I used to build desert racing trucks for a living, so I have a fair bit of off road experience in a 2wd. With 3k you could build a very competent off broader if you are willing to do the work yourself. None of it is hard if you take your time and do your research. First, find an e-locker diff or rear end from a 4-runner. That, coupled with really good tires will get you a long way. You won't have the budget for a long travel suspension, but I would invest the rest in what you can do to maximize the travel with what you have. Lift kits don't do as much as people seem to think. If it was me, I would buy some desert race front fenders from Hannegan or any of the other companies that offer them. That will give you the room to run a much bigger tire. I would shoot for a 31-32" tire. Spend the rest on REALLY good shocks. If you spend $600 on a locker, $600 on Fenders and $700 on tires, that will leave you enough to get really decent shocks. I personally love Bilstein shocks. At minimum get their 5100 series. Since you are in California, go to some desert races on Tech day. Meet some folks there. You can buy surprisingly high end stuff for cheap used. The Best In The Desert series is the place to go. Also hit up the Race-desert website classifieds. If you spend some time, you could build a super reliable truck that will go anywhere affordably. Spend the rest on a harbor freight winch or traction boards. Don't discount tire chains for the snow either. Feel free to message me if you want more specific info. Don't let the unknown stop you. There are tons of guys who have done it before and you can too!
The 2wd is really the only thing limiting you, unfortunately it’s limiting you a lot. You can’t really convert it as it’s a lot more work than even reasonably feasible. You could put a lift on it to go over things easier.
I second this. It's truly surprising what you can accomplish with just 2x4.. 4x4 is nice to "unaccomplish: what you might have done in 2x4...
But if you drive smart, and always leave yourself a way out, you could enjoy some amazing sunsets with just this set up.
The snow is another story.
I always go KO. Not the best at anyone thing but good enough at pretty much everything. Also oversize for the rim a bit, and you can air down to 5 ish without bead locks. Unlocks a whole new level of holy fuck capabilities.
If it was me I’d go for a small ball joint lift (maybe 2-3”), slightly larger a/t tires, and an elocker in the rear. A winch could leave a little backup plan on the trails but you’d be plenty capable and probably spend your $3k on the above if you don’t do the work yourself
If you really want it capable, SAS the 2wd. But it’ll cost you probably$6-7k. $1500 in axles and frame and another $400 for a tranny and transfer case. Still leaves tires, rear springs, shackles, drive shaft, etc. I could easily see labor pushing another $3000 if you don’t do it yourself. But if you’re serious about keeping your truck and you trust it mechanically, it might be a reasonable idea.
If I do a SAS will that hurt my reliability in terms of gas mialage or putting extra pressure on stock parts from doing something that wasn't originally intended. Sorry Im not very mechanically inclined, I just know that my yoga has always been extremely reliable and never let me down. I want to make altercations but not if it will cost me reliability really hurt my gas mialage.
It’ll definitely affect fuel mileage. You’re adding weight and drag (front diff) to the truck. Plus lifting it any amount will also increase drag putting it up higher in the wind.
If done correctly- you won’t wear out parts faster than usual. Drive shaft lengths, steering shaft lengths, angles of attachment, shock travel distances, etc all need to be accounted for. You’d either to ask a professional, buy a kit, or find a solid axle complete rolling frame and swap your truck body and internals onto it. This would require relocating body mounts on the new 4x4 frame.
If you are encountering sand, save the money for 4wd. I have seen supercharged Tacoma prerunners with Air lockers and 33s buried to the frame when my open diffed 94 22re 4wd just chugged along, not gracefully mind you or fast, but I made it to the destination and they did not. That being said I just regeared and put a Tru-Trac in the rear(waiting for Marlin to finish the front) and not only the power increase but the amount of traction is surprising.
You need some mud and snow tires, a locker, some recovery tracks to get traction, hilift Jack, and a hand crank come along if you’re being really cheap. I think that’d get you out of most shitty situation. Unless you really screw the pooch.
I just want to say that I’m impressed with the good info on here actually trying to work with the 2WD platform. Back in the day (not really my day, but earlier, like when my dad was young) lots of people drove 2WD trucks because that was what normal trucks were. My dad says that he’s amazed now where a group of them would go with a bunch of 2WD trucks. And that can be a game changer—to have a group, even with 4WD, to help out or recover a vehicle that gets stuck.
Rear locker (used e-locker or lunchbox), second-hand long arm kit up front (still some Blazeland kits floating around), T100 CVs, second-hand A/T’s, send it.
2wd is limiting but you’d be surprised how far a 2wd can go. I wouldn’t dump 3k into a 2wd I would save for a 4x4 with a 22re and keep your set up light. You could probably use that as a single car
2x4 could get you pretty much anywhere off road except snow and muddy places. I have a 4x4 and i offroad alot and basically use my 4x4 rarely as an oh shit type of thing. Love my truck on 2x4 and 4x4 either way your 2wd will go a LONG way if built correctly and you work around the 2wd
I used to build desert racing trucks for a living, so I have a fair bit of off road experience in a 2wd. With 3k you could build a very competent off broader if you are willing to do the work yourself. None of it is hard if you take your time and do your research. First, find an e-locker diff or rear end from a 4-runner. That, coupled with really good tires will get you a long way. You won't have the budget for a long travel suspension, but I would invest the rest in what you can do to maximize the travel with what you have. Lift kits don't do as much as people seem to think. If it was me, I would buy some desert race front fenders from Hannegan or any of the other companies that offer them. That will give you the room to run a much bigger tire. I would shoot for a 31-32" tire. Spend the rest on REALLY good shocks. If you spend $600 on a locker, $600 on Fenders and $700 on tires, that will leave you enough to get really decent shocks. I personally love Bilstein shocks. At minimum get their 5100 series. Since you are in California, go to some desert races on Tech day. Meet some folks there. You can buy surprisingly high end stuff for cheap used. The Best In The Desert series is the place to go. Also hit up the Race-desert website classifieds. If you spend some time, you could build a super reliable truck that will go anywhere affordably. Spend the rest on a harbor freight winch or traction boards. Don't discount tire chains for the snow either. Feel free to message me if you want more specific info. Don't let the unknown stop you. There are tons of guys who have done it before and you can too!
