When it comes to building an off-road rig, the first modifications that most people think of are suspension lift kits and aggressive tires. Those mods can certainly be helpful: lift kits give you more ground clearance so you don't bottom-out on tall obstacles and steep hills. Burly mud tires allow your truck to dig its way out of slippery terrain while avoiding punctures.
However, if you plan on lifting your truck and taking it off-road, there are a couple of supporting modifications you should install before you go playing in the mud.
Aftermarket Camber and Caster Kits
When you install a lift kit on your truck, it changes the angle that the wheels sit relative to the chassis and steering system. That can create two issues.
Firstly, it can cause your wheels to tilt inward or outward when your truck is sitting flat. That means you will be riding on the inner or outer edges of your tires when you're driving around town. Your tires will wear out unevenly and prematurely, which is a very costly issue when it comes to expensive off-road rubber.
Secondly, lift kits can alter the longitudinal angle that your front wheels sit at relative to your steering system. That can drastically affect the steering response of your truck, making it awkward or unsafe to drive at high speeds on the freeway.
To correct both of these issues, you need to install an aftermarket camber and caster kit along with your lifted suspension system. Aftermarket camber kits let you adjust the camber angle of your wheels beyond what is possible with the stock components. That allows you to get your wheels realigned properly, even with a dramatic lift kit installed. Similarly, aftermarket caster kits allow for increased adjustment of the front wheels' caster angle so you can get your steering response back to factory specifications.
Undercoating
Taking your truck off road can wreak havoc on your chassis and suspension components. Even driving on tame trails will cake the underside of your vehicle with dust, mud, and moisture. Over time, all of that debris will work its way into tight crevices and begin to wear out your ride with rust and friction issues.
To avoid having your truck rot out from beneath you, have a quality undercoating sprayed on every season. That will help block abrasive debris from working its way into moving suspension components, and it will help protect any exposed metal from moisture.
You should also thoroughly pressure-wash your rig after every off-roading session. It may be tempting to drive around with your truck caked in mud to show off your latest off-road adventure. However, all of that grime may be slowly eating away at the underside of your vehicle with every mile that you drive.
For more information, contact a business such as ValuGard.
Share11 December 2017
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