Hey everyone,

I was thinking about 4X4's and wanted some opinions about what the best stock off roading vehicle would be. A Ranger, F-150, F 250, F 350, etc... I know that a buddy always had problems with his diesel engine being so heavy and getting him hung up in the mud, so how about some opinions and reasons why one truck is the best for off roading. Including issues like engine size, long bed vs. short bed, manual vs. auto tranny, and anything else that you deem vital and feel like typing about.

All responses appreciated

Mark D

 

Ok First off alot of what type of truck is the best comes down to your prefrence. But here is what I know, I would not go with anything bigger than a F250(not long bed) preferably not a 4 door. The reason I say this is becuase I am not sure what type of off roading you will be doing but it is hard to get a trcuk with a long wheel base like that around the trail. Also most people preffer the deisel in the ford for the torque created which is beneficial for off roading(also make sure to get the off road package with locking hubs) If you do not want a diesel I would go with the 5.4 V-8.
The transmision is another thing that is tricky. Personally I would preffer a manual with a low torgue converter so you can go super slow off road which is good for rock crawling.

I have a F150, manual with a 4.8 Triton V-8. 3 inch body lift and 6 inch suspension with Rancho RS5000 shocks all the way around. Hope I helped out

 

Hey Rave Crusader,

First off, NICE TRUCK . Secondly, thanks for the post. I'm not really thinking of this truck for myself, but just in general terms of what would get around in the mud the best.

Saw you are from Euless and made me think of a weekend I spent there with some old college buddies, it was a fun time,
anywho, thanks again and keep on truckin'!

Mark D

 

The ranger will be the best for offroading. But really, buy something older if you want it to go. It sounds like your looking for something new? so check out the Fx4 ranger, its pretty tough. The F150 and bigger will go places but the ranger is better for offroading. stay away from deisels they sink just like you said. I'd go with an auto but its not a big deal, you probably won't go anywhere that a manual can't go but after rockcrawling in a manual...the smell of roast clutch is fresh in the air. And when it dies on a steep hill and 50 ft of hill is behind you, trees on both sides, you wish you had an auto so you could just scoot on up.

 

I have a 92' f150 4x4 that has never let me down, tough truck, highly recommed it to anyone.As much as I love ford trucks though, if you wanna get real serious, get a jeep.I have had 2 jeeps, one was a cj-7 with a 68' 327 and solid lockers all the way around. Couldn't get it stuck if I tried. Don't like the rangers, the one I had experience with was older and had no low end grunt, not even in 4low.

 

An older Jeep CJ5 or CJ7 with no electoric computers an such. Jeeps are light short wheel base for trails. Mine is a manual but one day I will change that to a auto.

I would prefer a Auto over a Manual. I think Auto's handle better in say sand. An auto doesn't apply the torque all at once like a manual would. I seem to get stuck with manuals in sand a lot more than I do with auto's.

For offroad the boggers to me are choice tires. Especially with cut out tread. As for Ford for an offroad vehicle I would say an F-150 regular cab short wheel base. Being that the 150 will have a higher torque load than the Rangers.

 

If you want something real cheap that you can absolutely bang the hell out of and it just won't break buy yourself a Samurai. Hold on now, hear me out.

Lighter than a Jeep, shorter that a Jeep, easier to lift and play with than a Jeep. Plus its got a divorced transfer case on it so you can swap any motor in you want.

I have offroaded just about everything, Chebbies, Fords, Jeeps, Toyotas you name it but IMHO the Samurai is the best

Ok, before the flaming starts I gotta go find my Flame suit....

 

I investigated Sami's before I bought my Jeep. My decision for the jeep was the power of a V-8 oppsed to the 4 in a Sami. However Sami's are cheap to buy lighters and shorter in the wheel base department. As for the divorced T-Case what does that mean? I know the tcase mounts to the transmission and that transmission will not bolt up to any V-8 worth buying! Or will it?

 

The T'case is divorced which means the T'case is not part of the tranny. Motor, tranny, small intermediate shaft, T'case and then the drive shafts.

With that set up you can put any motor in you want (within reason). Right now I am putting a Toyota 22r with dual T cases so i can crawl over anything.

You don't need a V8 to offroad...they are heavy and dig holes...gearing is the ticket.

I had a 1983 Suzuki SJ with a 1000cc motor with a 4 spd but it was geared really low. I went places that full size trucks with big blocks and 44's only dreamed of going.

 

Without changing the axles which do cost a lot of money. The suzuki's are not geared for heavy tires and hard core roading. Where most jeeps with V-8's can support the heavy tires and already have decent gears (could be a lot better).

 

My axles and pumpkins are stock and I do things that will make your jaw drop. Big axles and big tires are just that BIG, big and heavy. Real hardcore up to your windshield in mud offroading is a finesse thing, not a power thing.

I have watched a short box 454 chebby with 40" boggers and all the toys get stuck in a mud bog because too much power and weight caused him to sink.

Power is weight and you are trying to force your way through the bog.

If your light you go over the bog......not through it. Why do you think all the good bog runners and rock crawlers are tube frame? They are trying to dump weight.

Plus jeeps are too wide, you get sucked into everyone elses ruts, my track is a big bunch thinner so I can't get sucked it.

Hey its just my opinion and my experiences with what I have seen on the trail.....I back in mud bogs and grab the winch cable for the "Big Boys" all the time.

Jeeps and full size trucks are OK but for where I want to go and how I offroad I still haven't found a comparison.

 

Sami = cheap. throw in new Tcase gears, get a SPOA, weld the diffs, and stay under 31" tires and your good to go anywhere. As for upgrades, a 1600 out of a tracker hooks right up.

i forgot to add i have a whole 1300 (between cost of vehicle and mods) in it so far, and another 600 and i'm done.

Big tires = big axles = big power = big money

 

I'm not downing a Zuki at all by no means. You are correct when you say they can do things other vehicles cannot. They all have Pro's and Con's like you with the Sami My jeep out weiged the Zuki (My Opinion only) in Pro's Vs. Cons.

 

Ya the cost difference is insane. I have $1800CDN into my rig and I am extermly happy. When you go small everything is cheaper. My rig weighs 1700lbs so the winch that I bought (but haven't used) was smaller and cheaper

Tires are smaller and cheaper....it goes on and on.


OneBadCrewX4 what are you running??

 

Since we are throwing in prices. 74 CJ5 = $700. New Supension 4" Superlift $400. New Carb $179. Shackles $80 (Should have made my own).

Needs Tires $250 by 4 = $1000 OUCH

Lincoln Locker rear only = Free + Electricity.

Jeep weighs 2200 lbs Total.