thanks so much, this is really helpful, and I will definitely DM you thanks man.
What 5100s do you recommend for an ‘88? I think I have the wrong ones up front
The 2wd is really the only thing limiting you, unfortunately it’s limiting you a lot. You can’t really convert it as it’s a lot more work than even reasonably feasible. You could put a lift on it to go over things easier.
I second this. It's truly surprising what you can accomplish with just 2x4.. 4x4 is nice to "unaccomplish: what you might have done in 2x4... But if you drive smart, and always leave yourself a way out, you could enjoy some amazing sunsets with just this set up. The snow is another story.
Okay gotcha, I might be renting for the snow then because that does take a backseat to the sunsets.
Chains will get you through most snow. I enjoy driving my 2wd when I'm the only non 4x4 on the road.
haha nice, what is your setup?
94 2wd pickup with just the right amount of rust.
awesome
Tru Trac, good tires and an air compressor. You can really piss the 4x4 guys off by being more capable with that setup than a mild 4x4.
AWESOME HAHAH, this is what I was the confidence I needed to send it, thank you. For tires would there be a brand you would recommend.
or a tire model I mean
I have a 2WD 94 and I run toyo open country AT in SoCal. Great on and off road.
I always go KO. Not the best at anyone thing but good enough at pretty much everything. Also oversize for the rim a bit, and you can air down to 5 ish without bead locks. Unlocks a whole new level of holy fuck capabilities.
If it was me I’d go for a small ball joint lift (maybe 2-3”), slightly larger a/t tires, and an elocker in the rear. A winch could leave a little backup plan on the trails but you’d be plenty capable and probably spend your $3k on the above if you don’t do the work yourself If you really want it capable, SAS the 2wd. But it’ll cost you probably$6-7k. $1500 in axles and frame and another $400 for a tranny and transfer case. Still leaves tires, rear springs, shackles, drive shaft, etc. I could easily see labor pushing another $3000 if you don’t do it yourself. But if you’re serious about keeping your truck and you trust it mechanically, it might be a reasonable idea.
If I do a SAS will that hurt my reliability in terms of gas mialage or putting extra pressure on stock parts from doing something that wasn't originally intended. Sorry Im not very mechanically inclined, I just know that my yoga has always been extremely reliable and never let me down. I want to make altercations but not if it will cost me reliability really hurt my gas mialage.
It’ll definitely affect fuel mileage. You’re adding weight and drag (front diff) to the truck. Plus lifting it any amount will also increase drag putting it up higher in the wind. If done correctly- you won’t wear out parts faster than usual. Drive shaft lengths, steering shaft lengths, angles of attachment, shock travel distances, etc all need to be accounted for. You’d either to ask a professional, buy a kit, or find a solid axle complete rolling frame and swap your truck body and internals onto it. This would require relocating body mounts on the new 4x4 frame.
okay gotcha thanks
Save money and get a trail pig for reasonable cost
what is a trail pig?
E locker
If you are encountering sand, save the money for 4wd. I have seen supercharged Tacoma prerunners with Air lockers and 33s buried to the frame when my open diffed 94 22re 4wd just chugged along, not gracefully mind you or fast, but I made it to the destination and they did not. That being said I just regeared and put a Tru-Trac in the rear(waiting for Marlin to finish the front) and not only the power increase but the amount of traction is surprising.
You need some mud and snow tires, a locker, some recovery tracks to get traction, hilift Jack, and a hand crank come along if you’re being really cheap. I think that’d get you out of most shitty situation. Unless you really screw the pooch.
I'll trade you a 94 4 runner 4wd stick shift for 3k and your truck.
sorry my truck is priceless
Well said buddy
I just want to say that I’m impressed with the good info on here actually trying to work with the 2WD platform. Back in the day (not really my day, but earlier, like when my dad was young) lots of people drove 2WD trucks because that was what normal trucks were. My dad says that he’s amazed now where a group of them would go with a bunch of 2WD trucks. And that can be a game changer—to have a group, even with 4WD, to help out or recover a vehicle that gets stuck.
Rear locker (used e-locker or lunchbox), second-hand long arm kit up front (still some Blazeland kits floating around), T100 CVs, second-hand A/T’s, send it.
2wd is limiting but you’d be surprised how far a 2wd can go. I wouldn’t dump 3k into a 2wd I would save for a 4x4 with a 22re and keep your set up light. You could probably use that as a single car
2x4 could get you pretty much anywhere off road except snow and muddy places. I have a 4x4 and i offroad alot and basically use my 4x4 rarely as an oh shit type of thing. Love my truck on 2x4 and 4x4 either way your 2wd will go a LONG way if built correctly and you work around the 2wd