they exist for two reasons:

1. to keep your diff off the rocks when you're wheelin'

2. to allow buses and such to run super low floors below the height of the wheel hubs.

 

A douche guy in a Tahoe SS almost understeered straight into me today while I was sitting at a T junction waiting to turn left. If I would have gassed it and went through the light I could have gotten hit, I couldn't go backwards or to the right because there where cars there. The guy finally got the thing slowed down and as he drove by looking at me, I was having a hard time expressing my rage, so I just said "REALLY?" and he threw up his hands and gave me the "IDK LOLOL" look. His traction control saved his indecisive ***.

 

I can understand it for low buses, but larger diameter wheels should take care of more ground height, unless they just want to keep the small wheels

 

Bear in mind that these guys are off-roading. The concern is driving over a rock which passes between the wheels. If the differential is the lowest point on the chassis, and the rock is taller than the height of the diff above average terrain, then that's what it will hit. I guess there's some practical upper limit to tire diameter beyond which raised axles become preferable. (Not an off-road guy.) I guess this allows you to increase ground clearance without increasing chassis height, which has got to be good for stability (lower CG.)

In this image, the crudely drawn rock is going to destroy the crudely drawn axle when the truck runs over it:




By raising up the differential and axles relative to the wheel, you gain additional clearance for such obstacles:

 

Every bit helps.. When switching to portal axles you'd expect around 3" of clearance increase.. to get 3" of clearance you'll need to go 6" taller tire. On average most people run 35s-38s on a trail and trucks come with 30-32" tires stock. In other words you'll be doubling the size of tires and lift needed to get what portal axles alone will give you.

 

In case y'all didn't know.

Those are off a Mercedes Unimog.

 

Looks like 50# in hardware alone. Something like that might have to be in my dream garage. Gotta have something to get around during the Zombie Apocalypse.

 

Also, it allows for an additional gear reduction for the rock climbing folks who want a little more torque.

 

Some VW buses (split-windshields, IIRC) used gear-reduction hubs so the 25-horse lump could drag the bulky van body out of its own way.

 

I was about to say this as well. This is the main reason is torque amplification. The H1 hummer uses a similar gear system as well.

 

Saw an FZJ that had portal axle conversions. It was pretty slick.

 

 

Speaking of bad *** off road vehicles...



Not sure how comfortable I'd be with those monster tires coming within 12" of my face.

 

I've had a HJC motorsports shirt for a couple years and I had no idea what they even did haha. Learn something every day.

 

That is a pretty awesome video.

 

It also contributes the HUMVEE's amazing 16" ground clearance and ability to traverse some crazy surfaces.



Sorry, I rage when people label the HUMVEE an "H1" and raged even further when fugging GM did it.

This is a Hummer:









This is a piece of ---- suburban:




God these things are so gay...










ib someone gets butthurt cause rebadged suburbans and Canyon's aren't designed or built to take off asphalt.

 

Those last few images should be viewed while listening to this

 

I would DD that.

 

Love the pannels all flapping around. Remote control car nylon body

 

Yes hes acting... Funny as hell especially when his spotters start yelling too.