barneybasher1010
1/2 ton status
Hi lift is a must. I use it all the time for me and helpings others out. It will work with stock bumpers. On the front i use my push bar.
CK5
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Upgrades before wheelin
- Thread starter 1978Blazerk5
- Start date
1978Blazerk5
1/2 ton status
RED X's
blazin_blazer
1/2 ton status
thats 1 super clean '78, is it originally from wisconsin?
90_K5 Blazer
1/2 ton status
I'm with Blazin Blazer on that one, that is an awsome looking truck. How many miles are on it?
1978Blazerk5
1/2 ton status
Nope Its from the deserts of California
198,xxx on the body, like 4,000 on the engine, the whole drivetrain has been gone through, so everything is pretty new
I aggree take the swaybars off... keep em in the closet or something but take them off.... aggressive tires, lockers... you will use less of the skinny pedal if you have lockers.....
by the way.. if you ever go to sell that truck.... keep the front tow hooks.. they are awesome and hard to come by...... I have a set of them too on my truck...nice and thick......!!!!
by the way.. if you ever go to sell that truck.... keep the front tow hooks.. they are awesome and hard to come by...... I have a set of them too on my truck...nice and thick......!!!!
oh yeah... hi-lift, tow straps are a must on the trail.... also a biggie... the biggest one... DONT WHEEL ALONE!!!!! for either if you break down..... get stuck... or worse.. get injured.. need another vehicle... trust me.... I have been there...
vortec
1/2 ton status
you don't actually NEED to make any changes, depending on how crazy you'll be offroad. mine is stock height with open 10 bolts (wimpier diff gearing than yours, too), 350/700/208 and 33x12.5 dunlop mud rovers and i do all sort of fun stuff out there.
i'm not going to try to outdo someone with 14bff, d60, 44" tires and a cadi 500 under the hood, but that's a bit different.
i'm not going to try to outdo someone with 14bff, d60, 44" tires and a cadi 500 under the hood, but that's a bit different.
agreed but if you were to mod it.... is more of what I think he wants to know..
when I started driving.. you know when they actually started paving roads...
(1989) and wheeled it hard...350/t400/np203/d44/14bff/3.73's and 33's
open axles and i had fun... barely ever got stuck.....
Clod_King
1/2 ton status
I used to wheel around in a stock 79' long bed K10.
Just had some all season Michlins on there. It was great fun. I got stuck twice, but got out everytime with a little bit of pushing, and clever use of a high lift...
I'd say get a high lift for sure. And get the steering box brace. And you have the tow points, so all you need is some tow straps, and some clevis'.
I need some tow points actually... But I am going to go with some bumpers, and a winch when tax return time comes along.
Just had some all season Michlins on there. It was great fun. I got stuck twice, but got out everytime with a little bit of pushing, and clever use of a high lift...
I'd say get a high lift for sure. And get the steering box brace. And you have the tow points, so all you need is some tow straps, and some clevis'.
I need some tow points actually... But I am going to go with some bumpers, and a winch when tax return time comes along.
jonathon
1/2 ton status
I've wheeled my stock Ford Ranger quite a bit... Hit the mirrors with trees so many times I'm surprised one hasn't ripped off, got some good dents too and a couple blown u-joints as well.
Anyways, the only times I've ever had trouble(and needed to help getting out) have been where much bigger, heavier trucks have cut deep ruts and deep snow(and then there was the one time of my own stupidity, but a friend yanked me out with a little effort). Of course, I don't do rocks, not much of them around here anyways. Haven't hit many trails around here that can't be done with a couple come alongs, heavy tow straps, and some chain. With the better ground clearance of even a stock Blazer I imagine you should have an easier time than I've had in my little pick up(Haven't done much wheeling in my Blazer unfortunately). A highlift is quite handy too.
One time I'd just gotten off the gravel and onto a nice trail when I got STUCK, high centered on the rear diff. Apparently the trail only looked nice since the mud had settled and dried on top, however there were deep ruts where my tires hit it and I fell in. Jacked each side of the rear up with the highlift and put dirt, brush, and gravel in each rut till I had clearance and backed out.. sometimes you just don't have a spot to hook a come along to unfortunately. This time falls into the category of don't wheel alone!
Then of course there's the often overlooked gear, which IMHO should be in every rig that sees any time in the boonies:
Shovel
Axe
Fire Extinguisher
Water
First Aid Kit
Survival stuffs(good knife, some non parishable food that doesn't need to be prepared, warm clothing, flash light, etc)
A Tarp
Communications(Cell and CB)
A lot of people carry tools and spare parts, which is very smart. In my ignorance I never carried with me more than what was required to change a tire, but now I'm starting to collect things as I can afford to.
