Ideal wheelbase

[jollygreengiant]

Wats an ideal wheelbase for an all around offroad truck in your guys opinion I figure somwhere between 100 an 115

 

[vortec]

for what i do, shorter is better, to a point. i've seen plenty of jeeps flip over backwards (on video. only one in real life), but i've never actually seen it happen to a blazer. of course it could, just not as easily. longer trucks just hang up all the time when we're out. the general gave us k5 guys enough length to stay up, but not so much that we have bad breakover angle.

 

[RGV72BLAZER]

This is like asking what's the ideal 4x4 vehicle out there. Everything comes into account, ie terrain, tires, lift, etc. IMO, for my type of wheelin', I wanted a 115-118" WB. I ended up at around 116". Another thing to consider is keeping the belly as flat as possible the more you increase the WB.

 

[longbedder]

Depends what you're doing.

I am partial to a shortbed regular cab pickup (between a K5 and a longbed pickup). This is despite my username

 

[boz42]

Two hundred inches!











































J/K I am running about 115" on my K5 & I am happy w/ it. I think any longer would hurt it though.

 

[jollygreengiant]

the reason i ask is ive got a 77 2wheel drive lwb that im gonna conv and im gonna cut the frame down just dont know wat to cut it to.

Im gonna ditch the bed and move the cab and motor back about a foot and lift it about four inchs by moving the spring hangers down, cut the front fenders out too.

I just worry about driveshaft angles mainly at the rear.

possibly move the front axle forward to make a better approach angle.

this truck will be used mostly for mud, general trails and a little bit of
rockcrawling.

and i havent decided on tires yet 38+ probly

so am i safe any where between 100 and 110

what do you think?

 

[vortec]

sure you want to go chopping a frame when you don't even know exactly what you're aiming for? it's not something you want to be disappointed with after all that work.

I just worry about driveshaft angles mainly at the rear.

something to think about. that's the only drawback for me with my k5's length. when i'm in the rocks, i've had my shaft pretty steep before and that is really hard on the yokes/joints.

possibly move the front axle forward to make a better approach angle.

good, but keep in mind that you'll sacrifice some breakover for that.


and i always find it interesting when someone does a 2wd to 4wd conversion. anyone else think this needs to turn into a build thread?

 

[RGV72BLAZER]

nah we have enough build threads going around lol

 

[jollygreengiant]

I geuss I need to do some measuring.
It might be nice to have the same length driveshafts too.

Ill take a bunch of measurements and post em up.

 

[jollygreengiant]

alright

the wheel base as it is now
132 in

If i cut it a foot 120''

I made a lil pic

This is a 120'' wheel base
The motor back a foot
I figured on 56'' springs front and rear

12.5 degree rear u joint angle at each end

The front is a 10deg angle at each u joint

so I figure I can take another 6 to 8'' out of the frame without probs

what do you guys think

 

[Randy92782]

You plan on moving your motor back a foot?? There was someone that suggested that a while back and it seems like alot of work.

Interested though so i subscribed

 

[jollygreengiant]

Well I have about 8 inches before it starts sloping towards the back
heres a pic
first two are like the stock 4x4 is and 2w to some extent but the first two are stock the last is what im gona do hopefully!