Decisions...decisions

maddog411

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Harrisburg, NC
I would like some help deciding what to do with my truck. It is a full size pickup currently sitting on jackstands with no axles under it. I have a set of rockwells that I had planned to put under it. I put them for sale because I planned to go back to 1 tons or even 3/4 tons so I could run it on the road. It is setup for leaf springs all the way around and I have everything for brakes lines, shocks, crossover steering, driveshafts, etc on it already. It also has very tall leafs on it (15"+ woth) The body on the truck is in excellent shape so I don't think I want to tear it up on the trails. I want to be able to drive it on the road as a second vehicle but also want to do some offroading with it. If I put the rockwells on it I will basically have a work a second job to pay to for brakes, tires, and everything else for it.
So what should I do?
1. Just put the rocks and pinion brakes on it and make it a mud bogger, and buy a tow rig whenever possible?
2. Lower it a few inches, sell the rocks, put 1 tons or 3/4 tons on it and about 38-40" super swampers, and drive it on the trails?
3. Finish the rocks with wheel brakes like I originally planned, which would mean it was only good for a mud bogger, and get a cheap slightly modified jeep for a trail rig.
4. Get a set of cheap 3/4 tons, lower it a good bit, put 35-37" super swampers on it, and keep the rocks for a future build?
Thanks for your help!!! I keep agonizing over this!!!
 
I vote for #4. Unless you want to beat it up.
 
i went through a similar dillema with my 99 ram. i built it up, wheeled at alot of places, etc. finally got into hard enough trails and big enough tires that i was breaking it nearly every time out. i decided to do a one stop axle swap on it with links all around, 46" tires, rockwells, etc.

while the truck was apart, i've wheeled a series of stock/mildly built trucks and have had an absolute BLAST. i obviously can't do the craziest trails out there, but the challenge of taking a stock/near stock rig through trails that it shouldn't be able to go through is a big challenge and great sense of satisfaction when you complete them.

so, i decided to go back to something much simpler and basic. i realized for me it's alot more about the challenge and driver skill, not having the biggest baddest truck. i feel you prove a hell of alot more in a moderately built rig than you do in some tubed out 4 wheel steered monstrosity. not to mention all the limitations that come with something like that. no offense to people that do extreme builds, i think they're definitely cool it's just not for me i realized.

now, i'm running 1 tons and tires no larger than 40". it was already well on its way to being a cab truck before i took it apart, and that's how it'll stay as far as the body, etc. goes. secondarily, i ran into a lot of packing limitations with the rockwells. without redoing frame rails, engine position, etc. it would have been one tall SOB. i have no desire for doing fabrication to that extent.
 
sell it to me!!!! jk jk jk...i like #4 to man its probably the best as far as money and still have a pretty good all-a-round offroad truck...i cant stand pure mud boggers just because of the stupidy i see in it and with the pure trail rig your lookin at more money...not my decision and not tryin to make urs just my 2 cents...id like to see pics of this truck though...b4 and after type deal...
 
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