Have a truck or SUV question for the 4x4 AnswerMan? Send your questions to editor@off-road.com. Please include your name and location, and be as detailed as possible about your questions.

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OLD SCHOOL SCOOP

Hi 4x4 AnswerMan,

Can you tell me what kind of hood scoop that is on your truck or brand it is or where I can find one? Thanks.
Lenny

Letter sparked by project Miss Mouse - Toyota Hood Scoop

Holy Cats!

This is an old one. I’m not sure if we can be of much help on the exact scoop model used on project Miss Mouse, but it’s definitely ‘80s vintage fiberglass. We did peruse through the “Hood Scoop” section on Summit Racing’s website and found a few that are very similar. Summit has over 400 hood scoop models to choose from. Give it a go at http://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/hood-scoops.

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LITTLE HAMMERS
Off-Road.com,
What kind of hammer is that in the photo?
JB Silva

Letter sparked by sparked by Top 10 Must-Have Items For Your Off-Road Vehicle 

Howdy JB Silva,  The little red hammer that caught your eye is a dead-blow ball-peen hammer (sometimes spelled “ball pein”). There are a few variations of this handy tool. The one pictured looks like a Stanley model, although Armstrong and Snap-on (among other quality hammer manufacturers) make a very similar model.

The Stanley Compo-Cast Ball Pein Hammer uses an improved design, which incorporates a steel-reinforced handle into the ball pein, giving it added strength and safety. The Stanley also features a dead-blow, steel-face head made from tempered-alloy steel, crowned for better accuracy. The steel handle is also completely encased in polyurethane, making it oil resistant. It’s available in 8, 16, and 24 oz variations from http://www.stanleytools.com/.

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LED vs HID
4x4 AnswerMan,

My friends say LED light bars don't put out much light. They say their HID lights are better. I need a set of good off-road lights for my truck right now. I really like LED but should I get HID?

Bobby

Bobby,

Tell your friends that things are shifting in LED technology. More off-road performance lighting manufacturers are designing LED lights that rival or outshine HID lights. It used to be that LED light bars only gave a nice glow and HID-penetrated darkness—this is no longer the case. New high-powered LED bulbs, reflector and optic designs are giving a new generation of LED lighting the ability to really push the limits in off-road performance. Just take a look at top SCORE Trophy Trucks and Class 1 cars, most of which are solely running LED lights now.

Although LED light bars are popular, round and square shaped LED lights are also very useful and can really pack a punch. They have a traditional design that can be easily configured into winch bumpers, roof racks, A-pilar mounts and light bars.

Some of the top LED manufacturers to look at are Baja Designs, KC HiLites, Rigid Industries, and Vision X. Heck, even PIAA, Hella and ARB have made the shift from HID to LED. 

We are living in interesting times, full of bright lights and fast trucks.

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AIRING DOWN TIRES

4x4 AnswerMan,

I need help figuring out what psi my tires need to be at when going on trails. I’ve only taken out a little air but want to take out more. How low can I go?

Billy

Hello Billy,

To maximize traction when traveling off-road, air down your tires. Dropping your PSI will give your tires larger surface contact patch, footprint and sidewall flexibility—all important when traveling on dirt, rocks, mud, sand or snow.  It’s amazing how just letting some air out can make the difference between getting up and over obstacles on the trail or getting stuck. It can also make the ride much softer compared to a fully inflated tire.

For a standard wheel, you don’t want to go any lower than 15 PSI (to avoid popping a bead).  If you have beadlock wheels, you can go as low as 3-5 PSI.  Each vehicle and wheel/tire combo has its sweet spot, as does different terrain.  Play around with the PSI settings to find out what works best for YOU. Keep a log, use a good tire gauge, and most importantly, don’t forget to air back up before hitting the pavement.

Happy Trails!

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MAXTRAX BETTER THAN A WINCH?

Off-Road.com,

MAXTRAX are awesome. For when a winch won't do. 

AJ

Letter sparked by MAXTRAX Recovery and Extraction Device Review

 
Hello AJ,  We used to think the same, until we discovered how easy and fast MAXTRAX are to use. Most of our wheeling is done in the Southwest’s arid terrain. A tow strap or winch may do the job when stuck in sand, but it may also get your buddy buried if you’re in deep. he MAXTRAX really is a fast and quick way to get your 4x4 out, much faster than anchoring and rigging up your winch line. Don’t get me wrong, we like recovery winches too, and they certainly have their place. We just winched up a Ford Ranger that crashed down a hill the other day. The MAXTRAX was not used in that situation.
Having options is good when being stuck is not.
Cheers!

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PICKUP TRUCK OR SUV FOR ME?

