| From | Message |
Hawkeye
*GenIII*
 
4/24/2002
11:39:04
|
 Subject: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Got a haircut this morning and decided on the way home to stop off at my new found off road area. Needed to do a little something to unwind after this past weekend.
I can say without a doubt that a Dak can be a great off roader. I did finf a few limitations though. As good as the factory limited slip is, when it is really under load on one side, and light on the other, it can be overcome. Some brake modulation is a big help. Had mine really twisted up, on some washouts on a hill (very HARD dry dirt, almost rock like) and had to use a little modulation to keep power to both rear tires. I know for sure though, that had I had something like an ARB in the rear, I would have snapped a u-joint easy. I am going to look into getting a mechanical locker like an easy locker or lock right, and put my current LSD in my wifes Durango. That will help us both.
X-Terrains are freaking awesome in rough stuff. They crawled over, around, and through everything I could throw at them. Mud, sand, hardpack, you name it. There are tires that a probably better in each of those kind of terrains, but for an all around tire, they are awesome. When I can get DanG back up here, I am going to take him out with me so that we can do some comparisons between his BFG MT's (which are GREAT tires as well) and mine, to see if one is a little better in some areas than the other. Wish there was someone around here with MTR's to compare with as well. Also plan on taking the Wifes Durango out and giving her Pro Comp AT's a good work out.
Body lift did great. Had the truck twisted up like i was out west rock crawling. Not a creak, pop, or sigh out of it. Only thing I noticed is that my front bumper, thanks to the lift brackets, has the most annoying squeak in the world. Thought for the longest time that it was something in the front suspension, but after getting out and bouncing, and pulling on things, I found its the bumper. Most likely due to the extra weight of my prerunner bar. Nothing to get hurt, just annoying when off road.
Will be taking some pics out there soon, hopefully with DanG's, Viper's, and maybe one other Dak. I think some of you might be suprised what a Dak can really do, and not even scratch the bumper.
|
QUADMAN
GenIII
4/24/2002
12:01:10
|  RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Nice test Hawk. Yeah my bumper makes the same d@mn noise.
OPINIONS ARE LIKE....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!
33X12.50 MTR's, 3" PA Body Lift, Procomp Prerunner Lightbar, K&N Dropin, Flow 40 with duals, MANY MORE TO COME...
|
kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/24/2002
13:03:10
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
I also enjoy taking my Dakota off road. It does very well for all stock. I've already done 55- 60 degree hill climbs and scuffed my front and rear bumpers do to approach angles. It was worth it to impress my friends.
Rear limited slip is worthless. Is mine bad?
When cold on pavement I only get 1 wheel to spin. Off road where I need it, if I get crossed (1 front & 1 rear in the air) I get zero forward momentum from the rear end. Even in wet conditions the rear is inconsistant in when it spins both wheels or only 1.
I need to learn more about lockers. I do want some give on dry pavement when cornering.
|
Hawkeye
*GenIII*
4/24/2002
13:40:03
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
As far as limited slips go, the factory one Dodge uses is pretty darn good. The only one I have seen that I think is better is an Auburn. Thats one thing I used to love about my F150's. Ford used Auburns from the factory.
|
J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
00:22:42
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
"...done 55- 60 degree hill climbs..."
Are you sure? Fifty-five to 60 PERCENT hills maybe. A 45 degree hill is pretty tough on the most capable vehicles, such as a Unimog. A 45 degree hill climbs 10 feet for every 10 feet of horizontal travel and is a 100 percent grade. If your truck is about 20 feet long and can climb a 45 degree hill, the front bumper would be about 20 feet higher than the rear bumper. Picture that.
On a 60 degree hill, the front bumper would be something like 22 feet higher than the rear bumper. And unless it had a very long, gentle approach, you would have gotten the rear bumper hung up with its 23 degree departure angle before getting onto the slope. If you had gotten past the 30 degree approach angle.
And that's not even mentioning the significantly reduced traction available when less than half the truck's weight is pushing the tires onto the ground while the other half is trying to pull the truck back down the hill.
Yes, you do need to learn more about lockers. And limited slip. Factory limited slip in these trucks is more than adequate for most conditions. Cross-axled with one front and one rear airborne can only be traversed with completely locked diffs.
-J.
|
Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
09:17:14
| RE: Hill angles......
IP: Logged
Message:
Degrees! I've looked at a protractor for reference. I did scrape front and rear at aproach and I do need a little momentum.
