Ideal Axle Width?

[JESSE_at_TLT]

I'm having a custom full-floating rear axle built for a 4WD Tacoma, and was wondering what axle-widths other people are running on compact trucks. Stock width is 60", and we're running a Total Chaos long-travel kit up front (7" wider).

I was thinking about going to a Tundra-width housing (66"), which would give me a track width of just under 80" using 12.5" wide tires on 8" rims with 3.5-4.5" backspacing. Any thoughts?

[ACID_RAIN28]

What ever your final outcome maybe it should be noticalbly narrower than the front.

[redline]

opinions may very but i ussually set trucks up so the rear is about 2" narrower

[JESSE_at_TLT]

Thanks for the replies, but WHY? Is there anything more to it than, "Because it works in the Dez..."

[matt_helton]

when the rear end is wider that the front its constantly trying to push the truck either left or right in the dirt, especially with a spool or locker. it makes it alot more difficult to controll the truck. i know that for a fact because i F-d up on my truck and didnt make the a-arms wide enough so my axle is actually wider that my front track width. i just deal with it but i can tell when i drive it. it just makes me a better driver...lol

[johnnyweb]

from what i know every body is steering you in the right dirrection. a couple inches narrower then the front.

[WFODAN]

Yes I like to run my truck about an inch narrower per side in the rear . It helps the truck to stay square in the two track . If it is exactly square or wider in the rear , the truck will want to wander side to side in it . At high speeds that is something you don't want to really deal with .

[Scott_F]

So, are you guys saying 2" wider in the front at the widest point of the arc (ride height), or at full bump and droop?

[WFODAN]

Mine is a hair wider then 2 inches at ride height , becuase once the truck is on the gas the front end is up which narrows it a tad .

[ACID_RAIN28]

Think of it as the narrower end will always want to pivot around the wider end, which ever that be.

[JESSE_at_TLT]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like a 66" wide (Tundra) rear axle would be very close to the ideal width for my application (LT Tacoma). It's pretty much just keeping the stock proportions of a Tundra anyway.