drewactual
Adventurer
so this may not be the right place for a thread I'm suggesting, but it seems to me in my short stint here that the full size crew are pretty tight- and since i run a full size too, it makes some sense...
anyway...
this is about modding trucks to better serve our interests... I tell folks all the time, that when it comes time to purchase a rig that brand loyalty is for fools. the trick is to identify your purpose and purchase what is closer to your needs- and THEN apply whatever after-market magic you need to achieve that goal... In this line of reason, it's an assumed assumption (redundant much?) that OE rigs are made to serve a wide purpose, but some models/brands lean one way more so than others... It's apparent in engine:gear ratio's, suspension set ups, steering configurations, interior creature comforts, ect... so.. we buy what is closest to what we need in a perfect world.
the world ain't perfect... so we buy what we can afford most often, and we start adding mods to support our activities- and hopefully the list of mods are complimentary to each other- I find it humorous on a grand scale when folks start tossing 'cool' parts at a rig without considering what else they're impacting, and especially when the mod's are all for show and have limited function. Many lifts fall in this category. leveling kits certainly do... Huge tires that defy center of gravity logic.. huge body lifts and even some suspension lifts that maintain pretty much the same ground clearance (pumpkin to terra)... there are some really sexy things to do to rigs that put you back several steps and you don't even know it. Until you do... and then you have to mod to support the mod. this is where the madness sets in, and I'm pretty sure every single one of us have suffered from this at least once...
anyway...
If you gents would like to play along with my intent, here, it starts with a simple question:
** Why do you build? Is it for a distinct purpose and terrain, or is it for allowing a wider range of purpose? **
this is not a trick question, but it is a little tricky.
here are some more, just to gain a better perspective of what I'm trying (miserably) to communicate:
** what mods have you determined required for your rig? **
** what supporting mods have you performed? (i.e. larger tires: R&P's to support it and maintain the curve in usable area) **
** where have you went wrong and modded, and then had to address a surfacing issue? (i.e. new camshaft to lower/raise torque curve: torque converter to make better use of new curve placement afterthought) **
and the ten dollar question here-
*** Have you carefully considered the direction you are headed with your rig before you set out modding, or does a mod occur to you and you go for it? ***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I chose a ford super duty because it was priced right, owned previously by a maintenance freak friend, and was the truck I would have purchased if funding wasn't a concern- it's mostly a road pig, and hauls all I need to and from places I need to go, and in comfort when I'm behind that wheel for 20+ hours a spell... the mods I've done don't exactly support this for the greater part with a lift and larger tires, but it doesn't hamper it either except in terms of mileage.
** what mods have you determined required for your rig? ** I needed more range, so a fuel cell was in order
** what supporting mods have you performed? (i.e. larger tires: R&P's to support it and maintain the curve in usable area) ** traction bars complimented my lift, disallowing axle wrap cold but also limiting articulation to some degree at the same time- I knew this going into it.
** where have you went wrong and modded, and then had to address a surfacing issue? (i.e. new camshaft to lower/raise torque curve: torque converter to make better use of new curve placement afterthought) ** I tuned the truck and altered the fuel trim tables significantly enough to require a better, more volume of fuel providing 'lift' pump; and another, I went with larger/wider tires, and promptly required fender flares due not only to rocks chunking but also due to one particular officer of the peace (on a base I work on) who dislikes trucks with tires extending more than two inches out of the well- mine extended 1.75" for the record, but it wasn't stock and caught his attention...
** Why do you build? Is it for a distinct purpose and terrain, or is it for allowing a wider range of purpose? ** I build mostly because I'm bored and need a stress relieving outlet, but I try to keep everything in perspective and not hamper intended purpose
*** Have you carefully considered the direction you are headed with your rig before you set out modding, or does a mod occur to you and you go for it? *** I did consider every thing I could before I set out from a stock rig- there are a few things I would have done differently now that I've had experience with the mod's, but it wasn't haphazardly done... now there are some things that were impulsive but I pulled the trigger on because it didn't impact purpose, but they are, fortunately, few..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm more interested in hearing what y'all have to say than I am in talking about my rig... and learning about your mistakes as much as your home runs... that's the value of a community like this, no?
