I've been searching the web for advice regarding all aspects of offroad driving. I'm new to this and I want to make sure I do things right so I avoid causing damage.

Yesterday I just couldn't wait to take the truck for a ride on some good wet trails and I realized that was a dumb idea with how little I know about this.

Anyway if you have any advice you'd like to offer from experience, from other websites, from other places in this forum that I absentmindedly missed, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I don't have a built truck buts its a 1992 22re manual transmission with 31 inch all terrain tires and some underbody armor.

 

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/index.shtml#Introduction

 

welcome aboard. the link 4crawler gave is full of great stuff. do some searching on here. there are a lot of Sticky Threads that will point you in the right direction

 

thanks for the replies. I'm going to check into both and make sure I learn everything I need to before going out again.

 

after a trip to a somewhat local off-road park, you would be surprised on how capable these trucks are with no lift and 31's. not my 1st 4x4 and not my first time off-roading anything, but I think I can pretty much do whatever I used to do in a stock full size bronco and definitely much more than a stock bronco II I had. Armor up your truck (sliders bumpers etc.) gears and locker(s) would be my first recommendation.

 

I've realized they are quite capable already. I don't know much about offroading yet but I bought the truck with the intent to learn. And don't most all small 4 cyl trucks already come with 4:10 gears? Do I really want to change that? Eventually when the money comes along the truck will gain more armor and lockers. Until then I want to learn to drive correctly.

 

I just want to mention.

4crawler, your website is great, I've read thru almost everything you have on there.

 

92, I say just get out there and start with the fire roads, these trucks will take a lot of abuse and just use common sense, don't do anything you think looks too sketchy. If so, turn around an explore somewhere else.

 

My best advise would be find a buddy with a 4X4. I never go alone, safety comes in numbers

 

the best sticker i ever saw said "you cant bolt on experience"

just get out there and play. your gonna get stuck so bring a buddy with another rig. half the fun is recovery.

 

Thanks guys, I have a trip planned within the next two weeks. And I'm not going alone. I just need to get myself a recovery strap and some solid tow hooks and I'm ready to go test her out.

 

When in doubt, Power out!

 

4Crawler-- good site

 

i'd say some good advice is to use your gears to your advantage. find out what gear you should be in in each situation. for example. 4low 1st gear is great for descending and ascending hills as well as taking mud holes because you wont bog out. if there is a big rock let your tire take the abuse not the bottom of your truck and always have a path that you want to take. keep your distance behind any other vehicles and usually a radio isn't a bad idea for communication between trucks.

 

a piece of advice about the tow strap. get a strap that is a snatch strap over a standard tow strap. The snatch strap is also designed to yank in addition to a slow pull in which a tow strap is only designed for. I would get one rated for 6 ton (12,000lb) or more and that has two loops. Do not get one with hooks attached.

If you get a tow hook for the frame of the truck I would get one with a safety latch on it. Make sure the hook is rated for more than the snatch strap as well.

 

marlincrawler.com ull get all the advice needed for every situation... i have a 90 3in body 2in sus ( soon to b sas'd) bald 35 4:10 gears open and i can make it where build jeeps cant yotas aee very capable vehicles ...note the 22re motor does not have a rev limiter so dont hone too hard lol

 

GO AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE and make sure you air your tires down.. you have 31's, if your running stock rims go to about 20psi and you'll ward away blown beads but still have good traction. disconnect your sway bars before you go out, although they will help stability on road they will often time try to tip a truck when articulating off road. make sure you always have a wheeling buddy and full recovery gear.. DO NOT DO SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH!!! make sure you go obstacle to obstacle as humbly as possible, people dont realize how dangerous this wonderful sport is until they are on their lid and if you get cocky, the wheeling gods will put you in your place without any mercy.. good luck man and head the advise of the many experienced wheelers on the site...

 

alot more good advice, thanks again all of you.

I will get the correct strap with at least a 12000# limit and as for the hooks the truck is ready for them to be bolted right up to the frame. the last owner had some on it but he took them off prior to selling to me.

 

One thing I can think of is to never be afraid to ask for a spotter, even if its something that should be easy. Like said above, if you are uncomfortable, don't be afraid to ask for help. An experienced spotter is worth way more than any mod you can buy. On my maiden voyage, having great spotters got me through stuff that I may have eventually gotten through myself, but in less time, and it really builds on your confidence.

 

My advise is to start out in 2WD... (for anything EXCEPT rock crawling)

Lock your hubs but do not engage the TC in 4WD. You're gonna start going through obstacles small at 1st, then larger...

What you do is put your mind in this frame of mind: "I'm playing a game called try not to get stuck" "My 4WD is ONLY if I get stuck" "I don't want to get stuck in 2WD"

Learn momentum 1st, and you'll be surprised what you can do without 4WD, then with 4WD.

This is more-so why I don't like FJCruiser drivers... B/c they let themselves become reliant on too many traction nanny's and gizmo's...

Off roading will not always be like that. Who knows what you'll be riding in and what it came with, or was up graded to...

That's prolly also why they spend thousands on their rigs and get the pants beat off them when they hit the trails by a $1,000 beater...

...when they've got that in their Chrome package...