2wd off road
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New User
Joined: Oct 2005
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2wd off road
Hey y'all,
I've got a '78 F-100 2wd, 302 automatic. It's been in the family since it was bought new. I use it frequently on the farm and hunting property instead of my newer truck. My question is what are some things I can do to increase the off road capabilities of it? Any suggestions with associated costs would be appreciated.
I've got a '78 F-100 2wd, 302 automatic. It's been in the family since it was bought new. I use it frequently on the farm and hunting property instead of my newer truck. My question is what are some things I can do to increase the off road capabilities of it? Any suggestions with associated costs would be appreciated.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 4
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
A locker in the rear axle will make all the difference in the world...you probably have a 9" rear axle in there, so something like this would make a HUGE difference...
Ford FORD 10.25, FORD 10.50, FORD 7.5, FORD 8, FORD 8.8, FORD 9, FORD 9.75, FORD AOD SLIP YOKE, FORD DISC BRAKE KIT, , Ford - FORD 9 AIR LOCKER, SMALL PART, POSI L/S, FULL SPOOL, MINI SPOOL, R&P, YOKE, SMALL INST, POSI SERV, 3RD MEMBER, TRUETRAC, SEA
300 used on ebay to 575 new...plus install depending on your skill....
between this and a good set of tires will be the best things you can do for a 2wd...
Ford FORD 10.25, FORD 10.50, FORD 7.5, FORD 8, FORD 8.8, FORD 9, FORD 9.75, FORD AOD SLIP YOKE, FORD DISC BRAKE KIT, , Ford - FORD 9 AIR LOCKER, SMALL PART, POSI L/S, FULL SPOOL, MINI SPOOL, R&P, YOKE, SMALL INST, POSI SERV, 3RD MEMBER, TRUETRAC, SEA
300 used on ebay to 575 new...plus install depending on your skill....
between this and a good set of tires will be the best things you can do for a 2wd...
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
Traction is where its at.
How is your driving skill? Learn the ropes, and learn your abilities. A good driver and a 2wd with an open diff can often go further than a poor driver with all the equipment a credit card can buy.
I hate the saying, " a 2wd with a locker can go as far as a 4wd". This is about the driver. Get some skills and your truck will become more and more capable.
Traction devices are great, and a decent set of tires is a must.
Keep is reasonable and know that yuu are in a 2wd, but have fun. Know that you are gonna get stuck.
Time to start making friends, and buying some recovery gear. If you have your own gear, it is easy to find someone that can pull you out, and you can have a blast.
How is your driving skill? Learn the ropes, and learn your abilities. A good driver and a 2wd with an open diff can often go further than a poor driver with all the equipment a credit card can buy.
I hate the saying, " a 2wd with a locker can go as far as a 4wd". This is about the driver. Get some skills and your truck will become more and more capable.
Traction devices are great, and a decent set of tires is a must.
Keep is reasonable and know that yuu are in a 2wd, but have fun. Know that you are gonna get stuck.
Time to start making friends, and buying some recovery gear. If you have your own gear, it is easy to find someone that can pull you out, and you can have a blast.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
Decent locker is the way to go.
A locker will turn your truck into a cabable vehicle, You wont be scaling any rock ledges, but off camber runs, and other off balance situations will be much easier. Also get some decent tires for what you expect to encounter. AT are ok for light work ie mud that never gets deeper than the axle, and they are better on the road than mud tires. For deep stuff go for MTs.
Also your axle will be able to deliver 100 % of the power to the ground, so take it easy when one wheel is in the air our you could go snap.
Air pressure: Wooded trails and light work 15 to 20 psi
Sand 12 psi without bead locks
Mud 15 psi and bring some tow straps and a come along.
Good luck and wheel with a buddy or two for safety.
Also your axle will be able to deliver 100 % of the power to the ground, so take it easy when one wheel is in the air our you could go snap.
Air pressure: Wooded trails and light work 15 to 20 psi
Sand 12 psi without bead locks
Mud 15 psi and bring some tow straps and a come along.
Good luck and wheel with a buddy or two for safety.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
What they said, so why am I bothering to reply? Oh yeah... it helps if it's a shortbox. I had to heave boulders into the back of a '71 F100 longbox just to get back up a steep hill on a good gravel road. Better tires might have helped, but weight over the wheels is important.
Jack-all/Hi-lift/sheepherder's jack. But, I've gotten myself unstuck various times with a little 1.5 ton bottle jack and an assortment of 2x4 and 2x6 scraps.
Folding (or full-sized) shovel.
Some kind of winch plus slings and straps... my friend's Bronco might still be in the woods if it weren't for a cheap ratchet winch. Of course, if he'd had LOCKERS he wouldn't have been stuck in the first place.
Jack-all/Hi-lift/sheepherder's jack. But, I've gotten myself unstuck various times with a little 1.5 ton bottle jack and an assortment of 2x4 and 2x6 scraps.
Folding (or full-sized) shovel.
