[Mike C]

I would do the 6 lug 14 bolt. And yes, it is that much stronger. The 12 bolt is rated 3300# GAWR and the 9.5" semi-float is rated at 5500#, equal to the Dana 60 in many ways and superior than 30 spline versions.

The 33 spline axles in the 9.5" sf are massive compared to the 12 bolt. I have run a semi-float 14 8 lugger in my Jimmy for the last 15 years. In the previous 15, I went through 4 or 5 12 bolts.

Before the truck was mine it was my dad's. And he hot rodded NOTHING. Drove it like the little old lady. And the 12 bolt broke. And so did the junkyard replacement installed circa 1981. Then when I started beating on it, it seemed to come apart all the time.

Mine has the Gov-Lok in the back still and it actually works OK for boat ramp type exercises that was the primary use for mine when it was a daily. But it's no fun for spinning tires in the dirt or whipping a donut in the snow. I recently bought a Yukon LSD that will replace it at some point. It's on the list...