I've got a 2008 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 on order through my dealer. Delivery will be anywhere from 6-8 weeks because the Dodge production line at the factory in Michigan won't open back up until early Jan. Anyway, among the options I ordered is a full-time AWD transfer case with towing package and 3.92 gears.

I was reading the Dakota brochure closely and if I'm correct, it looks like if you order full-time 4 wheel drive, you get the 8.25 axle while the part-time 4 wheel drive comes with the 9.25 axle. If I'm right, I don't know why the full-time 4 wheeldrive gets a smaller axle than a part-time 4 wheel drive. Would anyone have any idea? The dealership isn't clear on this either.

 

I don't know for sure but I believe the 9.25 is a strong 12 bolt rear!

 

I don't know if anything changed for '08 but I found out recently that on the 05-07 the 2WD came with a 8.25" axle and the 4X4 came with the 9.25. Early models of the '05 4WD had the 8.25 but it changed to the 9.25 somewhere mid model year and all 4X4's since then came with the heavier axles.

Hope that helps.

 

The 9.25 is the same that the Rams use so you get the full size running gear(eng/trans/rear) in a mid size truck.
I think it has to due with axle ratios. I thought the 3.92 gears got the 9.25 axle and anything smaller gear ratio wise had the 8.25 axle. Has this changed?

 

On the Dakota "Buyers Guide" at the back of the Dakota brochure, this is exactly the wording:

"Axle - Rear, 9.25 (included with Flex Fuel V8 on 4x2 models or on 4x4 models with 4.7 Flex Fuel V8 and part-time transfer case)"

To me, that sounds like if you get the full-time transfer case, you don't get the 9.25 axle. Hopefully I'll find out for sure this week. But it doesn't make any sense to me that you would get the smaller axle with full-time 4 wheel drive. The towing limits and payload are the same for both, part-time and full-time 4 wheel drive so I don't know why the axle size would be different.

 

I have a 4x2 9.25 with 3.55 non-lsd

 

i think you cant get 3.92 gears in a 9.25 axle, which doesnt make any sense to me. when i was screwing around on the dodge website building a dakota exactly the way i wanted it wouldnt let me have 3.92 gears in a 9.25 rear with LSD for some reason.

 

I have a 2007 V6 2WD ST (no options at all)with the six speed, and this is what my window sticker reads:

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
Customer Preferred Package 23A
-Corporate 9.25 LD Rear Axle

My rear end ratio is 3.21:1.

I'm glad I got the big axle.It's definitely the same as the axles under 1500 Rams, the octagon-shaped diff coveris pretty distinct.

I see the little toothpicks bolted up under Rangers and S-10's and Colorados and I smile.

 

I have a 2wd '06 Laramie CC

The dealer printed me a VIP Summary Report
that lists all the options on my truck.

DRBP Corporate 9.25 LD Rear Axle
DMHP 3.92 Axle Ratio
DSAP Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle

 

I have the same question. I want to order either a 2008 Laramie or TRX Offroad quad cab w/ 3.92 anti-spin axle and 4.7 V8. The dodge web site & toll free customer advice line both show a tow capicity of 5,550# for the TRX and 6,800# for the Laramie. Why would the TRX have the smaller 8.25 Axle? Perhaps smaller size to increase ground clearance?...Any way guess I'll go to the dealer this weekend & crawl under the TRX truck he has to measure the axle.

Does anyone know any drawbacks with an 8.25" anti-spin other than tow reduction? I already know about the C-clip issue on the 9.25"s