Well, what do you guys/gals think:

I want to lift one of my 2WD trucks. Should I lift the gasser or the Diesel?? I know they are not 4WD and I know the limitations of 2WD.

Would a 2wd offroad truck with a 6.5 diesel be TOOO heavy for the sand and moderate mudding?? I plan on running 33 X 12.5 R15 BFG Mud Terrains:ro) on 6 inches of lift with a locker out back. The truck I lift will eventually get prerunner long travel suspension for sand dunes and glass front fenders with pulled bedsides.

Maybe I should just use the diesel as a tow-rig and lift the gasser? I have a 350 that is going in place of the V6.

The 2x deisel would be way too heavy. The key to success in the sand with a 2x is weight, or lack of it, and lots of power. I think that 6.5 would just sink like a rock as soon as it slowed down in the sand. The added RPM's of the gasser will also help. keeping that wheel speed up and the tires floating on top of the mud or sand. Also buy a good tow strap and be prepared to use it, afterall it's still a 2x and no matter how good a driver you are there are going to be times when you get stuck. Maybe instead of spending the money on one of your 2x's, sell one and look for a used 4x. There's no substitute for 4x, especially in the mud. Just a thought, I'd hate see spend all that money on a 2x and still be disappointed like I did.

Just my $.02,


Chris

WhippledHD, your present truck, I think I can see torsion bars under there. That's a 4X isn't it? I see you have a CST lift. That is agood quality lift IMO, I have seen the welds. That is some good advice you have on 2WD. I think you are right. The diesel engine must weigh twice what that 4.3 weighs, maybe more. You are right about wheel speed! Momentum rules in a 2wd. Plus the diesel has an automatic (heavier than the 5 speed). The 1992 gasser and the 94 diesel are both in excellent shape (shiny paint, no rust, and straight body). I could sell the gasser and buy an older 4x beater. Or I could turbo the 4.3. Now that would be good power to weight ratio!!

If your gonna force feed the 4.3 look into a S/C lots more torque down low and it keeps building throught the RPM's and you also don't have to worry about cracking a turbo housing.......cold muddy water+hot turbo = bad ju ju.....

I think for the money you could get a solid axle 4x beater and really have some fun with it. I think 2x is great for desrt pre-running but not muuc more than that and even to do that right you gotta spend lots of $$$$$. But you have to decide what's best for you.

Yeah my truck is 4x with the CST. I'm very happy with it and with the added hoops and Kings it should be pretty stout and take a beating, only time will tell, but damn the Dmax is heavy:)

Good luck man and let us know which way you go,

Chris

Good suggestions WhippledHD :)

Super Charger definately for the 4.3 (EBAY!;) ). That would suprise people when they beat by a lifted fullsize with a V6! Haha!

I don't want to crack a turbo housing. Yeah, I could buy a 4X solid axle chevy like 87, and get it for pretty cheap. That is a good year I think because they still had the solid axle, and they had the TBI. That would be fun in the mud.

I WISH I had enough MONEY to even make the payments (not including insurance) on a new or slightly used DMAX:ro) . I found one for 20,000 dollars, but I am in college. I do have a good co-op job at McLaren Performance, but I am trying to be as frugel as I can until I can get some of these college loans payed off. That is why I have old but nice vehicles. I am also trying to pay off my dirtbike I bought last year.

Parts are expensive, such as coilover shocks. I would be doing the fab work for the long travel prerunner suspension myself in my parent's garage.

Has anybody run their 4X4 in the sand using 2WD only?? How bad is it? Can you climb much, or does it just sink and spin?

Thanks guys.

We watched people all week over the 4th of July at Pismo beach this year.
Some people with 2wd trucks were able to tow small travel trailers out on
the sand, plenty of others with 4wd got stuck as soon as they left the hardpack.

Tire pressure is the most important factor, followed closely by driver skill.
15psi on wide BFG's will give a big footprint, even with 2wd. 60psi with 4wd
still gets you nowhere fast.

Low tire pressure, keep your momentum, if you do stop then back up gently
on your own tracks before starting forward again, of course carry a tow strap...

I can get my '02 Duramax 4X stuck on wet grass in 2WD.

Very embarassing.......

I run my 4x in 2 wheel drive all the time out in Glamis (lots of sand) and it does very well as long as I get started in 4x. Starts and stops are what kill you in 2x. When I had my 2x truck I'd always try and stop with the nose pointing down hill that way I could get going again. Once going keep your momentum but that's not always possible and as soon as I'd stop or get real slow going up hill I was done. I even had a locker in the rear and I'd get stuck all the time. Air down, good tires, and a locker and I did ok, seems I always got stuck when no one was around or we were in a hurry.....if I had a 4x with me I never got stuck :)

lad, if it is one person that knows about sand it is me. I have been deployed to iraq for a total of 20months, on top of that I had to move to GA for my duty station (instead of CA).
What I would recommend if you plan on doing a lot of sand driving is getting a cheap toyota or something that is light and that you can beat up. I got a 91' for 5500 at an auction. W/ just a tiny v-6 and 5spd it would surpass many of the heavier vehicles (in addition I could still go just over 100mph). I know this is a chevy website but a little truck like that w/ a det. locker and 5.29 gear ratio is hard to beat for the money. It sure beats paying out the A** for a superchager/turbo. Don't worry about lifting a 2wd that would be for show. You wouldn't want somebody making fun of your truck.
Hope this helps, -Chase

Thanks for the responses everybody.
Yeah, I agree. If I did lift it, I would have a nice tow strap and a locker. Airing down tires, even stock ones gets people pretty far. I am going to run 33x12.50R15 BFG Muds. I might use my 8" wheels on the black gas truck in my sig (they are bare aluminum and look awesome when polished with mothers mag and aluminum polish), or get some new eagle dish wheels like series 186 with the eight hole design, they are similar to Mickey Tompson. Which?

I have a dmax with 265 all terains on it. I've never aired down for the sand because I don't have a way to air them back up for the 70mph + ride home. With that said, this truck will not go anywhere through sand in 2wd. It just takes way more momentum than I'm comfortable with. The front tires just sink in and the rears with no weight on them start to spin. This is my first 4x4 and I couldn't be happier. I would always bury my 2wds when I took them off roading. The 4x with all terrains is a monster in the sand, even uphill in deep sand. I would only lift a 2wd for looks only(and personally I wouldn't even do that). Spend the money on an older 4x. A stocker 4x will drive circles around a lifted 2x.

My Dmax has 285 BFG's on it and is a 4x4. I've gotten stuck on my last two hunting trips in sandy soil. Both times I was in 4x4 trying to climb ridiculously small hills that my old Toyota Tundra would have went over without problem. First time, I was lucky and got pulled out. Second time, I spent over an hour digging out and tore off and lost both Duraflaps. Was finally able to get out by loading about 400 lbs. of rocks into the bed and sitting back there too while my 13 year old backed us out. I learned this vehicle is mutha heavy in front and sinks like a rock in soft soil. With no weight in the back, traction is nil, even in 4x4. Ground clearance with 285's sucks. My truck is a daily pavement driver so lifting it and bigger wider tires is out. I'm thinking about getting a quad or a beater 4x4 truck. Keeping the Dmax though...:)

Dave