need an additional 7″ of clearance over conventional front loading axles. Of course the best answer to this is to relocate the front axle forward and the rear axle backwards which is easily performed with the body lines of most Jeeps.

My next Jeep Rockwell project would be a YJ based rig. I would run YJ Springs up front, with a doubled up long leaf (from the rear pack) and I would build a custom front end stinger that integrated pushing the front axle forward 6-8 inches, enabling the motor to sit behind the axle top end. I would run XJ springs in the rear, to push the axle backwards with aditional axle wrap control, or 4-link the rear end, pending finances. I would use 39-42″ Iroks with Hummer double beadlocks recentered for the rockwells.

Additional things I would consider to keep costs down would be to take advantage of the toughness of these axles. I would weld the spiders (for budget) and then run a split manual brake system using pinion brakes, with a twin sticked transfer case to independently brake the front or rear axles for front or rear digs. To run 39″ tires and rockwells I would cut the bottom end and add a custom skid pan available from a number of vendors, or custom made from our own.

I have discovered many jeep based rides with Rockwells and for good reasons. They regular the Top Truck Challenge, and other situations where money is taken into account and you can live with a few extra hundred pounds. This is usually ok in most wheeling genre’s except for specialized areas of rock crawling or desert pounding.

How to buy a Rockwell Axles if you don’t live in the South

Check out our primary site, www.rockwellrebuildmanual.com  to get additional information on rockwell axles.    Locating a set of military toploader 2.5 ton axles (front and rear or two fronts) is a challenge. These differentials seem to be more readily available in the Southern area of the States, and I would include Texas in that area. Outside of these areas though it can be a test of patience. I was able to find two sets here in Eastern Washington with a little Craigslist program call Craigs Pro+ (Not an affiliate for this program but I am an avid user) I established a unique trace for whatever it is I am looking for within the distance that I want to drive to pick it up and the program sends me an alert whenever a post matching my criteria is listed.

Even here in Washington, I was able to find two pair of Rockwell axles for $800 a pair. These were the less-desirable bendix style but still were in ok shape. Ok enough to refurbish and give a basic overhaul and plug right into my rig. (more on that later).

You can always track down a pair from some expensive retailers that offered military axles, however, I suggest tracking somebodies project parts via online adds. A word of caution about purchasing axles site unseen and halfway across the country, It is expensive to ship these axles (like any 1 ton or larger axle) and you intend to inspect the axles themselves for the typical axle issues. When I purchased both sets of my axles. I was able to also pick up a variety of other nice doo-dads that got thrown in with my toploaders. I was able to source 20 inch steel wheels off of a Hemmit, that were later recentered (by me at home in my own garage) for DIY double beadlocks for $100 each. I also picked up some DOM tubing (freebie), and some original 2.5 ton wheels that I re-used the centers of in the modifications for the double beadlocks.

The moral of the story, like anything else wheeling related, put your feelers out there and be ready for the deal. When the time comes don’t hesitate to ask about other rig-related items. You are often doing a service to the person selling the Rockwell Axles and they are inclined to toss in other “heavy stuff” for free.

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