The hills are man made dirt piles. Have you seen the hills earth movers make? Layer upon layer to make an arched hill. This one is only about 30 feet tall. The sides of these hills are what ever angle falling dirt piles up and stays at. To me it looks like 55 - 60 degrees. It is definetly steeper than 45 degrees. It is too steep to stand on or walk up.
Hasn't anyone else climbed the sides of these dirt piles?
|
J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
12:21:06
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
I'd like to see that. Sounds most impressive. How 'bout having one of your buddies photograph your truck from the side on one of these hills. Keep the camera level. Then measure the angle between the truck and horizontal. I bet a lot of folks reading these posts would enjoy seeing the pictures.
-J.
|
Hawkeye
*GenIII*
4/25/2002
12:31:10
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Some of the hills I am going up are definitely 45 deg or better. Some of them put the truck pointing up so that all you see is sky. Will have some pics soon hopefully.
|
Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
14:17:30
| RE: Hill Climbs......
IP: Logged
Message:
I didn't realize this was a big deal. Although it felt unusual. This is my first 4x4. However, I'm not new to off roading. I've ridden a little 4-wheeler (Banshee) for 8 yrs. and dirt bikes before that. And I've rode with a buddy in a modified Samarai on several organized group rides.
I do wonder what the limits of the oil pick up and tranny fluid pick up are? I haven't noticed my Dakota skip a beat yet.
I'm still looking for a front tow hook set-up.
I am going to get some pictures next time. Don't hold your breath to see them here. I don't have a digital camera.
|
J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
18:05:47
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Gentlemen, I'm very interested in seeing your trucks on these slopes. A 45-degree slope is very, very steep and very close to the limit for any wheeled vehicle. I'm not saying it's not possible, or that you haven't done it. I'm just saying I'd really enjoy seeing a picture of it. When you get your film developed, ask the lab to digitize the pictures for you. Most photo shops can do that easily.
cheers,
-J.
|
y22man
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
18:45:53
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Here is a pretty steep angle picture. You will have to browse to the picture with the bottom of lionsback. As you can see it is at a steep agle. The part I was going to get to is steeper. I did not rip off my bumpers. Spoters and some driving got me out unhurt. Granted it is on sand stone so traction is at 100%. But it is steep. And steeper than it looks. Unless you have been there you do not know how steep it is. And yes that is me driving my truck. It is not a website hack.
http://photos.yahoo.com/ciscoookid
Jay
|
y22man
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/25/2002
18:46:53
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
One more thing. Anybody that does lion back has to go up first.
Jay
|
J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/26/2002
00:07:42
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks, Jay. That's a well-known piece of rock and a very steep climb. Difficult to tell from the picture (and I've never been there) but it looks to be about 30 to 35 degrees. That's a steep hill in anybody's book. That's also a looonnng way short of 60 degrees.
-J.
|
J. C. Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/26/2002
00:16:21
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, I just re-read what I wrote a few posts ago. My figures were off. On a 45-degree (100%) slope, the front bumper would be higher than the rear bumper by a half-truck length. Stupid me. But the rest of it makes sense (I think :-). If your front bumper was higher than your rear bumper by a complete truck length as I said, you'd be standing vertically on the tailgate. Not even Kevin's Dakota can do that :-)
-J.
|
arthur
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/26/2002
00:22:17
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
You guys are right, a 45-60 degree hill is hard to alomst impossible with no momentum on hard ground...but with speed & in the sand...like say some sand dunes...45 degree slopes are regular and pretty easy to manage with stock set-ups as long as you don't mangle your front end entering the bottom of the dune. You also don't want to reach the top goin to fast or you'll launch over the top and over crunch the IFS.
But i take 45 degree sloped dunes with my stock '02 4X4 Dakota with the 31X16 set up and 1.5 cranked torsion bars and the 3.9L with 3.55 gears and it rips as long as i have the tire psi down to 10-12.
Anyways, 45-60 is hard on hard land, even Hummers can't work over 60, but sand is a different story.
|
TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/26/2002
00:51:59
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
Where you been lately y22man? I thought you got married and ditched us! Been out 4x4ing lately in that there utah land?
|
y22man
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/26/2002
11:40:07
| RE: Made a little run off the pavement......
IP: Logged
Message:
I have been here Tiger. I have posted here and there. And I am not saying I can do a 100% grade. He asked for a picture of a stock Dakota on a steep incline. I gave him one. I have no idea how steep it was. It was steep. And I did do it in a unimog first just before this. My buddy in Tooele has one and we go down with him and his Unimog buddies from around the country. Unimogs make you feel you can do anything.
Jay
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
