All great questions as there are not a lot of SAS 5th gens out there yet beyond t40R, 4runningmutts (instagram), and a few others.

Regarding the axles, I researched this topic for at least 2 months between junk yard rebuilds, new whatever, custom like Diamond etc. In the end the cost if a done right rebuilt with gearing, lockers, bearings, axle shafts, etc is not much less than new so I chose to go with brand new axles.

I'm in NC and my first call was to ECGS since they are here. After a few calls with them I learned they didn't have anymore 14 bolt diff's left since the foundry had closed so they were offering a D80 rear and 60 front. I strongly considered their setup as it already comes with the ABS sensors connected which should really be plug (splice) and play. I wanted a second option so reached out to Wide Open Design as I wheeled last year at Windrock with a Jeep they had built and it awesome. It's wasn't a trailer queen it was just a tough a very capable vehicle. In any case they had something like 14 or so more 14 bolt diffs left and had just sold a pair to someone with a 3rd gen taco.

ECGS has a document on their site showing the clearance of various diffs which helped me make my decision. A D80 from centerline of diff to lowest point is 6.75", while the mild shave on the 14bolt is 5.8" while maintaining the 10.5 ring gear, a heavier shave is available to yield 5.25" but the ring gear needs to get shaved to 10". Of course the D80 has an 11.5 ring gear. Getting back to the point the D60 from ECGS comes with either 6" or 5.75" with smaller ring gear.

My primary driver was clearance and strength of the entire setup. I really like that the Wide Open knuckle and C where designed to easily fit the RCV big bell axle. Both the Reid that ECGS uses and the Wide Open Designs are great, I just have the impression that the Wide Open ones are maybe a touch stronger. If they are good for rock bouncers they are darn sure good enough for a 4runner and really carry no weight disadvantage over other available knuckles and C's.

So it seemed like a no brainer to get the 14 bolt and the price was similar but Wide Open crushed ECGS on lead time. From order to receipt on Monday as I think 5-6 weeks. Now it must be said that RCV has a long lead time and I do not have the front axle shafts yet but should the end of August which is fine.

So, if any compromises, it would be lead time in the current market if you will. This was a much larger issue with suspension than the axles and got very lucky with Wide Open having a set of 16" shocks in stock where others were 8 weeks out and King was forever and a day. Back to the compromise if you will, in going with Wide Open, is the lack of the ABS sensor included. I do not see this as big challenge and will tackle it later. I do not see it being a big issue, despite the complexity of the Toyota system and what it's all linked to what it's reading and being used for is easy to get. I will get some F450 abs sensors and figure it out.

In terms of width we are planning on being roughly out to the mirrors with outside edge of tire. More important than width is the wheelbase which we are looking for at least a +12" with maybe a little more push forward than backwards but this is still in process.