There's a reason why competition rock buggys use solid axles front and rear, They are a lot stronger than IFS and IRS. I doubt the joints would survive the stuff those buggies do. Now for desert racing, then solid axles are at a disadvantage.

 

Actually, IFS/IRS is the wave of the future for rock crawling. Take a look at Walker Evans buggy as an example. Incredible.

Is desert racing, many top vehicles still use a solid rear axle in particular, the trophy trucks.

-Tim

 

The cost involved to make IFS and IRS worth wheelin is not worth it, yet.

As for desert race trucks, well there is still nothing better then Fords Old School TIB (Twin I Beam) 2wd prerunner trucks. Old school TTB (Twin Traction Beam) 4x4s are the next best thing to SFA when it comes to wheelin also.

I don't desert race, I go in the mud, up hills, through more mud and over some rocks. If I want to build a rock truck, I will do like my freind Jim Oaks (Founder/Owner www.TheRangerStation.com) is doing and build a truck with Unimog axles.

Its all in what you want to do with it. Ill tell you this though that truck would not last a day in my hands,

My newest off road toy is a 90 ranger. Right now I got it up on a skyjacker 6" suspension lift and a 3" bodylift (Bodylift may come off though). Im running 31x10.50x15 Retreds on BFG skins (Got a good deal from a friend, cheeper them my getting them from work and Im a distributer of tires). Soon the truck will have a flatbed and jeep style half doors. Its a 5-speed, 2.9L powered, 7.5 rear D-28 front truck and I would put it aganst that IRS F-150 any day of the week.


I have alot of plans for this truck, just no time right now, hence why its behind the warehouse with the other smashed up cars.

Untill someone comes up with a IRS IFS kit that rivals that of a Hummer H1, Ill stick with solid axles.

 

Different suspension systems work better for different enviroments. That truck was built for high speed desert use. No doubt if they built it for mudding, they would have installed a solid front axle. I bet it rides pretty good on the highway also. I know my 05 Expy 4x2 performs better on the highway than my 01 Screw 4x4, but I wouldn't want to get off road with it.

 

Our 04 Eddie Baur Expo 4x4 does pretty well off-road. Just gotta stay on the gas!

 

 

anyone know if this can be installed at stock height or will the bed floor interfere?
does the gas tank stay?
assuming the spare is gone.

 

That is sick, that is the future right there. If I decide to convert my truck into a prerunner that is deffinately on the list. Solid axel is much too one deminsional IMO.