Where did you get that price for seals?,2 minute search and I found the seals for 15 pounds and the TDCi bottom weather strip for 4 pounds. Pat
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Having investigated hands-on my 6X6, the perentie 6X6, Custom conversions Land Cruiser 6x6 and reviewed pictures of the G Wagen 6x6 I feel the fit into two basic classes, the leaf sprung perentie and land cruiser and the coil sprung G-Wagen and RB etc.
At the minimum the RB has been designed as a low cost chassis modification easily replicated on any 110 Defender. Making accomodation for the trailing arms and inter prop shaft the RB suffers by the axles being too far apart and non load sharing.
The G Wagen has essentially the same drive mechanism and disadvantages as the RB.
The wide body on the perentie has advantages and load sharing but disadvantages in it's transfer and limited articulation on the leaf springs.
The Land Cruiser shares the leaf spring mechanism and offset diffs of the perentie but has a detached drop box drive to the rear axle.
None of the above walk their rear axles as well as things like the the WWII Studebaker trucks.
If I were to build my own I'd start with a lengthened 110 chassis, something like a D4 body. I'd fit a walking beam close spaced rear axle combination with offset Salisbury or Dana manual locking diffs, portal axles and disk brakes, the drive would be a detached power dividing drop box similar to the LC, the power train would be something like a LT230/Isuzu MSA with Isuzu duramax.
Most of all I'd have someone like Bill overseeing the design and manufacture.
Detroit No spin would be OK in a perentie 6X4-selectable 6X6 system but not in a constant 6X6 system like the RB and G-Wagen. While it would work, you just have to sit next to a 6X4 or 8X4 concrete agitator truck sitting at the traffic lights with the drum rotating and listen to the detroits locking in and out.
Yes the newer no spin should avoid this issue but as they get older they can be less reliable. The last thing you would want is to start breaking things.
With selectable diff locks you know when they're out and you decide when they go in.
Because as the drum rotates the wet concrete load inside is transfering the weight from side and putting different loads on each of the axles tending to rotate the tyres slightly thus unlocking the diff and then re-locking it. The trucks are also mostly automatic so there is sometimes some propshaft input if the drivers brake foot lifts slightly.
Remember that a Detroit No-Spin should probably be termed an unlocking diff, because their natural state is locked.