Alright guys, I have been doing a lot of reading since the Mud section was created, and it seems that there is a major misconception going on. It seems that rockcrawlers (trail rigs) and mud truck people don't know how to co-exist. So, I think it is time to talk about the best all-around setup.

I have a 1978 Bronco, 4-link f/r, 1 tons, full cage, full hydro, and cut 44's (Aetna style). I am currently getting ready to build a mild 460 for the truck. The best part is, it fits inside an 8' door with room to spare!

The fact is, my truck can play at every mud bog I have attended. It may get stuck, but there is no reason I can't run the truck. Here in Illinois, we don't have 7' deep holes like the guys in Florida do, or at least not to my knowledge. I truly believe that I could drop tire size and run my truck all day at the Badlands.

There has got to be a happy medium. After all, the Fat Girl Buggy, as well as most all the Tennessee buggies, run either 44" cut boggers or cut TSL's (sure seems like a MUD BOG tire to me).

If you have a mud truck that runs trails, or a trail truck that runs mud, post up your tricks of the trade. It seems that Pirate has captured the absolute end of the spectrum for mud trucks, 10' tall trucks much taller than they are wide and built without roll cages, and deemed that the standard for what a mud truck is. I just don't believe that is true.

Also, to my knowledge, there are lots of trails with mud on them (ever hear of White Knight).

Once again, I would just like to see a general concensus on what people have found to work on both planes. I am also interested to find what tires you are running, if you are only using 1 type of tire for both types of terrain. I would assume that a TSL, possibly cut, would be the best of both worlds.

Let's see some replies, as I would love to see mud trucks really gain credibility on this board!

Honestly Adam, I think Wirsch has the closest to a true dual-purpose rig around here. With some longer/softer springs in your truck, along with dropping the tire size (38's or so) I think you'll gain a tremendous amount of travel back.

I just received my new front springs last night. Since it's supposed to be stupid-cold for the next week, I doubt I'll get a chance to install them in the truck (let alone drive out to Sparland...) I think you're on the right track with what you have built, you just need to open up more travel for the trails. It's not incredibly tall or unstable, which you definately have working in your favor for dual purposes. Going to a shorter/narrower tire that would clear your fenders under compression, or cutting out the fenders a bit, and you're that much closer. At least you built a cage into your rig....:shaking:

You're had your truck out what, twice since you finished it this spring? I've only had mine out once and they both had their fair share of issues to work out. The more they get run, the better they'll run and the more tweaking and adjusting we will decide to do. With the economy the way it is, I hate to suggest we start making plans to go much farther than Manito, so the mud-minded rig may not be a bad thing for a while.:smokin:

In the midwest (like yous guys) we run trails mostly. Trails that are usually dirty/muddy rocks a long way up a hill. Or muddy creekbottoms with rocks in them. (or climbing out of those creekbottoms). I am shooting for a 'do-it-all' with the current re-build. And I am THE CHEAPEST / brokest SOB you ever met.

Will be watching this thread. Might even take some pics someday.

we run alot of the local bogs, most of the tgw events, trail ride, alil rock climbing and was a DD for 6 months I'll post more later but here she is. oh btw alot of the bigger trucks down here do run roll cages and are built better than alot of what I feel has been picked out to verbally tear apart, I also feel they dont understand what our suspensions need to do and more importantly NOT do, to work well

rare clean pic LOL
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/XRMPerformance/1%2010%2009/DSC01725.jpg

thanksgiving benefit races
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/XRMPerformance/benifit%208%2008%20races/DSC01143-2.jpg

TGW muddy muddy xmas
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/XRMPerformance/08%20muddy%20xmas/100_6307-1.jpg

pulling out a decent size truck
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/XRMPerformance/l_398764061e154f5bbe79bbc19c746bb2.jpg