My baby is only 2wd... I know, I know. Is there any hope of it being a half decent off-roader, or would getting a lift kit / mudders / ect be a waste of time?

 

this is a topic that is always being discussed. it really depends on what kind of off-roading you want to do?
i had a 2wd and sold it cause i thought it would be a wast to make it mudder.
i say if ur going to get into the sport, get a 4x4.

but 2wd can do a lot if you build them right.

 

Check my posts. I've spent some time building it, but I've been wheeling 2WD for years. You WILL get stuck more than the 4WD guys -- but you can still have a LOT of fun.

Search for my Centralia and Wharton posts in the video and photos from meets and greets.

The picture you see in my avatar is my truck crossing 3 foot deep water. I'm lifted and on 35" tires with an electric rear locker.

I AM going to convert this beast to 4WD. I have a Dana 44 axle from a '79 F-150 that is going on there this spring after I get my profit sharing.

Also have a look at my Cardomain site. You can see several "incarnations" of this truck as I've changed it over time.

 

Here's some posts to look at if you're interested on whether you can go offroading:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=31516

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=29969

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=27483

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=21603

And there are more from Centralia in the past as well:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=14688

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=14683

Anyway, not sure what alls in them, but it'll get you started on being convinced you can have some fun offroading I hope.

 

John pulled my "disabled" FX4 Level II out of a small pond with his 2wd =]

 

Ironically enough, it was the same pond in which I appear in my avatar...

Any news on the truck, Travis? Or have you been out on the road too much? I'm glad you got such a good job but you're not around as much anymore, lol.

 

Here John, progress report....https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...149#post491149

I've been online trying to get my "fix" of r-f since about 6p lol

 

it all depends on what you want to do with it. I built up my 01 4x2 2.3l and its made it thru some light stuff. After a locker and some mud terrians i could attempt more. Theres no shame on getting stuck once and awhile, just make sure you start with a solid front and rear tow spot. I personally used a reciever hitch on the front and rear.

 

Man, that's the truth. Don't EVEN go wheeling without solid attachment points for recovery. Very good point.

 

My 4x2 owns 4x4s all the time. It makes me laugh because of the money they spent. You just have to know the limits of your truck and be a smart driver.

 

a good driver in a 4x4 and a good driver in a 4x2, the difference will be NIGHT AND DAY. but a good 4x2 driver, locked and done right can hang with newbie 4x4 drivers.


so basically if you have extended wheelin plans, do yourself a favor and get 4x4. in the slow technical stuff, 2wds get owned pretty much regardless of driver...

 

Yeah... I'll probibly end up buying myself a nice pair of off road tires and maybe one or two small mods and start coming out and doing some really light stuff (probibly mostly pulling people out from dry land ) because right now I can't afford a whole lot, and I'm not going to pinch the budget and end up with a crappy truck. In a few years when things are more stable (moving + getting married this year) I'll probibly pick up anouther old Mazda 4x4 and play with that.

 

Speaking of 2wd, anyone know how well they do in snow?

 

I'm in Texas so I dunno :D The last time I was out in ice though, my 2wd suprised me with how well it handled with normal road tires.

 

Not great -- good tires are a MUST, lol. And weight in the bed makes a big difference.

And Gil's comment is right on, and also applies to the trucks themselves. For instance, a stock height 4x4 can't do the water crossings and some of the mud my lifted 4x2 does.

But there are times when NOTHING works but 4 wheel drive. An example of that was an unbelievably steep hill in St. Clair. Tom had to winch me up it (and I was at a 45 degree angle for awhile, lol) where the 4x4's, even with stock tires, made it up with a running start and a bit of finesse. Not having front wheels to saw back and forth and get extra bite when you're climbing makes all the difference in situations like that.

Another situation where a 4x2 can be useless is big rocks with steep approaches and things like that. Without a front tire to PULL you up the face of the obstacle, you just bump up against it and that's it.

At this point I have a fine sense of the limitations of my truck -- but I still have fun with it. If you want to have fun wheeling, you can do that in a 4x2 or 4x4. If you want to be the baddest stud in the group forget it -- ain't going to happen in a 4x2 no matter how well you build it, lol.

Fun or not, I want to take this truck to the "next level" -- that's why that Dana 44 from the front of an older F-150 is sitting here...

 

Very good points my 4x2 owns except for up hills but i do have a locker. On ice and snow I also rule because i have Pro Comp mudders with the ice pick inserts.