What would make a good mud truck?

[TRanger03]

Almost finished with my ranger. I have my lift, wheels, and other accessories laying around the house, and I'm ordering the tires tommorrow. Even though its been fun wheeling it, I think its time I save up and start looking for a mud truck to build up.

I almost bought a 91 Ranger a few weeks ago, but ultimately decided against it. I just want something bigger this time. What should I look for?

I want something with a V8 and solid axles, I'd really like an older fullsize Bronco or f250, but I've also considered buying something outside of the Ford world, possibly a Powerwagon. I would like something that I could lift to the SKY, relatively cheaply.

Its still gonna take a little time for me to save up a bit more cash. But what should I look for?

PS. NO CHEVYS!!!

 

[gwaii]

it doesn't matter what you start with,as long as it ends up with a big engine and even bigger tires.

 

[TRanger03]

it doesn't matter what you start with,as long as it ends up with a big engine and even bigger tires.

forgot to add, its being done on a limited budget. so it'll have to have solid axles and a big engine stock

 

[farmer]

73-87 Chevy (solid axles)
80-96 Ford 250 (easy to swap in solid axle) or 350 (already has one)
all ford 4x4 older than 79
not sure about dodge
thats it for factory solid axles. theres a reason almost all mud trucks are chevy, easy and cheap to build

 

[Brandon12]

Ive seen a few sweet power wagons but with a low budget, a mid 70's ford is probably the way to go. You can get one pretty cheap and they are common in my area so getting parts is easy. Easy trucks to work on. Wouldn't take too much to get one to monster truck status.

 

[gwaii]

two things come up.....are you wanting an all around truck that you can take in the mud,or a dedicated mud truck that will do nothing else?

when you say limited budget,how limited are we talking here.

power and big tires get expensive real fast.all the stuff that goes between that power and those tires aint cheap either.

 

[TRanger03]

two things come up.....are you wanting an all around truck that you can take in the mud,or a dedicated mud truck that will do nothing else?

when you say limited budget,how limited are we talking here.

power and big tires get expensive real fast.all the stuff that goes between that power and those tires aint cheap either.

Its stricktly for mud, keeping my ranger as the DD. The most I'd spend for the vehicle is $2000, and thats pushing it, my total budget by end of summer looks to be around 4000-5000, and some of that will go to the lift, wheels and tires. I'm really leaning towards a Bronco. And I think I should clarify that lifted to the sky comment, I mean 4-6 inches of suspension along with 2-3 inches body.

 

[farmer]

search on pirate4x4s mud section, see what you like

 

[mhughes165]

build a solid axle toyota, they can be had cheap, if u find one in decen shape(1500) is a good price, they are dirt cheap to lift, the axles will hold almost anything, and if u dont like a 4cylinder swap a 4.0,m50dr1,div205

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

73-87 Chevy (solid axles)
80-96 Ford 250 (easy to swap in solid axle) or 350 (already has one)
all ford 4x4 older than 79
not sure about dodge
thats it for factory solid axles. theres a reason almost all mud trucks are chevy, easy and cheap to build

Only '86+ F-350's have a solid axle.

 

[The_Dealer]

i vote for 94-97 12 valve cummins dodge 6spd manual...easy to get alot of power out of(make some fuel plates), fairly cheap to buy, and the 6spd with a good clutch will hold up to a good bit of power. with a spacer lift in the front u can run 35's, 4" 37's, or get the longarm lifts and run 40's

heres my buddys 24v, suncoast trans, upgraded turbo, stacks, injectors, alot of goodies
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=568827693212
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=553882378742

 

[gwaii]

the 78/79 bronco is a good starting point.it can run 35 or 36'' tires with the stock drivetrain,and they can still be found fairly cheap.

later,when you are ready to spend some money it's an easy one to swap a 460 into,and you can hunt for a trashed f350 to donate a 10.25 and 60.with these axles you can run 44'' tires but still may have to upgrade the outers on the 60 if you are going to push it hard.

