running 31" tires w/o lift?

[Big Bear Bob]

I bought my 98 XLT 5 months ago,it came with the SOHC 4.0L engine 5 speed auto trans, and a 373 LSD so far I have been pretty happy with the truck.

The thing is I found this site a few weeks ago and It seems that most people here have done alot of modifications to their trucks too make them "Off Road Worthy". The only MOD I have done so far is I replaced the stock 235/75r 15's with a set of 31" BFG AT/KO's and imho the truck has performed very well on and off road.

But after hearing a few negitive things about the Explorers, and seeing all the Mod's people here have done. I stopped by the Ranger Station to see if there might any problems with the trails we intended to take on our weekend adventure and if he thought the X and our ground clearance would have any problems with the trails the Forest service has posted as OHV moderate to difficult? He basically said "if you have 4wd, a good set of off road tires, we would be ok, and with the LSD we shouldn't have a problem with most of the trails in the San Bernadino Moutain Range". He said most people get into trouble because of a lack of common sense, too much alcohol, and there's always a few people who try to drive these trails with 2WD vehicles.

I guess what I'm getting at is would a two-inch lift improve the trucks off road abilities that much? and again how many people on this site run 31" tires on stock X's without some sort of a lift.

Thanks again in advance, and for your patience with the newbie questions.

 

[yob_yeknom]

First off, a whole lot of people on this board run 31" tires with no lift. I myself had that setup for a long time.

Adding lift will not help your truck get more traction. A limited slip or locker helps you gain traction, which improves your truck abilities.
A little lift will give a better aproach angle so you can tackle steeper obstacles. It will also give you a little more clearance to go over larger obstacles before hitting the bottom of the body or frame, but won't raise your axles for more ground clearance. Only larger tires do that.

 

[Jason_25]

I recommend you don't lift it until you're considering larger tires. If you want a better approach angle take the fog light valance off. And if you're worried about departure, put a class III trailer hitch under your bumper. I also recommend the powertrax no-slip as a good traction aiding device.

Keep on wheelin!

 

[Big Bear Bob]

Thanks for the response guys. I gotta say I have been pretty happy with where the truck has taken us so far. But after visiting the site for the last few weeks I began to think that I needed at least a 2" lift and 33" tires to take the X off road.

Since this is my day to day vehicle, I will probably leave it the way it is for awhile anyway. Besides the $$$ involved in performing some of the Mods....

Anyway again thanks for the response and encouragement.

 

[Rx4phun]

Just something to be aware of, you are not going to fit 33" tires with a 2" lift, body or supsension. I just did a 3" BL w/ ~1" TT and shackles and I am rubbing even after trimming a little. Next weekend I am going to cut ~2" off of my rear fender. It is either that or sell the tires and get smaller ones.

 

[Big Bear Bob]

Thanks for the response guys, and just so ya know Rx4phun, I doubt I'll ever get to put 33"s on the X. I might someday if I get enough spare change, but I will probably stay with 31" tires. I have been thinking about having a Torsion twist done, But when I called Four West, one of the most respected four wheel drive shops in Southern Ca. recently, and I told them I was curious about the cost a 2" TT and they said that TT lifts cause problems and in fact they wouldn't do a TT for me. they said because TT lifts cause problems with the axles among other things, and if I was going to keep the truck they advised going with a 4" Body lift instead. The problem is, it would cost about $1400 total tax and labor everything and thats way more than my wife would consider letting me spend on a lift. I'm not a mechanic, and to be honest I 'm on total disability due to several problems too long of a list to list here. Anyway on my better days I can still do some hard core off roading, and living in the Big Bear area of Southern Ca. we have some really incredible places to explore.

My problem is I get some minor rubbing with 31" tires when the trails get really tough, but the 31" tires have made a big difference in the trucks off road ability, and I'll live with the minor rubbing. I was just hoping that for a small price I could get rid of the minor rubbing and maybe make the truck just a little more off road capable. Some of the trails run into old dried up rocky river beds some of them go up hill others down and the truck gets a little tweaked once in awhile. But like I said I'll learn to cope with the minor rubbing, and just keep on truckin.

Again thanks all for the response.

 

[Jason_25]

Originally posted by Rx4phun
Just something to be aware of, you are not going to fit 33" tires with a 2" lift, body or supsension. I just did a 3" BL w/ ~1" TT and shackles and I am rubbing even after trimming a little. Next weekend I am going to cut ~2" off of my rear fender. It is either that or sell the tires and get smaller ones.

Why don't you crank the t-bars up another inch?

 

[Ray Lobato]

Doing a torsion bar twist won't hurt anything. The people who told you that, don't know what they are talking about. Go ahead and do it yourself. There is a very good writeup on this in the tips section on the main page. You could use a good set of shock mount skid plates to keep from ruining your U-bolts and keep your shock mounts from getting cought on rocks.
You would be supprised at what a little bit of lift and a locker in back can do.



This was me doing Steel Bender in Moab2000 with a 1.75"front TT, 2" OME rear springs and 31X10.5's. This is a class 3.5+ trail. Made it all the way through except for one obsticale that I had to be strapped over.

 

[RangerX]

Bob, I know that 4west has been around a long time, but I would stay away from any shop that recommends a 4" body lift.

 

[Big Bear Bob]

Thanks for the response I know there's a whole lot of info concerning this, and people asking questions on subject.

I had doubts about what the guy at Four West had said they have pretty good a reputation but they are in the business of sales so...
On the other hand I've so many post with people talking about having done 1"-2" lifts by the TT method it was a little confusing and I just wanted some confirmation.

By the way Ray that picture is awesome, and if my X can do that with a 1.75 TT and the tires I have, and a few $ invested in there rear end, I'd be a happy camper.

I will be putting a set of Monroe's on next month, I don't know if that will help with the X bottoming out, but I have read a lot pf post by people who seem to think they made a big difference for them.

Thanks again guys honestly appreciate the help here, so many great ideas so little money.