Be Prepared and it will all go well
ETA: Just for your own entertainment.. my biggest "stupid" so far(Hopefully ever, but you never know..). I was going through a really nasty mud puddle, giving it lots of throttle(I have open diffs in this truck), and of course I failed to survey the other side of the clear trail I was attempting to get to and it turns out there was a ditch there(old power line service road). When the front wheels caught on the dry dirt, I went up over and into the ditch... I figure if I had a locker at least in the rear I wouldn't have had to been so heavy on the throttle.
No flex at all in the Ranger rear end...combo of too many springs and blocks straight from the factory. Came out easy.. lucky I didn't roll it. Since then I've learned before crossing an obstacle, survey the other side.
Anyways, the only times I've ever had trouble(and needed to help getting out) have been where much bigger, heavier trucks have cut deep ruts and deep snow(and then there was the one time of my own stupidity, but a friend yanked me out with a little effort). Of course, I don't do rocks, not much of them around here anyways. Haven't hit many trails around here that can't be done with a couple come alongs, heavy tow straps, and some chain. With the better ground clearance of even a stock Blazer I imagine you should have an easier time than I've had in my little pick up(Haven't done much wheeling in my Blazer unfortunately). A highlift is quite handy too.
One time I'd just gotten off the gravel and onto a nice trail when I got STUCK, high centered on the rear diff. Apparently the trail only looked nice since the mud had settled and dried on top, however there were deep ruts where my tires hit it and I fell in. Jacked each side of the rear up with the highlift and put dirt, brush, and gravel in each rut till I had clearance and backed out.. sometimes you just don't have a spot to hook a come along to unfortunately. This time falls into the category of don't wheel alone!
Then of course there's the often overlooked gear, which IMHO should be in every rig that sees any time in the boonies:
Shovel
Axe
Fire Extinguisher
Water
First Aid Kit
Survival stuffs(good knife, some non parishable food that doesn't need to be prepared, warm clothing, flash light, etc)
A Tarp
Communications(Cell and CB)
A lot of people carry tools and spare parts, which is very smart. In my ignorance I never carried with me more than what was required to change a tire, but now I'm starting to collect things as I can afford to.
Be Prepared and it will all go well
ETA: Just for your own entertainment.. my biggest "stupid" so far(Hopefully ever, but you never know..). I was going through a really nasty mud puddle, giving it lots of throttle(I have open diffs in this truck), and of course I failed to survey the other side of the clear trail I was attempting to get to and it turns out there was a ditch there(old power line service road). When the front wheels caught on the dry dirt, I went up over and into the ditch... I figure if I had a locker at least in the rear I wouldn't have had to been so heavy on the throttle.
No flex at all in the Ranger rear end...combo of too many springs and blocks straight from the factory. Came out easy.. lucky I didn't roll it. Since then I've learned before crossing an obstacle, survey the other side.
1978Blazerk5
1/2 ton status
well, I got a a fire extingushier in my truck, I keep a good knife, a flash light, and a first aid kit in my center consul anyways. Also keep some warm clothes in the back of my truck. and also got a small tool box in the back of the truck.
1978Blazerk5
1/2 ton status
by the way.. if you ever go to sell that truck.... keep the front tow hooks.. they are awesome and hard to come by...... I have a set of them too on my truck...nice and thick......!!!!
Ya I looked for about 6 months to find the ones i got, paid $20 for them, A little bit of tractor paint some grade 8 bolts, all set. lol
vortec
1/2 ton status
i have a few "upgrades" on mine, now that i think about it. my rollbar by the tailgate helps control body flex. hopefully i'll never test it for its intended purpose. my brushguard/pushbar has kept my radiator and grill safe from branches and stuff plenty of times. i have no questions about whether the stock skidplates work. more would be better, though. i'm sure you've noticed how puny the xfer case one is. it works, but could be better. protecing the tranny pan and oil pan would be good. and rock sliders are good, too. i may get some soon. extra lighting is good, too. i didn't really like night wheeling with the stock headlights, because i couldn't see a thing. but with 2 100w offroad lights, things are better. and i know you already have the backup lights, like me.
then there's the oposite side. instead of adding stuff, yanking stuff out. i pulled up everything from my floor within a few weeks of buying the beast (it's great at holding moisture against the metal and rusting it out) and i leave the back seat out 99% of the time.
I agree on that list... and yeah I dont cary tons of tools but I do cary a craftsman set.. has a 1/4" wratchet and 3/8. Plus sockets for them on normal small sizes....
common wrenches... 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8
then an adjustable, flathead and philips screwdriver, an electrical bag...
wire, connectors, crimpers, volt meter and more....
I found this on clearance.. I think this is awesome as long as it works.. eleviates the need for multiple spare belts...
Emergency Fan Belt Repair Kit by Victor Automotive
http://www.preparedness.com/emfanbelkit.html
I missed a set on ebay... $1 final bid.. $10 shipping
1978Blazerk5
1/2 ton status
I missed a set on ebay... $1 final bid.. $10 shipping
Oh I remember that auction, I showed up like 30 seconds to late