you may be able to recover some money by selling the stock drivetrain components from the bronco(get one with the 351/400m,you'll be able to keep the trans/t-case when you go big block)if you haven't destroyed them yet.these broncos all came with the 205 t-case as well,which is pretty much bulletproof.

stock 460s can be had for cheap,but if you want some power you'll want to spend some money on it.or,just throw a bunch of nitrous at it(if you go this route,you'll need headers-the stock exhaust manifolds are too restrictive for more than 150hp nirous shot)

as for trashed f350s,their cost depends on your location....i get them in the $500 range with the complete drivetrain intact.

tires vary widely depending on whether you can get used ones or other deals,but by the time everything they charge is on them,good 44s(boggers)run almost $1000 each.

keep some money aside for breakage....if it doesn't happen you aren't trying hard enough.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Its stricktly for mud, keeping my ranger as the DD. The most I'd spend for the vehicle is $2000, and thats pushing it, my total budget by end of summer looks to be around 4000-5000, and some of that will go to the lift, wheels and tires. I'm really leaning towards a Bronco. And I think I should clarify that lifted to the sky comment, I mean 4-6 inches of suspension along with 2-3 inches body.

Geez, man. For 2000 bucks you can get 1000 4x4 b2 or gen two ranger and have5-6k for building it. If you cant v8 swap and sas a ranger for less than 4 grand your thinkin WAYYYYY too big.

A 91 4x4 ext cab would be an awesome start to a dedicated mud buggy. Flatbed and caged with one of our local custom bumpers, you can 289's and 5.0's dirt cheap everywhere, and a set of 77 EB axles shouldnt run your more than 300 purchase price if you patient.

We have 289's around here going for 200 bux + or -. There 3 390's in knoxville CL for less than 400. Use your head and build what you want. but you dont need fullsize to buggy out with.

 

[gwaii]

Geez, man. For 2000 bucks you can get 1000 4x4 b2 or gen two ranger and have5-6k for building it. If you cant v8 swap and sas a ranger for less than 4 grand your thinkin WAYYYYY too big.

A 91 4x4 ext cab would be an awesome start to a dedicated mud buggy. Flatbed and caged with one of our local custom bumpers, you can 289's and 5.0's dirt cheap everywhere, and a set of 77 EB axles shouldnt run your more than 300 purchase price if you patient.

We have 289's around here going for 200 bux + or -. There 3 390's in knoxville CL for less than 400. Use your head and build what you want. but you dont need fullsize to buggy out with.

this stuff aint gonna cut it for a dedicated mud truck.

first thing you have to do is go hang out where the mud running is happening,and find out what the biggest tires are that are being run on a regular basis.this will be your minimum tire size.

if you go smaller than this then you won't be going into the big boy holes,because you'll just be getting high centered all the time.when i was playing the game 44s were the smallest tire i could get away with running,and 1/2 ton axles with small blocks just don't cut it with those.

now theres more 54'' and bigger tires running around out there,44s might even be too small.

so it comes down to a choice...go big or play in the kiddie holes.

while folks see it flexing all over the place,the truck at the left resulted from years of mud running.

those are 40'' swampers on 3/4 ton axles with a 302running 175 nitrous......stuck because it's not big enough.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It depends on where you live and what the selection is, but you have to keep replacement parts supply in mind and well as cost.

Around here a 73-87 GM takes the cake.

Chevy stuff is much more common around here than anything else, dunno how many SBC/BBC engines I passed up on my quest for a 302. Same when I was trying to find an intake, piles of GM stuff but SBF stuff was few and far between, I ended up getting a new one.

Solid axles up until '87 on everything, parts that practically grow on trees, and IMO just as reliable as a Ford and that stuff interchanges like Legos is kind of freaky.

After wheeling both, the side to side stability difference is very apparent between a fullsize and a compact truck. Between my 2002 F-150 and 1985 Ranger I spend a lot less time getting thrown against windows in the '150. When turning radius isn't involved (like most mud trucks) the Ranger really starts to come up short IMO, aside from being easier to extract when stuck.