Hi 4x4 AnswerMan,

I’m getting ready to buy my first four-wheel drive. I’m not sure if I should get a truck or SUV. Help!

Nancy

Hello Nancy,

How about one of each... why not? If you can only have one, then make it the one you will find yourself using more often. Pickup trucks are nice if you plan on hauling stuff or towing. There’s good aftermarket support for trucks like the Ford F-150 and Super Duty, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tacoma and Tundra, and Nissan Titan. 

If you like having truck-like towing capabilities and cargo room in a fully enclosed package, then the SUV may be the one for you. Some sport utility models share truck platforms, which allows many off-road and aftermarket parts to be interchangeable.  Some SUV models to consider are the Ford Bronco and Explorer, Chevy Tahoe and Blazer, Toyota 4Runner, FJ Cruiser and Land Cruiser, Nissan Xterra and Pathfinder, and of course Jeep models like the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.

There are plenty more, but these trucks and SUVs have the strongest aftermarket support, which will make it easier to build your dream 4x4 or prerunner in the future. If there’s a specific model you’re interested in, write back so we can give you information on that rig, or check out review section to see if we’ve already put that vehicle through its paces.

Good luck!

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OFF-ROAD BATTERY

Hey Guys,

Is Optima battery really worth it? They are almost twice the price of a regular car battery.

Roger

Hi Roger,

If you actually use your vehicle off-road, expose it to extreme conditions like hot and cold weather, or have a number of extra electronic devices and gear running off the battery (like a compressor, lights, recovery winch), then having a heavy-duty battery like the Optima makes perfect sense. One of the key selling points for the Optima battery is that they are designed to be 15 times more vibration resistant than conventional batteries. I can tell you first hand that after spending time on bumpy trails, battery acid does start to come out of the top of standard truck batteries. I’ve owned both types of batteries over the last 15 years and really like what the Optima has to offer.

In our opinion, having a fully sealed, maintenance-free battery that’s not going to leak or fail on the trail is worth the extra coin. Another nice feature is that they can be mounted in any position, including upside down. 

Optima Batteries are available for a number of Jeep, truck and SUV applications in high starting burst Red Top, deep-cycle Yellow Top, and deep-cycle Marine/RV Blue Top.  More information at http://www.optimabatteries.com/.

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SOUPY DIFF OIL

4x4 AnswerMan,

I found water in my front differential when changing oil. Why?

David

Hi David,

Is mud or deep water crossing something you tackled in your 4x4 lately?  Sometimes a damaged axle shaft seal will let outside elements into your differential. Actually, the seals don’t even have to be bad; most axles are simply not designed to be submerged for long periods of time. They are not amphibious.  Forging water is one thing, but soaking in it is another.

Aside from the axle seal entry, we’ve also found that sometimes the culprit is the axle breather hose. Hoses come off, get damaged, or simply hang too low--allowing water to get sucked into the diff. This can be fixed by replacing the breather hose with a longer one that feeds air from above the water line on your 4x4.

One thing is for sure, you want to get that soupy water/mud oil mixture out of the diff as soon as possible. If the diff oil is thick and buttery, you may need to do some deep cleaning. This will require pulling the carrier or 3rd member. A good parts cleaner scrub, diesel or brake cleaner should do the trick. Just make sure to catch all the sludge and dispose of it properly (no, your cat’s litter box isn’t a good place… although kitty litter does a great job at absorbing oil and fuel spills).

To prevent water from getting into your diff again, either stay away from swamps or limit deep water and mud crossing. If that's not possible, then check and replace your diff oil after every wheeling trip; replace the axle seals as needed. If you’re a diehard swamp dude, you may consider upgrading your seals to something like RCV Tube Seals to keep mud and water out.  More info at http://www.rcvperformance.com/.

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GM TRANSFER CASE

4x4 AnswerMan,

I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado Z71 4x4 truck. What type of fluid goes in my transfer case?

Steve

Hi Steve,

Your truck came equipped from the factory with an automatic transfer case. General Motors recommends that a special blend of fluid called Auto-Trak II be used when servicing the transfer case.  Don’t use anything else.  If you do, you run the risk of having the transfer case fail prematurely.  Some people complain that only GM / AC Delco makes the stuff, but the $7-$8/qt price tag is not worth blowing up your t-case if you skimp out and use something cheaper.

Most auto parts stores carry the AC Delco Auto Track II.  You can also source it online or at the dealership.

Have a truck or SUV question for the 4x4 AnswerMan? Send your questions to editor@off-road.com. Please include your name and location, and be as detailed as possible about your questions.

More 4x4 AnswerMan Columns
July 2014

June 2014

May 2014