stutaeng
I'm Awesome
Not sure if this the right subforum....
I'd like to get into mild/moderate off-road trail riding in the next few years to take my little kids as they get older. I realize not a lot of off-road build guys here, and I don't really know anything about all of the technicalities related to off-road drivetrain. Just learning about definitions of divorced transfer case, cross-over steering, and things like that.
I own a 00 K3500 CCLB SRW and a 04 Suburban 2500 4x4. Both are good candidates for a project truck, or so I thought. The truck is probably too long for any moderate off-road use. I'm not sure on the SUV. The IFS 9.25 has me a bit worried. All I read is solid front axle left and right. I see some guys running the 9.25 here. What are your opinions on it? Looks like for lockers, there's just the ARB air locker out there. Then there's the NP263 Autotrac, which I don't think is as robust for off road use if you believe the internet? I don't think I want to do an IFS lift kit. SAS seems kinda too involved for me on these trucks? But I did find this kit here recently that uses newer F250 Dana 60s: https://www.skysoffroaddesign.com/products/chevy-sas-sd
A CUCV would be really nice, but those are getting extremely rare now.
I know that with money and time you can take any vehicle and build it for off-road, but what's a good vehicle to start with? Not necessarily a GMT400 question. I've always thought I wanted a Jeep, but I don't really know anything about them. I'm thinking a TJ from late 90s to early 2000s? Something I can literally buy and go to the beginner trails with and upgrade parts later? I see guys upgrading to a Dana 60/14 bolt (aka: the one ton axle swap) and it doesn't seem that difficult; parts come from 2000s F250/350 for the Dana 60 and literally any o'l 14 bolt will work. Both are very easy to find at any local wrecking yard, so that's a plus.
I guess what I'm asking is: should I build what I have or look elsewhere?
I'd like to get into mild/moderate off-road trail riding in the next few years to take my little kids as they get older. I realize not a lot of off-road build guys here, and I don't really know anything about all of the technicalities related to off-road drivetrain. Just learning about definitions of divorced transfer case, cross-over steering, and things like that.
I own a 00 K3500 CCLB SRW and a 04 Suburban 2500 4x4. Both are good candidates for a project truck, or so I thought. The truck is probably too long for any moderate off-road use. I'm not sure on the SUV. The IFS 9.25 has me a bit worried. All I read is solid front axle left and right. I see some guys running the 9.25 here. What are your opinions on it? Looks like for lockers, there's just the ARB air locker out there. Then there's the NP263 Autotrac, which I don't think is as robust for off road use if you believe the internet? I don't think I want to do an IFS lift kit. SAS seems kinda too involved for me on these trucks? But I did find this kit here recently that uses newer F250 Dana 60s: https://www.skysoffroaddesign.com/products/chevy-sas-sd
A CUCV would be really nice, but those are getting extremely rare now.
I know that with money and time you can take any vehicle and build it for off-road, but what's a good vehicle to start with? Not necessarily a GMT400 question. I've always thought I wanted a Jeep, but I don't really know anything about them. I'm thinking a TJ from late 90s to early 2000s? Something I can literally buy and go to the beginner trails with and upgrade parts later? I see guys upgrading to a Dana 60/14 bolt (aka: the one ton axle swap) and it doesn't seem that difficult; parts come from 2000s F250/350 for the Dana 60 and literally any o'l 14 bolt will work. Both are very easy to find at any local wrecking yard, so that's a plus.
I guess what I'm asking is: should I build what I have or look elsewhere?