anyway...
this is about modding trucks to better serve our interests... I tell folks all the time, that when it comes time to purchase a rig that brand loyalty is for fools. the trick is to identify your purpose and purchase what is closer to your needs- and THEN apply whatever after-market magic you need to achieve that goal... In this line of reason, it's an assumed assumption (redundant much?) that OE rigs are made to serve a wide purpose, but some models/brands lean one way more so than others... It's apparent in engine:gear ratio's, suspension set ups, steering configurations, interior creature comforts, ect... so.. we buy what is closest to what we need in a perfect world.
the world ain't perfect... so we buy what we can afford most often, and we start adding mods to support our activities- and hopefully the list of mods are complimentary to each other- I find it humorous on a grand scale when folks start tossing 'cool' parts at a rig without considering what else they're impacting, and especially when the mod's are all for show and have limited function. Many lifts fall in this category. leveling kits certainly do... Huge tires that defy center of gravity logic.. huge body lifts and even some suspension lifts that maintain pretty much the same ground clearance (pumpkin to terra)... there are some really sexy things to do to rigs that put you back several steps and you don't even know it. Until you do... and then you have to mod to support the mod. this is where the madness sets in, and I'm pretty sure every single one of us have suffered from this at least once...
anyway...
If you gents would like to play along with my intent, here, it starts with a simple question:
** Why do you build? Is it for a distinct purpose and terrain, or is it for allowing a wider range of purpose? **
this is not a trick question, but it is a little tricky.
here are some more, just to gain a better perspective of what I'm trying (miserably) to communicate:
** what mods have you determined required for your rig? **
** what supporting mods have you performed? (i.e. larger tires: R&P's to support it and maintain the curve in usable area) **
** where have you went wrong and modded, and then had to address a surfacing issue? (i.e. new camshaft to lower/raise torque curve: torque converter to make better use of new curve placement afterthought) **
and the ten dollar question here-
*** Have you carefully considered the direction you are headed with your rig before you set out modding, or does a mod occur to you and you go for it? ***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I chose a ford super duty because it was priced right, owned previously by a maintenance freak friend, and was the truck I would have purchased if funding wasn't a concern- it's mostly a road pig, and hauls all I need to and from places I need to go, and in comfort when I'm behind that wheel for 20+ hours a spell... the mods I've done don't exactly support this for the greater part with a lift and larger tires, but it doesn't hamper it either except in terms of mileage.
** what mods have you determined required for your rig? ** I needed more range, so a fuel cell was in order
** what supporting mods have you performed? (i.e. larger tires: R&P's to support it and maintain the curve in usable area) ** traction bars complimented my lift, disallowing axle wrap cold but also limiting articulation to some degree at the same time- I knew this going into it.
** where have you went wrong and modded, and then had to address a surfacing issue? (i.e. new camshaft to lower/raise torque curve: torque converter to make better use of new curve placement afterthought) ** I tuned the truck and altered the fuel trim tables significantly enough to require a better, more volume of fuel providing 'lift' pump; and another, I went with larger/wider tires, and promptly required fender flares due not only to rocks chunking but also due to one particular officer of the peace (on a base I work on) who dislikes trucks with tires extending more than two inches out of the well- mine extended 1.75" for the record, but it wasn't stock and caught his attention...
** Why do you build? Is it for a distinct purpose and terrain, or is it for allowing a wider range of purpose? ** I build mostly because I'm bored and need a stress relieving outlet, but I try to keep everything in perspective and not hamper intended purpose
*** Have you carefully considered the direction you are headed with your rig before you set out modding, or does a mod occur to you and you go for it? *** I did consider every thing I could before I set out from a stock rig- there are a few things I would have done differently now that I've had experience with the mod's, but it wasn't haphazardly done... now there are some things that were impulsive but I pulled the trigger on because it didn't impact purpose, but they are, fortunately, few..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm more interested in hearing what y'all have to say than I am in talking about my rig... and learning about your mistakes as much as your home runs... that's the value of a community like this, no?
