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It's been a little slow in this section and my time over the past year has been taken up by non-Dodge activities, so I thought I would post some tips for avoiding vehicle damage while traversing trails that are harder to walk over, than drive over.
Gearing: Off road gearing can seldom be too low. Traditional Dodge highway gears, such as 4.10, is really too high for many situations, where rpm and speed is your enemy.
Depending upon your daily use, allowances and compromises may be required, but for primarily off road use, gearing needs to be low.
If you must drive on pavement during the majority of your usage, consider a very low, low range with an acceptable high range and/or overdrive transmission, to give you the best of both worlds.
Consider all factors when selecting your gearing, engine optimum rpm range, transmission gearing, transfer case gearing, final differential gearing and tire diameter. ALL play an important part in your off road performance.
In most Dodge trucks, the suspension performance is a tad short of pathetic, so the ability to crawl over obstacles without beating both occupants and vehicle into submission is critical.
That means the ability to crawl without spinning a wheel, or bouncing off the ground. A successful trip, means you accomplished the trail with little or no damage to parts, tires, or sheet metal and the surest way to do that is by gearing, suspension and tire traction that prevents tire spin, bouncing and vehicle breakage.
With experience you'll learn the proper tire air pressure to use in various situations and the correct "line" to place your vehicle, to insure the best possible outcome when tackling an obstacle.
Proper gearing can lessen dependence upon the skinny pedal and prevent part and component failure.
Gearing: Off road gearing can seldom be too low. Traditional Dodge highway gears, such as 4.10, is really too high for many situations, where rpm and speed is your enemy.
Depending upon your daily use, allowances and compromises may be required, but for primarily off road use, gearing needs to be low.
If you must drive on pavement during the majority of your usage, consider a very low, low range with an acceptable high range and/or overdrive transmission, to give you the best of both worlds.
Consider all factors when selecting your gearing, engine optimum rpm range, transmission gearing, transfer case gearing, final differential gearing and tire diameter. ALL play an important part in your off road performance.
In most Dodge trucks, the suspension performance is a tad short of pathetic, so the ability to crawl over obstacles without beating both occupants and vehicle into submission is critical.
That means the ability to crawl without spinning a wheel, or bouncing off the ground. A successful trip, means you accomplished the trail with little or no damage to parts, tires, or sheet metal and the surest way to do that is by gearing, suspension and tire traction that prevents tire spin, bouncing and vehicle breakage.
With experience you'll learn the proper tire air pressure to use in various situations and the correct "line" to place your vehicle, to insure the best possible outcome when tackling an obstacle.
Proper gearing can lessen dependence upon the skinny pedal and prevent part and component failure.
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