My friend thinks that newer trucks are better fro everything, and I disagree. He seems to think that anyone with a newer truck (98-04, any make) the truck will do better in all categories. With this said I had to object in saying that our trucks our pretty tough and the ttb is better than an IFS on a chevy. The TTB is stronger because is carries the same characteristics of a solid axle and a independant right?

I really like my truck and I think they are the most affordable 4x4's out there. I'm not really into chevy's just because they ride more like cars.

So with all that said, all I want to know is what setup you have on your truck that is good for offroad, onroad, winter, and highway.
Suspension, tires, gears and traction aids all play a part, but what setup do you guys have that gives you the best of everything.
BTW - I do mostly trails, alittle mud, no rocks and gas here is retarded expensive!!
Thanks.

 

My truck is probably as off road capable ford you can get that is perfectly driveable down the road and a great daily driver. I can go 90 down the freeway in perfect comfort, steering is great with the superlift unit. The TTB ford is better than the IFS chevy in some respects, they both have pros/cons. The IFS chevy is better left unlifted and not wheeled with big tires, but it rides a little better. The TTB wears tires a little faster but is stronger than an IFS. The TTB is not as strong as a solid axle because of the extra u-joint, but it's pretty close. Plus the TTB is capable of using manual locking hubs which are better anyhow. The newer trucks are too car-like, they don't handle off road situations or modifications as easily because they are more geared to having a nice ride on pavement. Anyone who has a newer truck that they wheel hard, swaps in a solid axle. You can still wheel the TTB pretty hard, but if you go 35s+ it gets pretty tough on it. If you look at my truck it has really good ground clearance and break over angles. The frame is tucked up nice underneath, there is no transfer case hanging down, it works out nice. The newer trucks body hang lower and don't have the ground clearance we older guys have. In all honesty it depends on what area the truck will be in to determine which is better.

 

I'm pretty happy with my truck the way I have it setup now, except for no overdrive. I bought the Crew Cab for the extra room, the long bed because I need the full 8' of bed length, and the one ton instead of the 3/4 ton because I wanted a solid axle frontend with leaf springs (and also because you can't get a Ford Crew Cab long bed in anything lighter than an F350, for the model years I could afford). I wanted the extra carrying capacity and rear overload springs of the one ton for hauling a camper.

I'm happy with the Bilstein front shocks and Rancho RS9000X rear shocks I put on the truck. The ride is by no means plush but it is firm and controlled without much bounce or sway and the adjustable feature of the rear shocks is great for setting the rear suspension for loaded/unloaded condtions.

The solid axle frontend probably rides a little harsher than a TTB frontend but I can live with that and I like the simplicity of having only an axle, leaf springs, a sway bar, and a trac bar to contend with as far as frontend parts wearing out. I would prefer to have had kingpins instead of ball joints, but I also wanted a '92 or newer truck and kingpins are not available in the newer trucks. So far the ball joints have not been a problem.

I like the fact that the F350 4x4's ride high enough that I was able to put 33x12.50 tires on it without doing any modifications to the suspension or body (except spacing the front bumper forward about 2"). Lifts are expensive and if not done right can wear stuff out fast and I prefer to leave the suspension stock. If I ever do want to lift it, with the solid front axle it is a simple task and not as expensive as lifting an independent frontend truck.

I also like the fact that my truck has the simple and reliable part time manual transfer case and manual locking hubs. I don't mind the extra effort it takes to get it into 4wd.

As far as gearing and traction are concerned, I'm very happy with the gear change from 3.55 to 4.56, since it was a real dog with the 3.55's, 33" tires, and 351 engine in a truck that weighs over 6000 lbs empty. The 4.56's gave that needed low speed power for towing, hauling, climbing hills, and driving around town. Of course I gave up some highway cruising speed, but I hope to fix that someday with iether a Gear Vendors overdrive or a built E4OD trans swap (I have a C6 now). I had a Powertrax LockRight locking diff added to the rear axle and the truck can go places in 2wd now that previously needed 4wd. I'm also happy with the BFG All Terrain tires both on road and off road in everything except mud.

Sure, I wish I had saved up more money and held out for a newer ('94-'97) truck of the same configuration except with a Powerstroke Diesel, an overdrive auto trans, factory 4.10 gears and a few convenience items that I dont have on this truck (like power windows and doorlocks, alarm/keyless entry, and cruise control), but I still like the truck I got and have been adding things to it little by little as I have the time, money and interest. The truck now has A/C, chrome bumpers and grille, carpet, headliner, cloth seats, trailer hitch, camper tiedowns, alloy wheels, and a few other things that are nice to have.

Most of all, I like the fact that the truck still only has 44K original miles on it and I didn't have to spend an arm and a leg to buy it. I'm hoping it lasts me for a long time.