2WD off roading
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
2WD off roading
I had a 95 F-150 2wd with a 4" suspension lift and 32" mud tires with a Limited Slip Differential in the rear axle. I did take it off road twice. One time it was stock, and I wouldn't really call it off roading, mostly small hills and dirt. Then I got the lift/tires and took it in the mud a little bit. I was in baby mud and was having trouble. With both tires spinning I couldn't really get around well. It's just not going to get you very far. Absolutely forget it if you have an open differential haha. My truck now has an open diff in the back and I could get stuck when theres leaves on the ground haha.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 1
From: california
2WD off roading
I've driven off road with my 67 2wd. The trick is to check out the trail ahead of you. Keep in mind that the steep hill you go down will be the steep hill you need to get back up. Avoid deep mud and snow. Tellico is right. Momentum helps a lot! I actually thought it was a lot more fun hitting the trails in my 2wd. Lots of other guys were impressed by the distance I traveled on the trails. Sure, I got stuck a few times. Live and learn. I've been off road in my friend's 4x4 and he left it in 2wd to test out his limited slip. He did pretty well.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
2WD off roading
Yes but momentum/driver skills can only get you so far. There are many situations where you CANT get a good run at it or have enough momentum. I found that out when I went down a hill in a trail that had a curve and a lot of bumps at the end. I didn't have enough suspension even with the lift and tires to fly around that bumpy corner and get a run at the hill. I couldn't make it up the hill and had to back down and make my own way out of the woods.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 1
From: california
2WD off roading
Like I said..."Keep in mind that the steep hill you go down will be the steep hill you need to get back up."
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
2WD off roading
Originally posted by MustangGT221
momentum/driver skills can only get you so far.
momentum/driver skills can only get you so far.
But something else that's true is that most prerunners are 2WD.
Even a 2WD can be fun off-road if it's built for it. 
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, C.A.
2WD off roading
Originally posted by MustangGT221
Depends on what you drive on, a pre-runner doesn't exactly go rock crawling or mudding.
Depends on what you drive on, a pre-runner doesn't exactly go rock crawling or mudding.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
2WD off roading
Dirt, mild rocks, light mud, hilly terrain as long as you don't get too drastic. There really isn't a way to say for sure what a 2wd will do and won't. Unless you have a locker, if you get 1 tire off the ground forget it. If you have an open differential, forget it that has to be changed to a limited slip or locker. Mud is very sticky, as long as you don't get too deep and keep the tires spinning/moving you should be ok. I went with a friend, no tools no nothing, not even a tow rope. I got stuck once in light mud, but one of the reasons why was because the front tires were in a hole. So I found a piece of wood and used it as a ramp to flatten out the hill. I also used the clutch to rock the truck back and forth to get momentum to roll out. Look at the pictures of the red truck in my gallery, got some decent mud on there!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
2WD off roading
I have taken E series vans off road, into mud and pits (granted only axle height), and into the woods slowly over dirt paths. I did not have 4x4, I did have big planks, 2"x12"x6' works nice.
I use to slide the side door back and put them across the door to keep people and stuff inside the van.
If you get stuck and lose forward speed and start to dig down, get off the gas! Then put boards under each wheel and drive out and do not stop until you are on something firm. Then go back for the boards.
Sometimes in 4x4 you end up more stuck than 2x4 because with 4x4 sometimes you get totally reckless and hang yourself on something or bury it up to the bumper.
For a 2x4 a factory limited slip (with brake pedal finesse) works okay off road, a locker works better. Like other people said, speed is everything. Your great weakness will be muddy or loose dirt hills.
I use to slide the side door back and put them across the door to keep people and stuff inside the van.
If you get stuck and lose forward speed and start to dig down, get off the gas! Then put boards under each wheel and drive out and do not stop until you are on something firm. Then go back for the boards.
Sometimes in 4x4 you end up more stuck than 2x4 because with 4x4 sometimes you get totally reckless and hang yourself on something or bury it up to the bumper.
For a 2x4 a factory limited slip (with brake pedal finesse) works okay off road, a locker works better. Like other people said, speed is everything. Your great weakness will be muddy or loose dirt hills.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 589
Likes: 3
From: Villa Rica, GA
2WD off roading
i used to go wheelin in my '77 f150 without lockin it into 4 wheel and i could normally get pretty far. key is keeping steady on the throttle and have plenty of momentum. some decent mud tires help too. i always like it better slingin mud up from all 4 tires tho
-Jason
-Jason
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
2WD off roading
i have a 94 150 2wd 3" lift with 31 i got through stuff u would need a 4 wheel drive. like everyone else said is to use momentum.i have a ranch hand on it and went through a hole that was a little deeper than it look and took off the top off the other side off the hole and knocked my ranch hand loose and got a little air. the way i got through it was momentum u cant be scared u get stuck your stuck oh well u break stuff thats part of it.