V8 AWD offroading? am i nuts?

[paul_c_nicols]

i purchased my V8 because i wanted the grunt and pulling power. i now want to throw it out on the beach, in the mud, etc... besides not having the low gearing for hills, climbs and declines, am I in trouble having the all-wheel drive instead of four-wheel drive. i have heard differing opinions from several people. i want to know if AWD will hold its own. any help out there?

 

[Jason_25]

Sure it will. Plus your V8 provides so much torque that you won't even really need a low range, except in extreme conditions. Talk to a member of this forum , "Heath" , he was a V8 AWD.

 

[01EB5.0]

I think you'd be set for beach driving or mudding once you get bigger tires on there. you can fit up to 31X10.50 R15 or P265/70R16 on there with stock suspension.

 

[paul_c_nicols]

thanks to the firestone recall, i am in the process of getting something more beefy which should help.

honestly, i have been trying to get this thing stuck in snow all last winter but it would plow thru everything. i just wasn't sure if with all-wheel drive that the electronics can keep up with slippage at all four wheels? i'd hate to have the truck just 'sink' b/c the computer didn't know what to do in sand.

there's something to be said 'confidence wise' for locking manual hubs, you know!

 

[yob_yeknom]

It'll hold up. Get those 31's and have at it. I've been wheeling with an AWD vehicle (I won't mention what make) with 31's and it did just fine. All there is to wheel in is mud around here (and deep mud at that) so don't be afraid of it.
You might want to do the swiss cheese mod to your air box to raise the point where the air is drawn in a little higher though for the deeper stuff.

 

[CougarX]

I've had a 92 4x4 and now my 98 AWD and I think they are about equal off road. You obviously get lower gearing and a little more throttle control for rocks with a low range but in general the torque of the V8 over the V6 makes up for lack of low range. Also consider that the V8's 1st gear is lower than the V6s and the difference diminishes even more. From what I have done in my AWD so far I don't see a need for low range unless you want to do some heavy rock climbing or put some HUGE tires on and go hill climbing. There are two or three members on this board with lifted AWDs and several with AWDs who have taken them off-road.

 

[Alec]

Considering how well I've done with 2wd, and Eaton posi, and my supercharger, you should have no problem with your V8 and AWD. Good luck, be safe, and have fun1

 

[paul_c_nicols]

thanks all! looks like i should have no fear about hitting the dunes on cape cod in a few weeks. i appreciate your reassurance in my explorer's abilities! time to put it to the test.

 

[Cdexplorer]

I don't do any off-roading but like Paul, I have yet to get my AWD stuck in the snow. Yes, I have tried too. I can't say enough about how awesome this system is in the snow - it always seems to amaze me. Especially after we got dumped on last winter. We got a record (for Durham, NH) 34-36 inches. I wasn't able to find any virgin snow but I had no trouble finding humungous snow banks. Maybe this winter mother nature can slow down my X...doubt it though

 

[Sport (no trac)]

Cape cod?

Paul, where are ya going on Cape Cod? I am assuming Nauset. If so, bring your flyrod, the stripers and blues are running strong this time of year.

I will be casting to the albies which have been breaking just outside of Stage Harbor.

 

[Fishrising]

Bring the fly rod is right!

I fished just outside of the cut, by South Beach last Sunday in the heavy fog and caught about a dozen stripers (no keepers), all about 5 feet from shore, just before the waves crash. Then some seals came through and killed that fun.

Also, the Albies were right at the entrace to stage Harbor, all the way into Oyster River. It's a great place to try about 1.5 - 2 hours after high tide. Only landed 2 albies though......

 

[Sport (no trac)]

Fishin'?

Fish, are you going down this weekend? I was going to go, but the tides are all wrong for me.

The wife and I stay at the Mo-in-law's place in Harwich which makes trips to Chatham and Centerville convenient.

Earlier this season a buddy and I fished outside the cut at bouy 2 and were into consistant 36"-39" breaking fish - and I have pics to prove it.

I haven't had much luck lately, this time of year is always hit or miss. I was hoping to get out on Saturday, maybe inner Buzzards or up on the No Shore somewhere.

 

[paul_c_nicols]

yah, i'll be out on nauset over the three day weekend. hadn't planned on fishing, but sounds like a good idea.

i actually will be going out on the north side of nauset beach (the one only locals know about) because i don't have an o/r sticker. rumor is they don't patrol that area much out by the point b/c tourists don't know about it. i think they patrol the section that leads off the end of the parking lot much more. also heard its $100 fine if caught. anyone know if this is true?

also, what should me as an inexperienced fisherman bring for bait???

 

[Sport (no trac)]

Bait? Bait??? Who uses bait?

I am a fly guy and try to use the long rod exclusively. Bait is a little out of my range of thinking but if you are going to be a dunkee (slang for bait dunker) try live eels, herring if you can find it, or squid. Eels are the best, but tough to work with.

Actually, if I were you, I would get a topwater plug and a 1oz spoon and rely on those. If the fish are there you will know and the active fishing is much more fun than watching your rod tip for hours.

You can always try fly fishing.

 

[TwoToneX]

Sorry to interrupt the fishing conver. I just wanted to say, that I drove a '96 V8 AWD for about a year and a half or so, and drove it on the beach, some off road, and went muddin' quite a bit. It works awesome. I have a '91 XLT 4x4 now, and the low range helps, but like everyone has said, there's really not much of a difference. Not only will you be all right in doing all of that, but you'll have a BLAST. It's great. Have fun : )

 

[Sport (no trac)]

There's a beach in Boulder? How do the tides run in CO?

Saying CO has beaches is like saying MA has mountains!!

Gotta love the geographical diversity of the good 'ol USA. No matter where we are, there is plenty of fun to be had with a 4x4.

 

[TwoToneX]

I used to live in Texas, you nut : P

 

[Sport (no trac)]

TX?

How is the fishing in TX? I always wanted to be able to fish for sea trout and redfish down there. Now that I have to wait 3 hours to get on an airplane I might be better off driving.