Some of you are most passionate about the weakness of the D35C. I offer you this story as proof that I'm now a believer...
Although not a typical trail breakage story, I had an unfortunate episode with an EZ locker and a dumped clutch on sticky hot pavement last weekend which was quite spectacular. Normaly, I wheel in Stevens Pass just a few miles beyond Monroe, Wa. but on this day, I was with the wife and kids at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. We had finished our shopping and I decided to "avoid traffic" (grin) by shortcutting anywhere there was an open lane. Anyone who knows the area will surely sympothize. Anyway, we're between 4th and 5th ave or maybe 3rd and 4th - I don't know - it was freaking hot and I was anxious to hit I5 north and get home. We sat on a steep incline waiting for a light. I was one car back from the light. As a guy who likes his tunes, I was messing with the stereo trying to get my mixed CD to play Hells Bells by AC/DC. The light changed while I was messing with the stereo. The car before me left across the intersection while my head was still focused on the scan button. Cars behind me honked so my head snapped up. My wife screams "go" like someone will die if I don't move - so I dump the clutch and floor it... Believe it or not, because of the incline, the front wheels left the ground for a brief instant. The snapping/grinding/thumping which accompanied my actions quickly filled me with feelings of stupidity/inadaquacy/and regretfull thoughts of throwing away the pamphlet from the Viagra vendors...
I lost one axle shaft, spider gears, and ripped the driveline right out of the pinion yoke straps causing the driveline to beat/spin ferociously against the bottom of the tub and wack the shit out of my FlowMaster muffler. (sigh) Looking back it was entirely my fault, but the extremes of the damage have changed my attitude entirely. I would never have expected that kind of damage. It could be that all the circumstances were right for extreme breakage. I'm thinking that if I didn't have the locker, one wheel may have spun instead of the carnage I experianced.
My kids (two girls 8 and 6) think "wheelies are cool" My wife wants me to get an Explorer so I threatend her with divorce. By Wednesday of the next week she decided that my judgement was better than litigation - so for now I'm safe...
So, would it be worth my money to buy the Super 35 upgrade, or spend a few dollars more for the D44 axle uprade. We play alot at Sand Lake Park in Oregon and totally dig the sand. I like the snow, but the deep mud and the hardcore rocks don't do much for the family...
Question: ladder bars may have stopped this alltogether (flex, or axle wrap, is bad in this situation) - where could I get them (this is traditionally a poplular upgrade for the "sand crowd" - right?
In closing, I'm left with a destroyed rear-end. Now is my time to reflect on the "wisdom" of others. Hopefully I've amused you in some fashion. The pain and strife of others is typically the amusement of everyone else. The dude who towed me home is still impressed that I got the front wheels off the ground...
disclaimer: pardon my spelling, there is Jack Daniels envolved...