Many of us have grown up in the countryside, where off-roading is not just a hobby, but a great way to spend time with family and friends. To have mud trucks to traverse off-road obstacles, it’s some of the best time ever spent off-roading. To successfully navigate the areas, a well-equipped team is essential.
Starting with tires, the best types of tires are ones that can handle deep holes filled with all kinds of manure. The more aggressive the tread the better, by using tread patterns that are more widely spaced, it will allow itself to throw dirt off rather than pick it up. The bigger the tire the better and having wider tires is another useful idea as it will allow the deck more ground to grab onto.
Sealing the electrical system is the next step in preparing your rig. Using room temperature vulcanizing silicone, you can seal areas that are exposed, such as the distributor and other components that will wreak havoc if they get wet. Once the electricity is well sealed, it’s time to move on to the gears.
Adding larger tires to the deck will require larger gearboxes to properly push the new tires. After market packs are very helpful here as they are not only inexpensive but also tend to last longer in most cases. When you have purchased and installed the new gearboxes, remember to keep them properly greased so they do not get damaged.
Since the nature of these rigs is to be off road, go through mud filled holes that extend over 6 feet deep and usually have a healthy amount of water. If the intake system is sucking in water then the engine is likely to seize and that means time for a new engine, a good way to prevent this from happening is to fit a snorkel system which will allow the intake to breathe fresh air. If the snorkel system is ruled out, another alternative is to modify the intake to receive air from inside the crew cabin.
In addition to adding a ventilation system, another consideration is securing the radiator. Many owners move their radiator to the rear of the bed to prevent damage. When they do this they hook up an electric fan to prevent overheating, this also prevents the fan from being pushed into the radiator. This method saves time and money on expensive repairs that may be caused by unknown conditions.
When it comes to having good traction, a good set of locking hubs is a must for any rig of this type. These devices allow the transmission to turn the front wheels at the same time as the rear wheels, allowing for more traction and power when traversing obstacles. These parts can be purchased at off-road stores around the world and are relatively inexpensive and highly recommended.
Having the proper gear ratio is very important when building such a rig; if the ratio is too small or too large, proper wheel speed will not be achieved. This can cause the vehicle to get stuck in the middle of an obstacle. Also, when installing tires on mud trucks, it’s a good idea to extend them as far off the bed as possible. With the extensions, the equipment will be less likely to catch dirt, which will lighten the equipment and also provide additional stability.