Tips from Experienced mud boggers

[jrgaylor]

There is a local mud bog coming up that i am thinking of particpating in the 35" and under class

I have a rebuilt A4LD with a trango shift kit 4.88 gears dual arb lockers and 33' M/T tires.

most of the mud bogging around here is dominated by full size fords and chevys

The mud is about 35-40" deep and the pit is 150 Ft long and and the time I need to win is 20-22 seconds.

what would be the best combo for making a run

locked front and rear or only rear

manually shift trans/ or run in "d" and let the trany shift

4lo or 4 hi

i was thinking because of the weight of the explorer it would be best to run
in "D" 4Lo locked in rear till slowing down then lock the front keeping it to the floor all the while.?????


input please

Pics from last years event
Ethel mud bog

 

[Chew_12]

HAHAHHA....Whats that a car?

 

[nissanboy]

Lock it front rear with 4lo in "d" with overdrive off.

Hold it to the floor and and aim for the edges of the pit. if you can catch the edge of the pit with your tire turn slightly inoto the wall and it will help keep you moving. If you can find some tires to borrow run you somr e 35x15.50 boggers for the day... you dont need to turn to run mud.

 

[j602]

Looks like that thing needs some wipers.

Oh, and by all means, lock both ends and put it to the floor. Wiggle the wheel if you start to bog bad and try to stay out of the bad ruts.

 

[jrgaylor]

Thanks that is exactly what I was looking for

 

[Redrig]

I have never took mine in the mud so i dont know how they react but i do have some experience. Tire speed matters, so dont let up. Let us know hoe you do.

 

[unclemeat]

First thing if possible get a snorkel. If not go to the air box, if stock and unhook the air inlet hose at the air box. Use a dielectric grease to seal electrical connections, spark plug wires and engine control plugs. Air down the tires as low as 10 to 15-psi. Spray the tires with a vegatble oil or petroluem based tire shine product, inside, outside, and tread.

Mud is all about tire spin and momentum. You must spin the tires fast enough to clean the tread, that means shooting at least a small rooster tail. Watch the other compeditors, what line are they using and is it working. Do not floor it in the beginningas the depth of the mud increases, throttle increases. You want forward momentum, but you also want traction. If your tires are bouncing off bumps then they are not getting traction.

The early you go in the competion the less stired and rutted the bogg will be.

One last thing if the bogg has very much water in it be prepared to shut down if the engine looses power. This should prevent hydrolock. If the engine is loosing power you will not go much farther, but you can destroy the engine.

Happy Mudding

 

[dgibson]

be careful getting next to the edge. i've seen some trucks catch that edge and flip. they were probably powered by a lot more than the x though. post some pics afterward. good luck

 

[351wExplorer]

i agree with cleaning your tires... i use armor all though and i run higher psi... i am always afraid of running into a flat tire if i have 10-15. i dont run events but i do run the mud at silverlake and out back in the woods. and i have seen alot of trucks at silver lake, whose tires are aired down for the sand, pop a bead as soon as they get in the deep ****

 

[410Fortune]

have fun cleaning up! Extend your breathers, protect your air intake, air down to 14 or so psi, low range, and keep on the gas!

 

[Positive Vibes]

That mud looks pretty deep for and Explorer. Do they run the smaller classes first? Also what was said about your air intake and breather lines is important.

 

[410Fortune]

the "snow plow" TTB doesnt do well in mud

 

[goatja]

thats the truth

 

[410Fortune]

oh and borrow some 35x12.50's if you can. the bigger the tire the further you will go.

 

[unclemeat]

I would not worry so much about the TTB as the whole front end when it gets deep.
Also it is a good idea to attach your tow strap with some zip ties to the tow hook just in case.

 

[splodo49]

Jrgaylors solid full width front and rear!!!

Also if you start to slow down or sink a little Thats when you need to clean the lugs (that should get you a little more momentum)

 

[nissanboy]

get teh widest 35 tires you can put on there for the day.

 

[410Fortune]

OH and lighten up, if you are serious, remove spare, seats, glass, etc get rid of the weight!

 

[unclemeat]

Oh, some more stuff. If you are planning on driving home, bring your tools, a pump garden sprayer, extra water, maybe a spare alturnator and starter, the mud will kill them. Also an extra vehicle to ket you home just in case. I learned the hard way.

 

[BenS]

Try and borrow this guy's tires:

Diesel...