OK, I'm just kind of on the edge here. I'm about to swap front diffs here in a few days, and I thought if I was ever going to go with Longfields now would be the time, but I'm just wondering. Do I really need to spend the money for them? I don't rock crawl on any regular basis and my wheeling is mostly moderate, but then you never know what I might do.

That said, I really, really don't want to change a birfield on a cold rainy night in the middle of nowhere, although I do carry a spare just in case. And I'm kind of thinking that that my 5000lbs truck with 35s is probably just as likely to break a birfield on a moderate obstical as a lighter Toyota with smaller tires on something harder.

I guess I just need some convincing to go ahead and spend the money. Should I get his treated axles too?

From what I've read.

If you run a spool/auto locker in the front yes.
If you larger than 35 tire yes..
If you run dual cases... Yes

You could always buy one and keep it as your spare. That way if you ever have to install it on the trail atleast you're not doing anymore work?

Even though they are not as well tested yet I would probably get the smurfields instead, they are much much cheaper than the longs and from everything I have read they are holding up just as well. The guys over at pirate that bust tons of birfs get on high traction rock surfaces and floor the throttle till they get the front end bouncing and hopping and shock load the drivetrain, then guess what BANG! If you have more finesse than that I don't think you have to worry, unless you get a front tire bound up with steering at full lock and lay into the throttle. Here is a link to the smurfs:
Smurfies

well i have broken birfs when i had my 33's and an open front end . so now im locked,dual cases and run 35 SX's and still running stock birfs,but i got a feeling that its gonna happen one of these times. as for the smurfs,i have heard of them breaking,but supposedly it was a 1st one or something <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> and you really don't hear anyone that has them bragging about them. but since bobby is selling direct again and taking cores,why not just spend the extra money and get something that has been tested time and time again.

For the price, absolutely. I'd do it with even moderate wheeling since it I haven't had a lot of fun changing one on the trail yet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
I'm buying two new ones to install, my old ones will be spares. I've pushed them pretty hard and they haven't disappointed me yet.
Running most of the "hardcore" trails here in Colorado as well as Moab, in just over a year I've managed to break two short side inners, two hubs and a R&P and haven't broken a long yet.
Now if I can just get the rest of the axle to hold up I'll be great <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Yes, Rode two times in TN. on tough trails and Long have worked great. My buddy with no Longs broke two stock birfs and we were on a bad hill and could not move so we changed them on the spot. No fun at 3:00 AM in the morning. One ounce of prevention, is worth a thousand words.

Have you ever come to a spot where you might have to back up a difficult spot with the wheels cranked to the stops?

How about an inverted face higher than the center of your tire?

You've already answered your own question <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, you need Long's Superbirf's, but unless your gonna do so SERIOUS wheelin', the stock inners should be fine- I carry spare inners and birf's just in case tho-

later

You are Mr. Expedition in No-Man's-Land, if I read your posts accurately...

"But being as this is a pain in the butt birfield, the most greazy messy thing in the world, and the truck would knock your head clean off if it fell off that high lift in the rain and crushed you in the mud, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?

Well, do ya--punk?"

Any questions?

Of course, if you get his axles you better hope the hub acts as a fuse.

Well, just got off the phone and ordered two brand new Longfields. Bobby was real nice and had no problem taking the time to answer a few questions. I decided against going with treated axles. For one, they were more money, but Bobby commented that he rarely sees them break on trucks with less than 38s and I guess I'd rather have an axle snap than my brand new ARB hy pinion diff. Either way, I have some spares. I went new so that I could get them quicker. I thought about sending in mine as cores, but I'd rather have them as spares and this way I don't have to wait more than a couple of days.

Can't beat $165 a piece, including shipping for a brand new birfield treated by Bobby. I can't believe that Marlin is still selling the darn things for $215 each. What's up with that?

We don't know what price Marlin was paying Bobby, he might have to sell them at that or lose money. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Who did you end up getting your new third member from?