Project Pale Rider 2.0 98 XLT Budget trail rig

I just wanted to post a journal of my upgrades to my new 98 Explorer XLT 4x4 OHV as I upgraded it to be a cheap but functional trail rig on the weekends.

It was bone stock when I got it and had just over 160k miles.

Ive purchased Rancho RS5000 front shocks, Monroe Sensa Trac rear adjuactable struts, Warrior 153 Shackles, Torsion Twist, 31x10.50xR15 Achilles Desert Hawk XMT's, 15x8 American Racing Black Steel Wheels, and a roof rack. Painted the Grill, Removed the running boards and mudflaps, and Ive also done the plugs and wires and most fluids.

 

[JungleSkunk]

So I picked up a set of 33 x 12.50 x r15 Goodyear duratracs on the local swap group for super cheap. ( I traded an older hi lift jack that I got at a yard sale for $10)

I threw them on my rims this weekend just because I was bored and wanted to see if they fit with just my warrior shackles and TT lift. To my surprise they fit with no rubbing at full steer but they are abolutely stuffed in there! I decided not to keep them on until I get a different set of wheels with a better backspacing to clear the sway bay a little better as it would probably rub with any kind of flex but they sure looked cool.

I will probably be ordering some cheap procomp wheels soon and throw them on before summer. But back to the 30x9.5 Baja champions until winter and this snow is gone.