By all accounts the Dana 30 is a tough little bugger, having the alloy axles certainly helps. In fact I may just go that route with mine. A lot rides on your driving experience and style, an automatic is also supposed to help. The first time the front end broke I was showing off to other "less equipped" trucks by climbing a hard packed ravine in a gravel pit, it was about 35 degrees steep and I was really gassing it and the front tires were throwing the odd 5 pin bowling ball sized rock when the left front knuckle broke. A lot of my off roading is done on whats called the Canadian Shield, its all granite, swamp and trees and the traction on the clean rock is pretty good. At the time I would only use the front locker when traction was lost and it always amazed me how well the CJ could climb with all 4 wheels locked, However the allan head bolts holding the ARB case halfs together all broke, not once but twice. Interestingly enough the knuckle has broke, a couple of axles have let go at the u joint, the ARB case has broke twice but the R & P in the Dana 30 has always been fine. Any way I',ve gone back to an open frt diff and rely on my good old Warn winch if trouble happens. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />