I took my 4R on it's first ever real off-road adventure. I've been off-road, and I've definitely needed 4WD
before, but I've never needed 4Lo where all the bells and whistles were used as designed.
My destination was the Patton Unit of the North Chickamauga Creek Wildlife Management area for deer hunting.
Always before I was stopped by dragging running boards, ground clearance, and/or tires. As of today, I have:
- Brand new AT tires by Cooper;
- A new Daystar 2.5/1.5 spacer lift/level; and
- Removed the OEM aluminum running boards and the SR5 rocker trim. (to be reinstalled tomorrow so my wife
doesn't yell at me).
Between the spacer add and trim delete I gained about 8-9 inches of rocker clearance.
Unfortunately I didn't take enough pics of the hazards, but I'll try to upload a few later.
A-Trac: works as advertised. Multiple instances of diagonal-wheels-up. Leave A-Trac off and sit and spin.
Turn A-Trac on and ease right along. I still ultimately want a locker, but it got pushed down on the priority list.
Downhill assist: Works, but is extremely loud and jumpy. Touch the gas in a smooth section and you jump
forward, let off and it slams on the brakes. I turned it off and just used the brakes. This may be a zero-point
calibration issue with the lift.
Clearance: I cannot believe the difference the lift and trim delete made in approach and breakover angles.
Obstacles that stopped me cold last time didn't even slow me down this time.
Tires: Amazing improvement over OEM highway tires. It's been raining and I had to go through multiple
deep holes (mostly sand/silt/organic, not sticky clay) and the Coopers never even slowed down. Great grip on
wet rock.
Anti-sway bar: Definitely going to attempt a run with the sway bars off. I spent a lot of time with at least one
wheel off the ground.
I met up with a huge group of side-by-sides on a group ride, and stopped to ask about the road. They had serious
misgivings about me making it. Another friend had said earlier that I couldn't make it. I made it :heh: