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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September 2014

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FULL SIZE BRONCO HUBS

Off-Road.com,

Was manual hubs offered in 1996?
Chad

Letter sparked by Late Model (1978-1996) Ford Bronco History

Hi Chad, 

It’s not clear if manual hubs were offered directly from the factory in 1996, but they were offered in 1995.  If you have automatic hubs on your Bronco and want to convert to manual hubs, Warn does make a set for your 4x4.  You can learn more about Warn Locking Hubs here.

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FIRST DRIVE: 2015 FORD F-150

Off-Road.com,

Sounds as though there are enough changes to justify a move up from my '11 Eco-boost F-150. Well done, Ford!
Hugh Irwin

Letter sparked by First Drive: 2015 Ford F-150

Thanks for the feedback, Hugh. It’s definitely interesting to see the next generation of light-duty pickup trucks taking shape.  We look forward to seeing how the transition to lighter aluminum bodies does against steel bodies (strength, durability, consumer perception).

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TOYOTA ADD VACUUM

Off-Road.com,

When I went into 4wd it would not work. When I push the button to go into 4wd the vacuum stays on the same side of the VSV and when I take it out of 4wd the vacuum stays the same.  When I moved the hose around the ADD actuator did not engage. Its vacuum is good, tested it, had the ADD actuator off and can move it.  Toyota Surf 1995 1kz.
Andrew

Hello Andrew,

Your Toyota Surf / 4Runner may not be fully functional, but you have a turbo diesel... a turbo diesel! Why can’t we get more diesel options in the USA? Moving on... we primarily deal with the 3VZE V6 gas / petro engine in North America for that year model.  I’m not sure if the vacuum system and ADD setup is the same, but if it is, here is a diagram that may help. Also, check out our Toyota Automatic Disconnecting Differential (ADD) article for more troubleshooting pointers.

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2015 CHEVY COLORADO

GM really dropped the ball here with the Colorado. Wait! Put down the pitchforks and hear me out.

The exterior? Perfect. Size? Perfect. DriveYou ability? Perfect. Engines? Near Perfect. Interior? Full of cheap, hard, old GM style, plastics!

The Canyon was gifted with soft, higher quality materials. The Colorado was given cheap hard plastics. This wouldn't be an issue if the truck cost $25K, but it doesn't. It's near luxury territory with its pricing.

Additionally, GM stomped all over Colorado owners by not offering Auto 4WD mode (standard on the Canyon 4x4), or full leather in the Z-71.

I'm taking a wait and see attitude with the Colorado.  I really want it, but the penny-pinching, bean-counting, rental-car like cheap hard plastics need to be fixed first. Maybe when the diesel debuts that will change.

I really wish I like the Canyon's exterior more….
Revenant

Letter sparked by First Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon

Hi Revenant,

Sounds like you’re not a plastic type of guy, and that’s fine. The days of sleek metal dash boards with meticulous trim are gone (sigh). Plastic and leather seems to be the norm these days. Something to do with weight savings and safety? 

On a good note, at least GM hasn’t fully abandoned the mid-size/compact truck market.  The fact the Colorado came back with a 4x4 option is great news.  If the sticker price is competitive, we should see these floating around like the old S-10 pickup and Blazer.  Hurrah!

If the interior is the only real deal breaker right now, you could always give it some flair by adding your own paint, aluminum or wood trim pieces so it doesn’t feel like a “rental car.” For what it’s worth, Off-Road.com Editor liked the Colorado interior overall during our first drive, though he did note the Canyon soft-touch material is nicer – but he didn’t dislike the Colorado’s interior in spite of the plastic elements.

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RAM 1500 UPGRADES

Hey man,
 
Recently bought a new Ram 1500 Crew Cab w/Hemi. Am interested in improving its off-road capabilities, but with an eye to reality - 90% of the time it will be a daily driver and the actual off-roading I do on a family basis will be going over some lava rocks/paths in Hawaii to out of the way beaches, a few deep rutted sections, and some mild stream crossings and (very) small rock/gravel sections. Nothing crazy and nothing that a stock/rental Jeep Wrangler couldn't handle.
 
