WANT to be big

[BFGorilla]

Hey everyone, i am the new kid on the block, kinda a newbie to this whole offraoding adventure stuff, BUT boy do i LUV it.I will try to give you all some info so you can help out the new kid. I have a 92 sport,3"suspension superlift. 31-10.5-R15LT General Grabber P. I do not do heavy offrading but when i do, it is in thick wet mud or water, no rocks or dry stuff. I am looking to keep my old tires and rims to use as street/highway driving, So i can just switch between the two sets of tires rims. But i want to be a beast when i am in the mud. How come no one talks about 38" tires, can they not fit on an explorer?? I am looking to get all black rims and New Bigger tires with great grip in wet mud, with my 31" i have had to get cabled out numerous times, I don't like getting stuck, LOL. I would like to get a body lift and 38", but i am getting the feeling this won't work. So everyone out there, with ideas please toss them at me. Any other questions please ask.

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Tim S.
'92 Ex-Sport 4.0L

 

[mattadams]

38"s, wow thats ambitious... The biggest I've ever seen on a regular Explorer is 36"s (forget who had that particular vehicle). I run 33"s with a 5.5" suspension lift and they still rub all the time, so if you want 38"s you are talking more then 5.5" of lift and requiring a lot of cutting away at the fender.

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[mrboyle]

Instead of huge tires that are going to break parts all the time why not go with a 2" body lift, some fender triming and a good set of gears 4.10's or 4.56s) and at least one locker (not a posi either a true locker). With this set up you could proably go with a set of 33x14.5 Super Swamper Boggers. You may still rub with this tire and the lift, but axle flex isn't always necessary in mud running.

 

[BFGorilla]

Thanks for the advise guys, keep it coming.
I am not sure if i can afford a 5.5" suspension lift, i have 3" already i would like to go in a new direction, something different so to say. Just so i understand this the rubbing everyone talks about, is during turning whe the tire hits the inside, correct??? If so can't spacers help this problem. I know i am full os questions, Hope you all don't mind

Mrboyle. you kinda lost me, lockers and new gears.?! I know what you are refering to, but isn't that expensive,and the befits of new gears is what???

 

[4Wheelin]

What if you tried upgrading to a 6in Skyjacker lift with a 3 inch body lift and, trimmed fenders. I have heard of someone haveing a 7 inch lift I think, maybe that combined with a 3 in body lift you might be able to fit something large under there.

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Ryan Kelso
93 Explorer Sport 4x4
K&N Drop In
ProComp Pro Runner Light Bar
Stull Billet Grille
Hella 500's
Blue Opta Fogs
GTS Blackouts all around
Kenwood and Kicker Stereo

cowboyz1659@hotmail.com

 

[Ray Lobato]

BFGorilla,
Welcome to the site. What Mrboyle is talking about is you really can't put real large tires on without changing gears. If you do, it will be gutless. Making your Explorer off road worthy is more than putting on big tires. You have to have the gears to make those big tires turn. If you got the big tires and don't have lockers, you are just powered by 2 wheels. One in the front and one in the back. As soon as one tire starts to spin, the other will stop. So when your in the mud and one tire in the front spins and one tire in the back spins, your stuck. Lockers will enable you to power both wheels on the same axle. Traction! Get the picture? Dead Link Removed

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC
Dead Link Removed

 

[BFGorilla]

WOW, you guys are great!!!!
Thank you Mr. Lobato, for welcoming me! I see your point about the gears, what good is great tires if you can never use their full potential. Not sure i understand the whole idea yet, but i am getting there. Where can i go to learn more about new gears, and What to get and whats good? OH.. is it expensive to do? And lockers??i am assumeing that is different than locking hubs huh?? I hope yo will all bare with me and my questions, but you are alll very helpful, THANKS

-4wheelin, i will have to look into that 6" skyjacker lift thanks for the info.

