New to off-roading

[ExploringNC]

If you do start lifting and moding your DD and take it off road be aware that other parts will start to ware faster and things do brake. Bigger tires will deffenitly cause more ware on other suspension parts. Be very respectfull to your transmission or you may be walking to work.

If you do the TT and shackles get an alignment.

 

[Dylansav]

an alignment would be a good idea after the work- thanks for the advice

 

[AspenX]

You don't need Google. Everything you could possibly want to know is on this site, and probably more than you could read in a year. If yours is a 98 you probably need (or should get anyway) an Add-a-leaf and the Warrior shackles. Do the TT up front and get an alignment. There you have 2" of lift for under $100. Get some 31-10.5 off road tires, all terrain or mud terrain depending on your taste and type of trails in your area. Muds work good on rocks too, but are alot louder on the street and don't last as long. I have wheeled in Texas, Colorado, and Moab on that setup and handled 3 rated trails fine.
If you want to instantly almost double your off road capability look into a rear locker, but now you are talking $$.


Find out your gear ratio before thinking of tires over 31".

 

[ProjectAviator]

Best advice I can give is check for a local 4x4 club. With my first 4x4, 86 Ranger I joined Black hills 4 wheelers. My ranger was 2 months old and bone stock on 21575-15 tires when I took it to the Dakota territory challenge.

Even if you don't join a club see what they require for equipment.
most clubs require:
recovery points front and rear at least one each end
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Jack
full size spare
CB radio
I think these requirements are actually good to have on any offroader. Both my explorer and my suburban have this equipment. And is separate for each.

Tim

 

[Dylansav]

I found a few clubs around the Twin cities here so I'm gonna check them out see what they got.

I got something else thats kind of weird with my truck. They guy I bought it from (who moved to another state..) said that he used to pull his boat around his town with the truck and he added what we think are some leaf springs in the back and I can't really tell if he did a TT on it or not. Is there anyway of telling if a truck has had a lift on it? (from the leafs or a TT)

That's a really nice list project, I'm working at it one by one hehe..already checkin out the CBs.

My last question (I swear) is how do you add recovery points to your truck? I know you have to somehow weld or bolt them onto the frame but do you know of any good sites that tell how?

Thanks again for the help

 

[ExploringNC]

What he added was pobably leaf spring helpers. They just bolt on to excisting springs to help with heavy loads, no lift at all. As far as recovery points in the front I bolted mine to front inside of frame rail. If you look threw cutout in center of front bumber you can see the frame rail. I will try and get pics this weekend.

 

[Glen4X4]

you shouldn't weld them either

 

[farlee308024]

have fun!!

so do you all think a stock 98' can handle wooded trails, like the ones in the Iron range in Northern Minnesota?

I would have a tow straps ready and a winch been there done that.

 

[Joe99]

I am also new to off roading, i am looknig at 31x10.50xr15 for my stock 98 explorer 4wd. It is also my daily driving truck. is there anything i should be concerned about when putting on these tires. im keeping my truck as stock as possible, really jsut getting the tires for light off roading and winter driving. Due to being in canada. Thanks for your advice