2wd vehicles can do some muddin .. an experienced mudder can take a 2wd vehicle places an unexperienced person with a 4x4 could go.. another thing i must ask however is just how "tough" are these suspensions .. i mean why did they put the rear shocks on the outside of the frame.. ive taken my 2005 2wd xlt offroad and through some mud but i must say if you plan on offroading alot in your 2wd get a lift or atleast put the biggest tires you can on it to give you extra ground clearance.. ford really made these trucks to low to the ground... even the Fx4 are a lil low IMHO

btw i think the largest tires are 265 70 r17 if you have a 17 in rim.. not sure for the 18 inch

 

Does the '05 lariat have a lsd or no? And to the person who said why didn't I get 4wd...the reason is $$$. I'm going to be starting at UF in January....I will give you guys a shout when I get there, although I visit all the time...I actually think I'm coming up this weekend.

Matt

 

I have done some random off roading, but Ive always had LS differential and suitable tires. I think tires are crucial for 2wd trucks as is LSD and a helluva lot of driver skill. Honestly, for mild off roading(minus sand) a skillful 2wd driver can usually navigate without getting stuck. However, its nice to have 4wd to get you out, 2wd guys dont have that option...so dont get stuck lol.

Ive driven in quite a bit of snow with 2wd vehicles also, provided I have plenty of weight over the rear(sand bags) and have driven in places I never thought possible with a 2wd. Ive never taken my new f150 off road yet, waiting to get the 265/70 17 Revos before I attempt snow/mud.

 

it depends on the consistancy of the crap your going through and momentum. hell i almost got my truck stuck in a ditch and i was just attempting a 3 point U turn... its in a situation like that.. or when you HAVE to stop that 4wd is a must.. even then you can still get stuck.. so if your inexperienced then take it easy.. get a feel for it... because its gonna feel weird.. dont know what it is with fords but there suspensions feel mushy. had a 2000 Ranger 2wd xlt with an open diff and i took it mudden all the time.. Mind you i never stopped to smell the mud i just drove straight through it..

like i was wondering just how "tough" are these suspensions.. can the shocks take off roading...

Btw i drive a SCAB 6.5 foot bed.. so its a long low truck.. if you have the $$ and the experience i would lift your truck and put bigger tired on it if you plan on offroading.. and i dont mean mudding but simply taking trails and hilly terrain and such.. youll deffinitly want the extra ground clearance

 

See if you can rent the Charles Bronson movie "Mr. Majestyk". There's some serious off-roading scenes with his 2WD F-150. Ford even used some of the scenes in one of its "Built Ford Tough" commercials some years ago, and, as I understand it, the truck held up remarkably through the shooting.

 

go gators! anyways... my story time! i had my 2wd out in a wet (looked to be level) field and was whippin it around a bit when my front end sank down a little too low and my *** end just started slippin/ no traction Needless to say... all my 4wd buddies were at work. I was stuck in the middle of nowhere! YAY! while walking in the rain down random unpopulated roads, I found some guys fishing that had a 4wd chevy! SCORE! come to find out... his 4wd wasn't working! haha MY LUCK! he ended up getting me out after a couple of good jerks with a tow strap and logging chain... in the mean time almost getting stuck himself and throwing about 4 inches of mud all over my truck! I loved the looks I got when I pulled into the carwash! hahaha

*wishes she had 4wd/ yet happy she doesn't*

assess the situation properly, i wouldn't suggest going out in the rain... keep to dry stuff when your by yourself!

 

I do, just make sure you have a 4x4 buddy and keep your tires spinning at all times unless you are for sure stuck then you'll just dig yourself deeper lol just always have some tow straps and 4x4 buddy(or 2 these trucks are heavy) but if it's a f150 4x4 then just one buddy! haha get some new tires with some aggresive tread! like near stock size BFG muds or something!

 

I see your myspace says you live in Winter Park. Did you go to HS there? My girlfriend is from there.

 

I agree with UberDude, there is a difference between mudding and simple offroading; ie: trail riding w/ hilly terrain. I used to do some simple offroading in an old front wheel drive cavalier and go places that a buddies 4x4 toyota would go (in 4hi). It's all about the driver and the terrain conditions when dealing w/ a 2wd, but you always need a backup plan just in case you have problems.

 

I stay in 2wd 80% of the time when Im offroad.

 

but you have 33 inch mud tires lol we have stock 31s!

 

Correction, 35s and Mud Terrains are horrible in sand.

 

who goes in sand tho lol

 

I've been to the beach in the sand with my 2wd, no stuckee.

 

Never been stuck yet.... but I do have reasonable limits, dont try anything blatantly stupid, and I always have a buddy to back me up just in case. Other than that, show all your open diff Chevy 4x4 buddies that your 2wd Ford can out perform them! I have and man does it feel good!