Should / could I use this for a tie rod? Its a little bigger and thicker walled than stock?

 

are you buying the ends or sleeving? it should work all things considered... but if you want some major beef you'll want thicker walls.

 

Really depends on what the material is and it's hard to tell thickness from that pic. For reference mine is 1.5" .25" wall DOM and it's slightly bent.

 

For stock width axle run 1.5 x .250 dom, that will cut it for 99% of the wheeling crowd and the 5 ft piece is $40 tops. Priceless when you're out wheeling to know that your tie rod is that strong.

If you have a full width axle use 1.75 x .500 wall tube or stronger.