Tylercs

I recently bought an 84 short bed 4x4 pickup. Its very stock and has very little i the way of factory options. My plan with the truck is a small lift and 33x9.50s or 33x10.50s. The question is will it be a super pain to drive on or off-road without power steering. The truck has 235/75-15s now and it can be a pain trying to get into tight spots will the larger tires be much worse?

Thanks for your input.

Volcom

I did it for a couple of years in an 85 on 31's. It was tough off-road but tought me some valuable lessons about keeping the thumbs on the outside of the steering wheel

I'd look to add powersteering from a junkyard truck when you get the $$$. Stock PS 84-85 PS boxes are a dime a dozen around here since everyone converts the IFS box when adding high steer.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Your current tires are close to 9.5" wide, so the 33x9.50 will be similar with steering effort. The 10.50 will of course be wider and give more steering effort, tire height really has little impact on steering effort. Also, be sure and try steering with 4WD engaged in dirt or gravel to see how that feels. Never driven a Toyota w/ manual steering, but as I off-roaded my '85 over the years, I did notice that the power steering boost was dropping over the years, in the beginning, it seemed very easy w/ 33x9.50s, but later it got heavier with 9.50 and 10.50 tires. I later upgraded to hydraulic assist steering and that is a night and day difference. Pretty much just palm the steering wheel lock to lock under most any condition (at least as long as the engine is running).

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Nothing worse than having to fight with the steering wheel all day wheeling...it will wear you out quick and makes wheeling no fun. Upgrade to at least OEM power steering but I'd recommend hydro assist w/ a high flow pump.

ozziesironmanoffroad

ive done it when my power steering belt went. as the wabbit says, its no fun. then again im done offroading until i buy a new clutch from him, i dont want to be broken down on the trail

pyro

I've got the same truck, ( 84 w/ no options) and I've got 35 11.50's on mine some days it's hell but still fun. but I'm planning on having at OEM in the next two months.

Al's Chop Shop

went wheeling with my new (to me) 81 on 33x12.50's and it was fine on the easy trails when you keep moving but any of the slow switchback trails it is commonly impossable to steer when the truck isn't moving, and sometimes you don't have room to move. 21 point turn later you are out of the mess, but its not fun when you're holding up a group. harder trails with rocks are very difficult because the steering wheel goes where it wants to, you just try to aim its general direction with little control. i plowed into a big rock because i didn't have much control of the wheel. not to mention the start of blisters as it spun in my hands.

its doable, but not that fun. just remember, THUMBS OUT!

as for the comment about it not mattering about tire height, only width... its generally true, but once you get real tall you start to change your scrub radius, your tires are then moving forward and back on turns and that makes it more difficult as well.

Al

pyro

by the way what will I need to complete this project other than a ps pump, bracket and belt?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Everything p/s related off the donor truck. The power steering box, pump, reservoir, hoses, belt, accessory pulley off the crank pulley, bracket, idler, bolts, and the cooling line up in front of the radiator, mounting bolts and the idle up valve off the intake if you want to hook that up.

notanymore

my friends 81 doesnt have ps and with 31x10.50s its quite difficult to drive if you are not used to it, but driving it hes gotten pretty strong forearms, but its still a pain in tight turns and parking.

Al's Chop Shop

they don't call it "armstrong steering" for nothing!

yeah, parkinglots suck when i have to 3pt a spot like i'm driving my big arse chevy.... i'm piecing together a PS system for mine. only costing a case of busch light and a case of mt. dew so far.

Al

dirtoyboy

I have complete power steering set ups for sale if you are lookin

taandctran

I have a 85 with 33-12.5-15's and no ps. Turning it is no problem. just watch out for it catching something. Will about yank your arm off

grant526

I've been running my "85 w/o ps since September with 33x12.50R15s without much trouble. I ran 31x10.50s for a couple years before that. It's kind of a bear on the trail, but as long as your tires are moving at all, you can turn them.
I'd think about going to a stock PS setup, but I'm looking at doing the Crossover/Hi Steer conversion at some point in the future. That looks to me like the way to go. Especially if you plan to run a lift big enough to fit 33s.
I keep hearing bad things about the stock steering parts breaking while wheeling.

*Edit*
Like taandctran said, Watch out for your tires catching rocks and stuff on the trail. It'll yank the wheel out of your hands in a hurry! And like everyone keeps saying. ALWAYS keep your thumbs out of the wheel, on and off-road. But especially off-road.

Tylercs

Thanks for the info guys. I'll probably look into a donor truck when the time comes.

As for thumbs out I learned that lesson the first week I had the truck. It sure did smart

zhillz

How much would it cost to convert to Hydro assist using a kit?

pyro

PM sent

thanks
G

82yota

On my 82 I don't have power steering but I have no trouble driving it. Though I've got 235s on it. One thing I have noticed that does help is keeping your knuckles well greased. It helps out a good bit with steering. After driving my truck for 3 years I didn't notice anything wrong with it. I sure liked it. But after driving my diesel with ps since October and driving my 82 again around here its a big difference. Never noticed it before but a big difference. But it can be done without.

86tuning

Also, the steering intermediate shaft is shorter on p/s trucks, so nab that too.

Keep the old manual one handy in case you go crossover steering and move the box forwards, etc etc.