Wut? This is me with my ranger and it still has some dumb 205's on it. No i didnt get stuck,its not hard to go through **** just dont be a bad *** and try everything.

 

this is funny, in one thread people talk about how a 2wd wouldn't make it over a sunflower seed, and in another thread the 4x4 guys talk about how they went wheeling in 2wd and barely ever had to put it in 4x4

 

I agree with above, but the man asked for experiences in stock rangers, 2 or 4wd, so heres mine. As and 19 year old with a truck that I love to hate, this thing has seen some loving abuse. I have done minor rock crawling, almost got eternally lost in clay-y muck, and ripped back roads way faster than I would now recommend. But, the truck has not made a whisper of complaint, minus a tiny little front dif leak. It has been a great truck and I will drive it till it dies.
Croot

 

I tend to run my truck through 2wd until I feel the need to pop it into 4.. its actually funner doing offroading in 2 wheel because you can fishtail yourself and gives a little more thrill then jsut hitting the gas and slogging through stuff =)

 

I wheeled up at Rausch Creek with my stock Level II....





Notice the water line over the fog lights though! lol

 

Cool story bro. That is just a puddle on a dirt road though...

 

this is my friends pathfinder on 31's in 2wd. made it through fine with his and i went through just fine with my edge right after....with my all terrains

but again you have coils lol. i sit just as high as any stock 4wd ranger probably even a smidge higher with my tires.

 

i did that before i did my intake though lol...i would never do it now. i will say i didn't just hammer down in second gear to go through either. that drop entering the mudhole is a good 5 feet its just hard to tell in the pic. i went through slightly smaller ones with my quad in the back it actually was alot easier with the extra 430lbs over the axle

 

ruts are no bueno with 2wd though haha

 

2wd quads arent so great sometimes either----i may have...sort of....awe heck i blew it up hahaha.

 

Actually my wheels were fully submerged. And weres pics of your show queen getting dirty?

 

Lol your wheels are what, 14"? I doubt you have half that in ground clearance. Thats why 4x4 do better in 2wd, and a lvl2 in 2wd has alot more traction then a 2wd ranger.

 

or my edge with t-bars :)

seriously though no bashing our 2wd's if you have NO PICS DIRTY!

 

I took my old 99' 2wd through some really stupid stuff that I really probably should have only hit if I had a 4wd.. Never the less I got stuck a few times and had to call a buddy to pull me out :P Good times, thank god I now have a 4x4 :D

 

I dont have any because my show queen mall crawling pavement princess never gets dirty except for the fine layer of dust that I wash off once a week. That's how it is and I don't f***ing care anymore what the 4x4 guys think.

(i know you weren't asking me but i wanted to answer anyway)

 

Well my trucks always dirty, the beauty of black

 

You want to off road in a 4x2? Do what gts007 did.

Lift to 4x4 height do you don't rip up your undercarriage and through on some GREAT tires. If you're mudding get mud tires. Sand tires for dunes. Rock crawler for rocks. Basic all-terrains ain't gonna cut it.

Then do what I did. Go get the BEST axle you can find. Mine is a 8.8 31 spline L/S from an 03 Level II. A 28 Spline Explorer axle will also work. You should hey AT LEAST 4.10 gears. 4.56s preferably. Limited Slip will work but true "Prerunners" get lockers. Selectable air lockers. For men.

That way, all you are missing is the drive for the two front wheels.

Manual transmission helps to though.

 

So does 4x4 lol, and its way cheaper then everything you just listed.

 

i had stock 2wd 93 ranger about 8yrs ago i took it thru mud but nothing you couldnt find on a dirt road.it did alright only got stuck twice,i also had a stock 01 2wd s10 that i took on trail's i've crossed creeks about 15ft wide and maybe about 3 to 4ft deep didnt have a problem went up some pretty steep hills but speed was my freind lol and i've also seen a lifted 2wd pathfinder on 33's out do my stock 4wd 01 ranger,but 2wd is still fun as he!! on trails

 

i wish i had more clearance, at silver lake i got banged up pretty good. a week later at bundy i was super careful since the clearance wasn't there.
it can be done but you've gotta take it easy and walking the trail first helps.
if you have any doubts, don't risk it and make sure there is something bigger that is able to pull you out.

 

2000ish 2WD truck w/ 100k to 150k: $2500

3 inch lift: $350

Good axle: $300

Tires and wheels: $800

Total investment: $3950 plus misc. parts like $4200

A 2000ish 4x4 truck with 150k to 200k: $5000
Oh, with the 4x4, you might get L/S, and maybe new tires, if you are lucky.

 

LIFT IT

 

You sir are correct!

Also im down in youngstown we gotta meet up one day at summit or something since i like to adventure up there.

 

PAY FOR IT

 

i go all the time, mainly to get to where im going and not for a specific wheeling trip .... once i finally get a decent job and move im probably gonna replace the truck with a qx4 or pathfinder