First Dirty Pics

A big thanks to HXOC for taking me on my first Xcursion last weekend. Below are the pics of my X going up the big hill climb and then the "look ma its dirty" shot. I realize these pics are tame for the people on this board but if you don't like them oh well :flipa: - i freakin love my new X :D. Besides, this was a totally stock X on its 2-week birthday :smoka:.

http://userfs.cec.wustl.edu/~amt1/images/uphill.jpg

http://userfs.cec.wustl.edu/~amt1/images/after.jpg

-Harbones
(Xodus)

Now do something about that wussy rubber. :) :apoke:

Good to see you out there. I agree with others who have said this before in that it's best to go out with others in your stock truck first. Then see what their modified trucks can do and whether their mods are appropriate to the kind of offroading you want to do.

Then start a well thought out upgrade path.

Thanks for posting!

Or my way....go out with your stock X. Do what everyonce is doing in their totally modified X with your stock X (bumpy is fun) and then upgrade anyways just for for the hell of it! Keep the economy going. :)

That is how Schlud got me hooked! First time I went out I was totally stock, except I removed my step rails. WE had a blast at Rimrock wallowing around in the mud for the day! Then I bought wheels and tires, GPS, EOE sliderz, removed rear swaybar, Bilstien shocks, Surco cargo rack, and getting an ARB Bullbar today!!!! The list is endless.....Thanks Schlud for making me an addict!!!! :D :D :D (just kidding)

Ya I wanted to take my X out stock just to see what I could do. I'm happy to report that it did pretty darn good :). I actually have tires "in the mail", but that will be my only mod for quite a while. I don't think a person can fully enjoy or appreciate mods if you start out with all of them already on. I much prefer putting them on one at a time (where appropriate) so i can really understand what kind of difference they make.

Though I haven't done this off-road stuff before, I took this sort of approach with my car stereo back in the day. I was always planning and saving for my next mod, and the installation and usage put me on a bit of a "high" to satisfy my mod cravings for several weeks until i would be overwhelmed and the process would repeat with some new item :ylsuper. So if I were to start out totally mod'ed I'd have nothing to do and i would go loopy :jump:!

Fellow new off-road x addict
-Harbones
(Xodus)

Originally posted by Harbones
I much prefer putting them on one at a time (where appropriate) so I can really understand what kind of difference they make.

I agree, that really is the best strategy. Tires are an excellent first mod, though. Probably tied with a locker for the most out-and-out capability bang-for-the-buck you'll get for a long while, IMHO (ask me after I get a locker and I'll tell you for sure! ;))

This is Muddy!

The first time I took the Swampers out I tossed mud and rocks inside the truck!!!

RRD,

How much trouble have you had with your 31" Swampers? Do you have a lift? I am getting ready to lift mine and put on new tires and am looking at 31" SSRs for my rubber. If I can get all the calculations done and find a rim to match, I will be switching rims as well to an 8". Are you running them on factory rims? Sorry about all the questions, but I have talked to a lot of people who have tried 32" SSRs with all kinds of interesting stories about how they have reformed parts.

I don't have much rubbing problems with my 31" SSR's. Just the fuel line cover. The SSR's run large at 31.5" and seem to be a good compromise between a standard 31 and 32" tire.

Gordon,

The rockcrawlers I first purchased for my 31" TSL's (which run 31.3")were the wrong offset, so I had problems rubbing under full compression and when turning even on the street I rubbed! I think a couple companies will make you the offset you need though. I am now using XE alloys for the swampers and they work so perfectly! No rubs or anything. I am not lifted and will avoid doing that as long as possible!

I know Schlud runs the 31" SSR with steel Xterra wheels with almost zero problems and he isn't lifted except for shackles in the rear.

Yesterday when adjusting my ARB I was looking at how I could change some of the sheet metal inside the front fenderwell to accomadate bigger tires. I think it would be to expensive to have somone roll you some custom sheetmetal then try to reattach it.