Why Does A Full-Float Axle Matter So Much?

[JLUR Farout]

F350s have only come with full float axles for decades. Even the F250 hasn't had a semi-float axle since 1997. How old was the F350 you had?

To answer your question, the full float axle can carry more weight. More axle weight capacity means more tongue weight capacity. More tongue weight capacity means more trailer weight capacity (assuming the rest of the vehicle is up to the task).

2012 2500 Cummins had a semi-float on it, I know because I had to replace the rear seals. 2008 F350 XLT with the 6.4L and 6spd manual also did not have an external bearing.

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[JLUR Farout]

It’s seems like everyone is an expert on axles and towing all of the sudden. The argument was always about suspension and it’s off-road capabilities now it’s about the axles. People chime in that have little to no experience and now it’s the semi vs full float debate all because of Stallantis marketing in the name of competition. These vehicles underperform in every category except climbing rocks and we’ll never get a straight answer from them for liability reasons.

Yes, sag. In my 2023 JLURD I needed to move a loaded horse trailer down a driveway, around the house, up the other driveway. Under 1/4 mile. Trailer was not even done cranking up the jack and I was on bump stops. 442 lb ft of torque...not able to do a steel 2 horse trailer.

 

[grimmjeeper]

2012 2500 Cummins had a semi-float on it, I know because I had to replace the rear seals. 2008 F350 XLT with the 6.4L and 6spd manual also did not have an external bearing.

I'm skeptical without evidence.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

You can tow at least 5k pounds just like EU for 10 years. Just keep your speed under 65mph.

I think floating shit is just marketing BullShit. You can tow more than 5k if you are safe and short distance. Use common sense.

 

[Jtaugner]

Manufacturer:​	American Axle & Manufacturing
Years Produced:​	2001 - 2019
Applications:​	2001 - 2019 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500HD, 3500HD 2003 - 2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 3500 2010 - 2019 Ram Trucks Ram 2500, 3500
Housing Material:​	Cast iron
Differential Type:​	Full floating rear differential

Manufacturer:​	Ford Motor Company
Production Plant:​	Sterling Axle Plant, Sterling, Michigan
Applications:​	1999 - current Ford Super Duty
Type:​	Full floating rear differential

You should of kept those 3/4 Ton and 1 Ton trucks with semi-floats.. They're probably the only ones in the US.

 

[Yogi1956]

So Jeep rated the pre 24’ 4Xe at 3,500 lbs, adds the miracle floating axle to the 24’ and still a 3,500 tow rating. The 23’ was rated incorrectly??

We tow our 24’ 4Xe behind the motorhome so it doesn’t matter to us but Jeep tow ratings must be developed through the Jeep legal department or a Ouija board since they have zero relation to engineering or mechanical upgrades?

 

[word302]

So Jeep rated the pre 24’ 4Xe at 3,500 lbs, adds the miracle floating axle to the 24’ and still a 3,500 tow rating. The 23’ was rated incorrectly??

We tow our 24’ 4Xe behind the motorhome so it doesn’t matter to us but Jeep tow ratings must be developed through the Jeep legal department or a Ouija board since they have zero relation to engineering or mechanical upgrades?

Or maybe the axle has nothing to do with the tow rating. lol

 

[6.2Blazer]

2012 2500 Cummins had a semi-float on it, I know because I had to replace the rear seals. 2008 F350 XLT with the 6.4L and 6spd manual also did not have an external bearing.

Neither truck came out of the factory with a semi-float rear axle. Especially a Cummins powered 2500....those trucks of that year or newer always had either the AAM 10.5" or even 11.5" rear axles and those were never offered in semi-float configuration. Maybe the style you are thinking of is actually a full float style? They have a wheel hub with dual tapered roller bearings that you can remove from the axle tubes. The hub and bearings rides on a spindle that is attached to the axle tubes. After you install the wheel bearing hubs to the axle, the axleshaft slides into the axle tubes and bolts to the wheel hub assembly via a circular flange. There are no wheel bearings installed in/on the axle tubes themselves.
If you look up the diagrams on any autoparts site (like RockAuto) they only show the full-float style.

 

[KCSgtMaj]

If the rest of the county followed suit then yes, our limits would logically be increased.

I'm not sure where you got that 7k number though. As far as I can tell JLUs are still limited to 3.5k since apparently nobody has seen one with a 5k limit.

My my24 JLU 3.6L Rubicon Automatic will not support towing 5K lbs. even though Jeep says it will. Why?, because on the build sheet it states that a Class II receiver hitch was installed which only supports 3,500 lbs. So that’s a problem with Jeep knowingly misidentifying capabilities of the new Wrangler or miss labeled parts being installed or using up old parts to make complete vehicles. Either way I don’t think they were ready for the early release of the MY24 Wranglers.

 

[grimmjeeper]

My my24 JLU 3.6L Rubicon Automatic will not support towing 5K lbs. even though Jeep says it will. Why?, because on the build sheet it states that a Class II receiver hitch was installed which only supports 3,500 lbs. So that’s a problem with Jeep knowingly misidentifying capabilities of the new Wrangler or miss labeled parts being installed or using up old parts to make complete vehicles. Either way I don’t think they were ready for the early release of the MY24 Wranglers.

If you find a class 3 hitch receiver and bolt it up that won't be a limiting factor any more.

 

[Ratbert]

If you find a class 3 hitch receiver and bolt it up that won't be a limiting factor any more.

That's making the massive assumption that the receiver is the only limiting factor.

 

[Zandcwhite]

That's making the massive assumption that the receiver is the only limiting factor.

He was replying to an owner of a 2024 that is rated to tow 5klbs despite coming with a class 2 hitch? What other limiting factor could there be?

 

[KCSgtMaj]

If you find a class 3 hitch receiver and bolt it up that won't be a limiting factor any more.

Except for the rating plate.

 

[John Benoit]

Hello,
I have owned a Chevy 1500, a 2500, a Frontier, an F350, a Ram 2500, and many other vehicles. All those trucks had conventional rear axles with the bearings inside the axle tubes and towed so much more. I get the ease of servicing for having a unit bearing on the outside of the axle tube, so you don't have to tear the differential apart to service. But how does it make a difference in towing capacity? Have the axle tube walls just been too thin all these years? I presumed the weight restriction of 3,500 lbs was due to wheel base, frontal area, and suspension sag from soft springs.

NEW HEAVY-DUTY
FULL-FLOAT DANA®
REAR AXLE
A common aftermarket upgrade, full-float axles are now available on Wrangler for the first time ever. Standard on all Rubicon models, the new Heavy-Duty Full-Float Dana® Rear Axle consists of a wheel hub assembly that is separate from the axle shaft, with a spindle bolted to the axle tube that supports the wheel hub via a pair of wheel bearings. This stronger, more robust full-float construction enables a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds( Disclosure8) on 4dr Rubicon 3.6L automatic and 4dr Rubicon 2.0L automatic

In reading this thread, yes you can carry and tow more weight. I believe the reason Jeep is using it, there is no weight on the axle, it only turns the wheel. You are less apt to bend or break an axle bouncing up or down a rocky hill.

 

[Vinman]

Except for the rating plate.

What rating plate?

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