Well i am starting to get the picture, that my 3" suspension lift and adding another body lift, just ain't going to cut it for my dream of big tires. Mrboyle has a good idea, anyone else got some new options for me??OH and anymore info about gears and lockers toss it to me, I AM INTERESTED!!!!!

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Tim S.
'92 Ex-Sport 4.0L

 

[Ray Lobato]

Tim,
Try these 2 links. Dead Link Removed
http://www.4x4now.com/bb0397.htm

http://www.4x44u.com/pub/k2/am4x44u/truck_tech/tech_tips/techtips.htm


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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC
Dead Link Removed

 

[FMExplorer]

BFGorilla,
When doing your truck up - do it right the first time. Don't try to do too much or cut corners - costs too much $$$ in the long run. To go through mud you don't really need the huge tires - just ones that shed the mud when they spin. Add that to the locking differentials (lockers) you can go through more junk than you would ever imagine. Indulge me for a sec and I'll give you my embarassing story on this topic...

Buddy of mine had a Jeep Comanchee (Jeepeater will love this! Dead Link Removed) with 33" mudders. We went out one day and buried her - It was lunch and I was in a suit<G> 3 days of digging we (mainly at night) and still stuck as ever - a suzuki samari with 33" swampers comes by and offers a tow. We laughed, but said sure - why not. Well this guy had the gears and the tires. With his little POS suzuki we were out in 5 minutes! Tires and traction is where it's at in the mud!

Jon M

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Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio w/ 6-disc changer
31x10.50 Dunlop Mud Rovers
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: visit http://www.jonmcleod.com for more info!

 

[BFGorilla]

Thanks Mr. Lobato
The info about the lockers is great and i am stil learning about gears, thank you very much.!!!!!!!

-JONM,
amazing point never looked at it liek that. Thank you for the advise. I think i will go more into that direction. Not soley hieght and big that i need, something that can move mud, Smart concept. Well here is my next question.. i know of boggers, thornbirds, etc. What about Ground Hawgs??
SHow me the light, what should i look for for some tires that will get me through WET mud???

All in All one or two steps up from my 31" will do just fine, i just have to find somethign that will TEAR through the mud???

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Tim S.
'92 Ex-Sport 4.0L

 

[funky explorer]

I recently put 38 swampers on 10 inch wheels on my explore but that was after i put on a dana 44 front axle out of a 78 ford with chevy 6 inch front leafs with one leaf removed set up with 8 lug steering knuckles and a chevy 14 bolt rear end I bolted up the front end on custom spring hangers i now have about 9 inches of lift up front with a spring over in the rear and a 11/2 add-a-leaf and a 13/4 jeep shackle so so i have about 8 1/2 or so in the rear with a 3 inch body and 4.56 gears so if you want to run 38,s make sure you have the clearance and tough axles and brakes to handle it.

 

[Seth]

Hey funky, do you by any chance have any pictures of your explorer? If you do please send em to me or put them on the net.

 

[kurant045]

I don't know what but Something tells me that FunkyExplorer went all out on his lift.
Has anybody ever heard of a bigger explorer than that? Post a picture!

 

[funky explorer]

I will try and get it posted very soon.

 

[FMExplorer]

Funk,
I have GOT TO SEE THIS RIG!! Dead Link Removed 38's on an explorer - wow! There is a guy around Fort Myers driving a ranger with 38's - maybe even a bit larger. It is OBSCENE! Dead Link Removed

BFGorilla,
Do a search on mud tires here - a lot of good info. I went with Dunlops because the price was good - and they are quite aggressive. Turns out they are soft, so I don't expect much more than 30k out of them. They also hold up to slamming a guard rail pretty well (Ooops!) Anyhow, if you are going 33's or so, check out the Mickey Thompson's and the Super Swampers. The Swampers are scary they shed the mud so well!

Jon M

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Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio w/ 6-disc changer
31x10.50 Dunlop Mud Rovers
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: visit http://www.jonmcleod.com for more info!