I'm not familiar with them in off-roading applications, but I know they will not hold up under a completely stock V-8 powered Dakota or Durango under hard use on the pavement (if it was part time 2wd....full-time 4wd would hold up because the front was always taking some of the torque). Rarely had problems with the 9.25" rears but the 8.25" would fail predictably in a short period of time.
Granted, a lot of the failures seemed to revolve around the carrier and especially the trash-loc equipped ones so an upgraded carrier would likely make a difference.
On paper the 8.25" 29 spline is just slightly below the D44 in strength because of the slightly smaller ring gear and shafts (8.5" ring gear and 30-spline shafts)......but quite a bit stronger than a D35.
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