Some kind of winch plus slings and straps... my friend's Bronco might still be in the woods if it weren't for a cheap ratchet winch. Of course, if he'd had LOCKERS he wouldn't have been stuck in the first place.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
2wd offroad is a enjoyable pastime, esp when you can go farther than 4wd trucks. I have a 2wd ranger but the principles are the same. Lock the rear, put some mud terrains on it. carry a come a long. going is no problem, turning in deep mud is real fun, ususally the front just likes to push since there is no drive, really the only advantage a 4wd with open diffs has i turning and the ability to climb higher ledges. but the other nite i out performed my friends open diff 4wd toyota on rocks with my 2wd.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Here's what I did to mine.
'94 F150, I6, Auto, 2wd. A very baseline truck. All I did was swap out the 3.08 gear ratio for a 4.11 and installed a powertrax no slip locker.
There isn't much my 4x2 can't go through.
Here's a vid of my truck. It shows you how docile the Powertrax is turning, but how it always locks by default. It only disengages when you make a turn.
YouTube - Locked 4x2 Part 2.
Oh, and get some good mudders.
'94 F150, I6, Auto, 2wd. A very baseline truck. All I did was swap out the 3.08 gear ratio for a 4.11 and installed a powertrax no slip locker.
There isn't much my 4x2 can't go through.
Here's a vid of my truck. It shows you how docile the Powertrax is turning, but how it always locks by default. It only disengages when you make a turn.
YouTube - Locked 4x2 Part 2.
Oh, and get some good mudders.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Bill, your truck is set up pretty good for a 4x2.
I have a 4x4, but when I have a load of wood in the back of my truck and I'm out in the field when it's muddy, I like to test it in 4x2. It will surprise the hell out of you where you can go in 4x2 with some weight over the tires.
I have a 4x4, but when I have a load of wood in the back of my truck and I'm out in the field when it's muddy, I like to test it in 4x2. It will surprise the hell out of you where you can go in 4x2 with some weight over the tires.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Bill, your truck is set up pretty good for a 4x2.
I have a 4x4, but when I have a load of wood in the back of my truck and I'm out in the field when it's muddy, I like to test it in 4x2. It will surprise the hell out of you where you can go in 4x2 with some weight over the tires.
I have a 4x4, but when I have a load of wood in the back of my truck and I'm out in the field when it's muddy, I like to test it in 4x2. It will surprise the hell out of you where you can go in 4x2 with some weight over the tires.
I've been shocked by what a 4x2 can do, unlocked. There is no replacing a 4x4 system, but if you have the right set up, driving skills, a little wieght in the bed then you can do a little mudding. Nothing over the top obviously but you can go places you would not think a 4x2 could go. I've been dying to see just what my truck's limitations are.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Hi Iceman! How's your Saturday going?
I've been shocked by what a 4x2 can do, unlocked. There is no replacing a 4x4 system, but if you have the right set up, driving skills, a little wieght in the bed then you can do a little mudding. Nothing over the top obviously but you can go places you would not think a 4x2 could go. I've been dying to see just what my truck's limitations are.
I've been shocked by what a 4x2 can do, unlocked. There is no replacing a 4x4 system, but if you have the right set up, driving skills, a little wieght in the bed then you can do a little mudding. Nothing over the top obviously but you can go places you would not think a 4x2 could go. I've been dying to see just what my truck's limitations are.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Im with these guys,,,,,a decent tire and a mini or a full spool or welded gears-------I had a 2wd 79 150 and I wheeled the hell out of it,,,,,,I welded the spider gears in th 9in rear,,,had p235's on the front for cutting the mud and 33-12.50's on the rear for pushing,,,,,Had a lot of fun in her for 2wd
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
From: Nikiski Alaska
I found out in high school that a 2 wheeler was good, too help the rear end with the locker or l/s or welded, how ever youd go some good shocks and some plastic sliders in the rear springs. It will help them flex a lil smother and will help you crawl and climb. Tires are important but air pressure is more so, try several differnt presures while off roading as differnt tires as well as sizes like different things. I agree on the rear end wieght also a lil extra goes a long ways to keeping those tires planted.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Farmington, IL
I agree that tires and skill are a HUGE part. My first Ford was 85 ranger 2.3L 5-speed 2wd. I put a sec of Mickey Thompson Baja Claws and I could go almost every where my buddys could. Best day with that was pulling out an 04 Colorado on TSL's lol. Just take the time to play and get used to it while u got a freind around
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: southwest WA
Someone once told me that 70% of offroading is driver. With that said, I know of a 2wd toyota, wide open diffs, with bald 31's that did some unthinkable things in the snow. Its mostly about learning what works for your truck and the terrain. Learning when to feather it and when to gas it, when to try digging out and when to call fer help. Its all about getting out there and trying it. I went and played around with my 73 f100 in 2wd the other day with a large 4 wheeler in the back. Long story short, it did well. When we get hit with a good snow, I add 320 lbs of tractor weights to my truck and shovel in some snow. Also, I drop ~10 to 15 lbs of air. Just that alone makes a huge difference
PS: The nice thing about snow is it unloads itsself
PS: The nice thing about snow is it unloads itsself
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CountryFordMan
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Dec 21, 2012 12:02 AM
