Here's a trick so cheap its FREE! I figured this out the hard way, but I sure wish someone had told me this trick when I first got my 4x4. I spent a lot of time digging my way out of situations I could have driven out of. The trick: Use the right air pressure for the job.
Many people don't give much more thought to air pressure other than filling up the tires to the pressure stated on the door jamb or printed on the sidewall. That's fine for street use, but things change when you get your truck off the pavement.
Manufacturers (of truck and of tires) set their pressure recommendations based on vehicle weight and tire size with the aim to get the decent highway ride, good gas mileage, and tire longevity. Off-highway traction is generally NOT used in the equation. If you've never played with your air pressure off-road, give it a try.
Lowering your air pressure increases the amount of rubber gripping the terrain, and therefore increases your traction. In fact, halving your air pressure will generally DOUBLE the amount of tire touching the terrain. There have been several instances where I have been stuck due to lack of traction on muddy or loose hills or on snow, only to find I can drive myself out by removing much of the air pressure from my tires. Just a few weeks ago a friend and I were wheeling in the Cascade mountains and we came across a steep, loose bulldozer track that neither of use could climb at our street pressure of roughly 30 psi. I lowered to 20 psi and tried again - this time I got further up. Finally, I lowered the pressure down to around 12 and crawled right up. The other rig with me did the same. Later that weekend we found that low pressure worked great for wheeling over snowfields. In addition, I tend to get fewer punctures running over sharp rocks when my pressure is lower.
Give it a try -- if you've never tried wheeling on low pressure you'll wonder how you ever did without it. But be careful of a couple of things: If running real low pressure, don't drive too fast - you could heat up and prematurely wear the tire. Also, the tire is more susceptible to coming off the bead during high-speed cornering. Another point should be obvious: you gotta have a way to air the tires back up before hitting the pavement. I use a 12V compressor which is slow, but it works. You also loose some clearance by airing down, so it won't help you get unstuck if you're high-centered.
Pit Bull Tire - Pit Bull Tire adds 14 extra large forty-something extreme off-road OD sizes to its Rocker & Growler lines. Now wheelers have a superior choice. The 42x15.0-20LT/D Rocker, 44x1950-20LT/D Rocker and 47x21-20 LT/D Growler are D-Rated 20" rim sizes for these larger ODs.
Alcoa Wheels For Full Size Trucks - Three new forged aluminum wheels for full size trucks from Alcoa. Discovery Series, Revolver Series and Xtreme Series in 20"x9", 8-lug fitments. Available in chrome finish or easy-to-clean Dura-Bright® technology. Visit www.strongwheels.com
Need Gas Mileage & Power? - Free flowing performance exhaust can
increase gas mileage and increase power. We can all benefit from increased mileage and increased horsepower & torque
improves towing, mud-slinging and the ability to turn those larger tires you put on your truck. See what Flowtech
Exhaust has for your gas or diesel truck.
RH2way.com - RH2way.com manufactures racing 2 way radios, intercoms, headsets and wiring accessories. Best known for Nitro helmet speakers and off road racing systems, RH2 offers, 0% financing, free annual service, referral program, trade-in program and decal money for competitors. www.rh2way.com or 877-357-RACE (7223).
Katech Performance - Katech Performance?s Desert Attack 500 engine is built on a billet 6061-T6 block with an all-forged rotating assembly. The off-road 8.2-liter V8 displaces 500 cubic inches to put out over 750 hp and 750 ft-lb torque ? incinerating all in its path.
Reports of 2-6 mpg gains, +174 hp! - Use Less Fuel and Get More Power! Hypertech¹s Max Energy Power Programmer maximizes horsepower, torque & drivability while increasing fuel mileage and maintaining clean emissions for Ford, GM, Jeep, Dodge & Nissan.
