Gorilla Axles vs. Rhino Axles

Choosing the right axle for your UTV is complicated. There are a lot of factors to consider—strength, CV angles, construction materials, warranty, and price are all important to your decision. You should also assess your ride style and how often you’ve broken axles in the past. If you’ve been riding on a stock axle for years and finally broke it in a freak accident, you’ll need something different than the rider with the giant lift kit that breaks axles like toothpicks. Not to sound cheesy, but picking an axle is a highly personal decision!

We’re taking two of the most respected UTV axle brands and putting them head-to-head to help you figure out which one is the best for your rig and ride style. That’s right—it’s Gorilla Axles vs. our very own Rhino Axles!

Table of Contents

• Rhino 1.0
• Rhino 2.0
• Rhino X300
• Head-to-Head Chart

Gorilla Axles vs. Rhino 1.0

So let’s not beat around the bush—Gorilla makes a mean axle. They’re definitely beefy, but they also carry a hefty price tag. For the casual rider, a Gorilla Axle is going to be major overkill. If you’re looking for a replacement for your OEM axle that will get you some added strength but won’t break the bank, you’re better off with a Rhino 1.0 Axle. Again, it’s all about knowing your ride style and what you’re actually trying to get from your machine.

Gorilla Axles vs. Rhino 2.0

There’s a reason Rhino 2.0 Axles are so popular. They’re right at the sweet spot between quality and cost. Both the Gorillas and the Rhino 2.0’s are made from heat-treated 4340 chromoly steel and heat-treated for strength and durability. They both operate at 40°+ CV angles too. Overall the Rhino 2.0s stack up to be highly competitive with the Gorilla Axles. But the Gorillas cost more for a single axle than the Rhino 2.0s cost for a pair. Cost may be the deciding factor between these two heavy-duty axles!

Gorilla Axles vs. Rhino X300

Okay, this match-up is a lot like King Kong vs. Godzilla. Your favorite is probably going to be the one your dad liked (that’s mostly a joke). The Gorillas are dual heat treated, allow up to 40° of articulation, and use puncture-resistant boots—just like the Rhino X300 Axles. These axles are pretty similar, but let’s highlight the differences:

Gorilla Axles are double-plunging and Rhino X300 Axles are not.

Rhino Axles only plunge on the inner CV joint to keep the weak points (and there will always be weak spots on an axle) within the inner boot. This means that if there is an axle failure, your wheel shouldn’t come loose and roll away, which could turn a bad situation into a complete catastrophe.

Gorilla Axles, on the other hand, plunge on both ends. Double-plunging allows for greater articulation angles to take on rough terrain. However, both CV joints are equally likely to fail. Basically, it’s a trade-off between greater articulation on the Gorilla Axles or disaster management with the Rhino X300s.

Rhino X300 Axles use all aeronautic-grade 300M alloy steel construction. Gorilla Axles only use 300M alloy steel for part of their construction.

300M alloy steel is an incredibly strong aircraft-grade alloy. It’s also made with a higher silicon composition and with vanadium, which makes it more flexible. Thanks to our unique Flexshaft™ technology, Rhino X300 Axles flex under pressure and return to their original state afterward. That flexibility protects the differential and the CV joints, reducing wear and tear on other more costly components, like your diff or transmission.

Head-to-Head Chart

That’s a lot of information to digest about two of the best axle brands on the market. Check out the handy chart below for a quick low-down of the details.

Looking for even more information about UTV axles? We’ve collected some FAQs about axles if you need more info before you make your final decision. Check out what customers are saying about our Rhino Axles if you want to hear the good and the bad straight from the horse’s mouth before you push that “add to cart” button too. Thanks for reading and we’ll see you on the trail!