Essentially, I want to do as little to the truck as possible but maximize the improved off-roadability of the truck. I've considered a leveling kit, factory replacement shocks (i.e. King OEM performance replacements), modest lift kits from the Superlift 4" w/ Bilsteins all the way to BDS's 6" coilover kit.
 
It's not super important to me that I fit 37s (or even 35s) but recognize that better rubber will yield better traction off the tarmac.
 
What do you recommend? I intend on keeping the factory rims (20x8) and was looking at the Nitto Terra Grapplers as a good rubber solution?
 
Budget circa $5,000 max inclusive of install and alignment. Or is that unrealistic?
 
Many thanks! Enjoy all the articles I have read, but appreciate your thoughts if you have time.

Bill Ng

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your letter. Glad you’re reading us out in Hawaii. Sounds like you got yourself a sweet ride with plenty of power and cargo room to haul everything you need to the beach.  As far as adding more off-road capability to your Ram, there are a few things you can do right off the bat. For starters, tires will be one of your biggest bang for buck on off-road performance. Most original equipment light truck tires are geared toward highway driving. They typically don’t have an off-road tire traction thread design, nor are they reinforced to take a beating on the trail.  Most stock tires will spin, slip or even fail if you take them beyond a gravel or graded dirt road. The Nitto Terra Grapplers you pointed out are a good all-terrain-style tire that will serve as a nice upgrade. They are specifically made for trucks and SUVs, work year-round with balanced performance in all weather conditions over various terrains, and they’ll deliver more on-road comfort and quietness than a mud-terrain tire.

Make sure to check out the second-generation Terra Grappler (G2) story:
Nitto Tire Launches Terra Grappler G2 and Exo Grappler AWT

 As far a suspension goes, you could simply do a front leveling kit to help bring up the nose and give the larger tires more room up front. According to ReadyLift, you can get away with up to 35-inch tires with one of their leveling kit setups. If you plan on flexing the suspension on the trails or beach and don’t want tire rub, you may be better off with 33-inch tires with a leveling kit.  If you really want to run 35s and plan on working the suspension off-road, a 4-inch suspension lift, like the one you mentioned from BDS should do the job.

A set of quality off-road shocks will also help keep the tires planted and give you good traction once the stockers blow out. Since BDS is now owned by Fox, you can likely upgrade the kit to nicer Fox units, but other good options include King and Bilstein, among others.

Good luck!

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NISSAN HARDBODY TRANSMISSION SWAP

4x4 AnswerMan,

I have a 86 Nissan 4wd 5speed 4cylinder.  Will a transmission out of 96 nissan 4cylinder 5speed 4wd fit?

Justin

Hi Justin,

According to one of our Nissan experts, “Four-cylinder trucks use different models of axles and transmission than do the V-6s, but the components are shared between Hardbody and Pathfinder.” In other words, it probably will not work. If you’re still curious, the best thing to do is measure both transmissions, including mounting points. Compatibility should be evident very quickly if the housing dimensions don’t match.

You can read more about Nissan 4WD pickups on our Nissan Hardbody (D21) and Pathfinder (WD21) FAQ page.

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LAND CRUISER WINCH BUMPER

4x4 AnswerMan,

How can I order. I’m from the Philippines tnx.
Rolando Codilla Malunes Jr.

Letter sparked by Slee Off-Road Land Cruiser Bumper

Hello Rolando,

Glad you found this article. We’ve had the bumper in use for almost three years, have run thousand of trail miles, hit a few things, winched a few trucks, and it’s still solid. Slee Off-Road makes great products for the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Best way for International customers to get in touch with Slee Off-Road is to call or send an email: 303/278-8287, info@sleeoffroad.com.

