Diff Covers

[Stickman]

Ok, since I remembered I need to check and most likely change my diff fluid in another post I was just going to put on stronger/higher capacity covers front and rear since I'm doing it. So what are the best options out there for both strength and capacity bump? Only one I can think of would be Mag-Hytec, but I don't think they're very strong, or DT Profab, that meets everything, any other options? I would just do a guard like Carli or Purple Cranium but I would like the extra capacity since I do tow occasionally for long distances with minimal stops.

[Stickman]

I'm also going to be putting Amsoil Severe Gear in them with a Filtermag aswell, make sure they're taken care of for a while.

[Mr.Smith]

Mercenary is able to build them, DOR, as you mentioned DT ProFab...not sure if Ballistic Fab has 10.5's yet? All of which allow more fluid capacity.

[Colibri]

I've had a mag-hytec on the rear and quite liked it. I don't think it would do well taking a hit though. I've since switched out to a ballistic fab out back. That holds more fluid and is very stout. Any of the good steel covers would be my first choice if you off-road.

Up front I've seen people run mag hytec but I've heard almost all aftermarket front covers can cause interference with steering/trackbar. No first hand experience with that though. The Carli diff guard is what I've been using for years, it's quite literally bombproof. Towing doesn't normally strain the front diff like it does the rear anyway.

[Adam_C]

I went DT ProFab in the rear and Solid up front. Extra capacity out back is nice and I haven't reversed into any rocks yet so can't speak to its strength but I don't see it being an issue. Steering stabilizer u-bolts hit the Solid so I trimmed them down as flush as I could and it still barely rubbed...grooved the cover out a little so I bought the Thuren clamp. Haven't installed it yet since the rub went away due to groove. Haven't flexed her out to check for additional clearance issues. If I had it to do over I'd go Purple Cranium up front.

Adam
2013 PW

[djgaston]

As said, any steel covers are best. 3/8" steel covers are almost impossible to hurt. We keep them in stock most of the time. I didn't know Todd at Mercenary was making them now. Lots of good options out there! It used to be slim pickings on covers, now you have at least half a dozen options.

[Stickman]

Well it looks like DT Profab is about the only one that meets everything for the rear. Ballistic doesn't have any for the 10.5, Mercenary doesn't have anything on their site (probably the same as DT or DOR) and DOR is $25 more for an identical cover but with a DOR emblem on it. On the front I can get a Ballistic or a Purple Cranium half cage. I'm curious to know if either of these will cause interference issues. I'd like to get the Ballistic, but don't know if a normal style cover would cause interference issues like a nodular cover like the Solid did, I wouldn't think so. I may just get the Ballistic and see what happens, worst comes to worst I'll return it and get a Purple Cranium.

[OffroadTreks]

I have purple cranium front and rear. It's a bit cheaper to do front and rear than replacing the covers. Dan is right, 3/8 steel is going to be really solid and take a hell of a beating. I just know from experience, I don't wheel hard like a bro and smash into things, so the Purple Cranium is more than enough deflection protection for the occasional bump.

[djgaston]

Well it looks like DT Profab is about the only one that meets everything for the rear. Ballistic doesn't have any for the 10.5, Mercenary doesn't have anything on their site (probably the same as DT or DOR) and DOR is $25 more for an identical cover but with a DOR emblem on it. On the front I can get a Ballistic or a Purple Cranium half cage. I'm curious to know if either of these will cause interference issues. I'd like to get the Ballistic, but don't know if a normal style cover would cause interference issues like a nodular cover like the Solid did, I wouldn't think so. I may just get the Ballistic and see what happens, worst comes to worst I'll return it and get a Purple Cranium.

Ours is powdercoated and there isn't a DOR logo on there, and we use Black Oxide Allen head diff cover bolts rather than Class 10.9 hex heads. But yeah, same basic cover other than that. You can get bare steel and paint it and save a few bucks. Either option is good. If you get the front and rear cover together, we have a discount built in. Our front cover works with factory steering and all of our steering kits, even our big 2" OD tie rods. Not sure about other brands but it should work on all of them. It doesn't stick out much more than stock. We try to keep them as slim as possible, but it is quite a bit thicker than the stock cover. Also our front cover has the drain plug, none of the others do as far as I know. And no brotastic skulls or DOR emblems welded on or anything like that. It's just powdercoated where most others are bare steel. We have the 1050 covers in stock but the front covers are a week or two out right now. We sold a ton of them recently and are catching back up. It's the only size we don't have in stock at the moment, go figure. http://dodgeoffroad.3dcartstores.com/Do ... p_121.html The front is $199, the rear is $225, and if you buy both together you'll save $24 plus save on the shipping since they go in the same box. Total savings would be like $35-40 over buying separate. Just some extra info, no pressure either way. The stock covers actually hold up pretty well, considering how thin they are. But if you are going to get a diff cover, the way I look at it is to get the best one and then not have to worry about taking it off and getting a different one later or wondering if it will hold up. I like to upgrade something and then move on to the next upgrade, not keep messing with the same thing. If you don't want to order ours, I would get the DT rear and the Ballistic front, if it were me. But everyone is different.

[ACRucrazy]

I have a Solid front



Mag-Hytec rear

[Stickman]

Ended up going with the DT ProFab and Ballistic. Wanted the extra capacity and strength on the rear for both towing and off road excursions, then just wanted strength on the front for off road. I'm not planning on bashing through rock gardens, but it definitely won't hurt to have the extra insurance up there. I'm also planning on powdercoating them red to match everything else, so I don't mind them being bare steel.

Just to make sure, the gaskets on front and rear are re-usable aren't they? Or am I RTV'ing them?

[Colibri]

Gaskets are reusable sir, can't wait to see the end product!