What I need to make my truck "mud ready?"


shadowdiver02

10+ Year Member

Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
5
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1,501
City
Merritt Island, FL
Vehicle Year
1996
1987
Transmission
Manual
I have a 1996 2WD ford ranger xlt extended cab with 24" tires on it and is all stock. I want to make it so that I won't get stuck anymore lol what should I do? A friend of mine said I should just get more aggressive tires but should I stop there?

Thank you
 
You're going to get stuck no matter what. Mud and 2wd don't mix well even if you had a locker. More aggressive tires would help but I don't know of any "aggressive" tires that are 24". You will need/want bigger tires and if you get bigger tires you will possibly have to re gear the axle. You will also most likely need some kind of lift. Something you will need no matter what you do though is to have a good recovery strap and solid recovery points on the front and rear of the truck. That's something all trucks should have regardless of 2wd or 4wd.

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Last edited:
For straight up mud driving you want tall, skinny tires with aggressive treads. Wide tires will get you stuck.
 
chrmar said:
For straight up mud driving you want tall, skinny tires with aggressive treads. Wide tires will get you stuck.
Click to expand...

Layin' frame will do you no favors either... only the recovery will be more difficult.
 
A 4 wheel drive vehicle. :D :icon_welder:
 
Meh. Even a 4wd can get stuck pretty easily if the diffs are open. Pretty much turns from a one wheel peeler to a 2.
 
pcollins said:
Meh. Even a 4wd can get stuck pretty easily if the diffs are open. Pretty much turns from a one wheel peeler to a 2.
Click to expand...

Not as easily as a 1wd, or 2wd on the light end of the vehicle.

The front wheel(s) count for more because they have more weight over them and that they are actually trying to turn.

I have drug out two wheelers out that were stuck. They were spinning both rears but couldn't slide the front tires.
 
depends on what you mean by "mud ready"

like basic trails and fields? or mud bogs?

i'd start w/ a 4wd if possible... if not, you could add a solid axle up front w/ the needed suspension to clear at least a 33" tire. then do the trans and t/case swap to make it 4wd, then lift the rear. lockers are a must for mud.


if its nothing major you could try adding a locker in the rear and larger mud tires, meaning you'll need a lift kit. (suspension or body lift, preferably suspension)
 
Make sure you have some good points to hook to, front and rear (a bumper hitch doesn't count. You need something that ties straight into both frame rails), and go have fun. Any vehicle will eventually get stuck if the mud is deep enough. Some larger tires will help, a locker will help, and 4wd with lockers and mud tires will help the most. Just depends on how much money you want to spend.
 
Sell your truck and get a 4wd. usually an unmolested truck will sell for more money so sell it before you start modding it
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I wanted to upgrade to like a 30ish inch tire and I know I'd need to do a lift of some sort to make room for em'. Also I would pretty much use it for everything from trails to bogs....I know that's a tall order for a 2WD, would it just be cheaper and better to get a 4WD and go from there?
 
you need to lift it atleast 3", put mud terrain 31's and get a locker. untill that point, your always gonna get very stuck.

or go big, 33's+
 
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