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BRONCO MAP SWAP

Off-Road.com,

I have been trying to figure out how to switch over to maf on 95lightning, the wiring diagrams seem to be different from one another, I have one here that said to add wires to pin # 12,13,14,15,42,52, which differs from this post, the pin #38 that is said on this post to go to injector,has a smogpumb wire moved from #51 to (38)? Smog-51 to 38/11 to 32, o2 sensors-pin43 left,29 right, with all these different posts, how can I get it right the first time? Lol
I am using ECM PART#E5TF-12A650-BYA CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS. W/E4OD ANY CORRECT HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED

Gerald Westmoland

Letter sparked by Big Bronco Mass Air Conversion Info

Gerald,

This one is a doozy, MAP to MAF, wiring and working right the first try? Don’t worry, there’s a wealth of information floating on the interweb for this popular swap, usually needed to flow more air once engine performance upgrades are made. We may even have one of our readers chime in... anyone?

We’ve done a few wiring swaps over the years and the best advice we can give you (just like the author of the story did) is to “get copies of both Ford factory electrical diagrams for what you have and what you want to swap in.” This should help figuring out the wiring you are trying to pin down.

You may also want to check out the National Lighting Owner's Club for even more detailed information pertaining to your specific model truck.  Full Size Bronco also has some updated MAP swap information that should help.

Good luck!

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TOYOTA GEAR RATIO DECODER

Off-Road.com

I am trying to figure out what differential is in my 2001 Toyota Tacoma X-tra cab 4WD.V6 SR5

Jon Franzen

Hello Jon,

We have a Toyota Differential Identification page here on Off-Road.com, but it has some missing pieces of information.  We’ve found the following Toyota Gear & Diff Page fills in some of the gaps.  You should be able to figure out what gearing your Toyota Tacoma was equipped with from the factory using both these references.

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BIG TIRE BRITTANY
Hi, my name’s Brittany. I have a 1995 Chevy Silverado, extended cab. I am currently running 35s with a 3-inch lift. I am actually in the process of buying another lift and tires and wheels. I was just curious if I could run 40s? The lift I am getting is 6 inches. I know I may have to cut the body to fit them but that isn't a problem.  Would they look alright, and not cause problems with rubbing?

Brittany Burrell

Hi Brittany,

Sound like you’re building one heck of a monster truck or mud bogger. You can probably squeeze 40s with a 6-inch suspension lift on this truck, but 37s seems to be the max before cutting sheet metal. There’s also a good chance for tire rub (but that can be fixed with bump stops and frame modifications). 

Although it may look cool, some other things to consider is the strength of the axles, gearing and such.  Big tires equal big mass for your drivetrain to push around. Some would also argue that IFS doesn’t do well with that big of a tire. Sooner or later a straight axle swap is necessary to keep the truck from falling apart (including frame re-enforcement).

If possible, you should try and talk with people who have already built a similar truck, maybe even drive one so you know exactly what you’re getting into. You can check out more Chevy Silverados on 40s on our sister site http://wwwPirate4x4.com.

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TACOMA vs. SUBARU

4x4 AnswerMan,

I go to the desert 3 or 4 times a year. Roads are washboard or rough.  I normally drive a lot for work so I had 4x4 escape hybrid because of the good mileage, but now needs more work than it's worth.  My choices seem a Tacoma 4x4 or a Subaru. Of course I hear conflicting stories, about each.  Handling and mileage are appealing on a Forester, but reliability and sturdiness seem to be the Taco forte.  My off road is about 400 miles a year, but regular city driving is about 200 each week... Help!

Rene P Perez

Hi Rene,

Both are good, functional options. If you need cargo room and plan to haul big things around, the Toyota Tacoma pickup is a better choice. The Subaru Forester does have decent cargo, and it should do better as a daily driver. Your limiting factor with the Subaru is clearance height. I’m not sure if the trails you plan to travel are rocky, lumpy or technical. That said, you can lift and modify. Check out our sister site SubaruForester.org for ideas (http://www.subaruforester.org).

We have friends that own Subaru all-wheel-drives and often drive them on dirt roads, in the desert, mountains and snow. We’ve even seen them Subarus railing on the dunes.  They can definitely go off-road.  They also make fun rally cars.

We’ve owned a few Toyotas over the years and the Tacoma is tough to beat for reliability, function and versatility.  Both the Toyota Tacoma and Subaru Forester are good options, but it really boils down to your cargo, driving and MPG needs. Only you can answer that question.

Hope you find the rig that fits.

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
September 2014

August 2014

July 2014