4 wheeling/mud bogging advice

[Ty's toy]

Hey guys im new to this forum and imlooking for some advice.

I have a 97 ranger that I take muddin everyonce in a while...but im looking to get into it some more

I would just like some advice to make it better and less likely to break offroad

Like breathers and such

What should I do?

Its lifted 4 inches as of now and 31s are coming soon

Any tire suggestions?

Thanks, any help would be appritiated

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Extend the axle breathers. Check the front axle bearings and gear oil after each time if they get below the mud line.

Ask around your area about tires, different tires work better in different soil types and soil types can vary wildly even in a given area.

My favorite mud tire to date for both highway and mud is the BF Goodrich MT in the Jeep Rubicon tread pattern. You can only get them in a few tire sizes though. Fairly quiet on pavement, decent on snow pack and they seem really good in mud. The others I have ran is Dunlop Mud Rovers (loud on pavement, scary on snow, very good in mud) and Firestone Destination MT's (not bad on pavement, mediocre on snowpack, pretty good in mud)

You can get them milder and wilder but for what I do I really like my BFG's.

 

[Ty's toy]

ive been looking around and I really like the look of the ,falkon rocky mountains, and the general grabbers, have you heard anything about them?

Thanks again for the help

 

[94 lngbd]

both the General & Falken tires you mentioned are AT tires & wouldnt be that great in MUD

 

[bruker]

Check out Mastercraft Tires http://mastercrafttires.com/Tires/Light-Truck/Roadmaster-RM185.aspx they're one of the best values in tires and I have them on all my vehicles.

 

[BLOODBANE]

This...

For mudding, but don't expect a very long road life on them....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

both the General & Falken tires you mentioned are AT tires & wouldnt be that great in MUD

I can't believe the places I went with wussy AS car tires, it is even harder to believe I even tried it.

 

[Ty's toy]

Well im looking at the general grabber red label...they are supposed to be for mud?

 

[hdmm]

Check out the Hercules Trail Digger MT, I've run a couple sets of these, best Mud Tire for the money in my opinion, they even have a 3 ply sidewall like BFG. I've included a Ebay link where I bought a set. since then, I now have a local dealer for Hercules tires, which is cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Hercules-Trail-Digger-M-T-Mud-Tires-31x10-50R15-31-10-50-15-10-50R-R15-/160986399088?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item257b898170

 

[FritzTKatt]

Good year wrangler duratrac.

Extend your breathers, check your seals, make sure the wiring harnesses are sealed, silicone grease all connections. Put manual hubs on. That'll be your first upgrades.

Take it easy and learn how to drive off road. Don't go blowing through holes and doing 30 over washboards. Always go out with another truck and have recovery gear. If you're stuck, you're stuck. Don't dig it to the frame... but we've all done it...

 

[DRanger024]

Duratracs are not a dedicated mud tire either. They're horrible on our little trucks in winter as well when you start getting into the 33" and up range.

 

[PanamaExpat]

Don't forget the breather on the transfer case. It holds the least amount of lube in the drive line and ATF doesn't like water. Remember when the t-case takes a dump on you you go nowhere.

 

[509lifted]

actually dranger they are great on our trucks, go look it up nothin but great reviews on here for them and a guy that did a test in mud, sand, pavement wet and dry, snow, ice, dirt, and minor rock use and had nothing but great to say about them.

 

[FritzTKatt]

I'll swear to mine up and down all day. Maybe bigger sizes than 31s have problems, but I've driven in all conditions and never had problems. Everyone else I see with them loves them too.

One really important thing besides the breathers is recovery points. If you can't get pulled out, or pull someone else out safely, then you're screwed and can break things or people get hurt. To start off with, a class 3 hitch or stronger in the rear, and 2 hooks up front will take care of you. When you install the hitch don't be lazy and just use the 2 existing holes. Drill 2 more and fill up all applicable slots in the brackets. Regular hooks are ok, but spring loaded keepers are better.

A front mount hitch is best combined with hooks. Then a winch can eventually be mounted directly. If you have the time/$ go directly to building a custom bumper. In the fabrication section there are multiple threads including mine.

Always be safe and don't go crazy. Especially combining alcohol or drugs off road, go out in the boondocks, party, sleep it off, then drive out. Always respect the land you travel and leave nothing but ruts hehe.

 

[Ty's toy]

Thanks for all the advice guys..i really appreciate it