ranger recovery truck/resto

[motocross]

when i turned 16(3 years ago) i drove a 1988 ranger 4x4 and beat my truck.
it currently needs some work that will be starting Dec 1, trying to bring it back.

my ranger has a 4" suspension lift with 31" yokohama geolanders and i found it to be a very capable truck I only ended up stuck a hand full of times.

im interested in making it more capable for mudding and pulling other trucks out buy adding a winch and some mud terrain tires. I want to stay about 31" tires but what tire/winch combo is the best bang for the buck. i am also interested in lockers or diffrent rear end.

is a ford 8.8 out of an explorer a limited slip or posi rear end? thanks

what should i do??

 

[wakingtowinter]

posi (short for positraction) is just GM's old name for limited slip, like how Ford calls it Traction Lok. They all mean the same thing. I think most Explorer 8.8s came with LS. If you're running 31s, I don't see much need for an explorer 8.8. Plenty of people run 35s and 36s on their ranger 8.8 without breaking too much stuff. I guess it also depends on what the terrain is. If you think you'll want to move up to 33s or 35s in the future, it might be worth the trouble. As for a locker, I'd get an automatic locker like the Lock-Right or Aussie Locker, etc. They're pretty good off road and very streetable and you can get one new for around $300, or less if you hang around on the classifieds section long enough. If it was me and I was running 31s, I'd just stick a Lock-Right or a No-Slip in it and call it good.

Don't know what your budget is but Smittybuilt makes some decent winches that are very cheap. If you plan on winching all day long, I'd probably get a Warn, but those are pretty spendy unless you get a deal on a used one.

As for tires, everyone's got their opinions. Toyo M/Ts are great but really expensive. BFGoodrich KM2s are pretty good and somewhat less expensive. I have Cooper Discoverer STTs on mine right now and have had no problems with them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Explorer 8.8's can be had pretty cheap.

I got mine with disc brakes and springs for $100. I will admit I have never priced a LS carrier for my 7.5 but I bet it is more than that... not to mention the brakes and springs. Gears are a match so I don't have to pay for setup either.

They also have more locker options than the 7.5.

I have Dunlop Mud Rovers on one truck and BFG MT KM1's on the other, they both get the job done. The BFG's are quieter on the street, but in the Mud Rovers defense I got them used.