Lift Kits aren't really necessary for offroading. What they allow you to
do is put mondo size tires on your truck and not hit the wheel wells. The
increase in tire size gives your truck more ground clearance and traction, so
the theory is that they are better for off roading. The truth is, it all
depends upon the kind of terrain you are going across. Those nice high ground
clearances raise the center of gravity of the vehicle so that if you run over
a rock the wrong way, or get sideways on too steep of a hill... you get to
test your roll bar functionality. Most lifted trucks around here will never
see gravel (at least here in imageville So. Cal.) so they are basically "for
looks". The same can be said for lowered trucks, they are usually gutless,
the owner having spent all the money on making it scrape the pavement, and not
on preformance. It cracks me up everytime I see a truck "Baja'd out" and it
doesn't even have a single brush scratch on it's perfect paint job, yeah, like
that truck has ever been off road.
In my opinion, 4wd is best for climbing steep hills, and slippery surfaces.
Most other off road conditions can be conquered by a 4x2 with a Limited Slip
Differential. 4wd is a convenience for many types of off road conditions, but
a 4x2 with an experienced driver can go nearly all places a 4x4 can. With the
LSD, a 4x2 has just as many power wheels as a non-LSD 4x4. A 4x4 with an LSD
has 3 powered wheels, or with lockers can get all 4 powered. Trouble with 4wd
is they weigh more, have more to break, and that front differential can bog
the truck down if it gets in real soft stuff like snow.
I can't afford the insurance on a 4x4 and I don't see myself needing to
climb sand dunes anytime in the near future.
Shaun H.
---original message---
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 14:52:44 -0800
From: Carlos Medina <CTMedina@email.msn.com>
Subject: DML: Lift Kits
Hey this might be a dumb question, but why would you put a lift kit on a 2wd
truck? I know they look awesome, but can you go off roading in a 2wd truck?
I wouldn't mind putting a lift kit, put I don't want to get stuck out
there!!! What do they run anyway! price wise I mean??
Just wondering!
Carlos Medina
99 Blk Dakota Rocket
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:13:06 EDT