Need Some Traction Advice

[SuperBeaner]

I recently started a new job a pecan farm outside of San Marcos Texas and as such find myself hauling trailers in and out of muddy, hilly orchards and across broken fields. My truck is bone stock, and I need some help in increasing traction.

Here's the kicker: Two Wheel Drive. Yes, yes, trade it in. Should have bought the 4wd, etc.

What can I do? I figure air springs, and tires and maybe new shocks? Limited slip, of course. But what brand/model/type of tires? Can I get away with just putting new rubber on my back tires? Where should I go for my limited slip?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TRCM]

For what you describe, I'd skip the limited slip and put in a lunch box locker if you can.

I have one my in both my jeeps (rear axles only), and I can go almost anywhere in 2wd, when other vehicles with limited slip rear ends have to use 4wd.

In fact, in the last 8 yrs or so of hunting, the only time I have used 4wd, was when I was driving across cut overs & stuff I knew no one else would risk driving thru, so I couldnt' risk getting stuck in 2wd and then finding out 4wd wasn't enough to get out with.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Tires will help the most I would try to add a little width and go to a MT

 

[NYCruiser]

Agree with the above, but also recommend you install a front receiver for a winch.

Carry some good recovery straps and something you can stake into the ground as a pull point, like a good piece of rebar and a small sledge. In case there aren't any trees handy.

 

[jwheeler]

Cheap rear locker and some m/t tires and you will be surprised where your 2wd will go.

 

[TRCM]

Cheap rear locker and some m/t tires and you will be surprised where your 2wd will go.

+1

I thought I said something about some decent mud terrain tires in my earlier post, but I guess I didn't.

I have the defnity dakota tires from pep boys on my jeeps, and they work awesome.

CRS disease is really catching up with me lately

 

[h2oman]

Sorry dude. No one makes a locker for 4 Gens. LSD is the best you can do. And tires.

 

[jlb]

Weld the spiders!!! Jk.

 

[regularcab2500]

My buddy has a 2wd single cab gmc 1500 w/8ft bed and he literally goes mudding in it only got stuck twice when his tires were bald..threw some **** cepeks on and never gad an issue..hes creepin up to 300k too and beats on it..i say a good set of tires will do you justice but i do like the locker idea...if they dont have an aftermarket one yet im sure the factory anti slip diff wouldnt hurt..

 

[Kenny kustom]

Rear tracks.

 

[Ratket]

Sorry dude. No one makes a locker for 4 Gens. LSD is the best you can do. And tires.

What about the power wagon? Isn't it a E lockerd front and rear? Yes it is 3/4 ton, and we are speaking about a half ton but i am sure mopar or some after market company should make something.

 

[TRCM]

My buddy has a 2wd single cab gmc 1500 w/8ft bed and he literally goes mudding in it only got stuck twice when his tires were bald..threw some **** cepeks on and never gad an issue..hes creepin up to 300k too and beats on it..i say a good set of tires will do you justice but i do like the locker idea...if they dont have an aftermarket one yet im sure the factory anti slip diff wouldnt hurt..

If your buddy has what you say, and is able to wheel like you say, then his truck mnost likely has the G80 locking rearend in it that comes in most chevy/gmc trucks.

 

[14hemiexpress]

What about the power wagon? Isn't it a E lockerd front and rear? Yes it is 3/4 ton, and we are speaking about a half ton but i am sure mopar or some after market company should make something.

Yea they are E lockers but it is a complete different axle and chrysler never put anything like that in any half ton. I would imagine someone makes a locker it's just not logical, the limited slip these trucks come with work very well for daily driving and provide a good amount of traction. Lockers are more suited for drag racing and hardcore off roading. You can run then on the street just fine but there are better options.

 

[regularcab2500]

If your buddy has what you say, and is able to wheel like you say, then his truck mnost likely has the G80 locking rearend in it that comes in most chevy/gmc trucks.

Hes never taken it into a muck hole or anything crazy but some of the **** paths through the woods he takes im amazed everytime...it has to have the locker but i'll have to see if he knows because theres no way he would have been making it through that crap while constantly in up to his rockers!

 

[TRCM]

Hes never taken it into a muck hole or anything crazy but some of the **** paths through the woods he takes im amazed everytime...it has to have the locker but i'll have to see if he knows because theres no way he would have been making it through that crap while constantly in up to his rockers!

Dont forget, traction control can also work almost as well as a locker in the situations you just describe this time around.

And I have followed many people around in my old 84 toyota SR5 4x4 that had open diffs in both axles, cuz I used my head to get thru the muck, not my right foot.

You'd be amazed at what you can get thru in a 2wd or open diff'd truck if you just use your head.

 

[loveracing1988]

Dont forget, traction control can also work almost as well as a locker in the situations you just describe this time around.

And I have followed many people around in my old 84 toyota SR5 4x4 that had open diffs in both axles, cuz I used my head to get thru the muck, not my right foot.

You'd be amazed at what you can get thru in a 2wd or open diff'd truck if you just use your head.

If it worked like the jeeps it would be fine, on those you can shut off the traction control that cuts throttle but it will still use the brakes to slow down a spinning tire to transfer power. On pretty much everything else though the traction control cuts power so much you end up getting stuck.

 

[14hemiexpress]

If it worked like the jeeps it would be fine, on those you can shut off the traction control that cuts throttle but it will still use the brakes to slow down a spinning tire to transfer power. On pretty much everything else though the traction control cuts power so much you end up getting stuck.

It sucks that 2wd Rams can't turn esc off, I'm sure it would help if they could.

 

[loveracing1988]

It sucks that 2wd Rams can't turn esc off, I'm sure it would help if they could.

You can shut off the TCS, but you lose the ability for it to apply the brakes to slow the spinning tire.

 

[14hemiexpress]

You start sliding around and bounceing around esc kicks in unfortuneitly, you can shut it all off in 4wd if you press and hold the traction button for abou 10 seconds it'll shut esc off also

 

[NYCruiser]

In the "old" days when you had open diffs, you used to have to tap the brakes with your left foot while one tire was spinning to "trick" the diff into switching power to the other wheel…………amazing what you can drive out of if you really know what you're doing…….nowadays they try to make these trucks think for ya…….