So I've had my xj for the whole summer and have been rock crawling all my life but I've never really interacted with mud and there's a lot of mud here now, is there any way to handle mud? Anything I should do or shouldn't do? I have have mud tires too..

 

Try and keep momentum going, and don't be afraid of the gas, wheel spin clears the tread giving better traction. Too much, though, and you just dig in.

There are also many different types of mud, different consistencies. Use caution with each until you have experience. And always have a way to recover a stuck vehicle. If/when you get stuck, make sure you turn the wheels side to side to help break up the suction the mud will create.

 

Im opposite of you ive always been in mud but never crawling i want to do crawling now IMO mud is fun but for me i hate cleaning it and it gets EVERYWERE plus from mud i blew wheel bearing alternators almost locked my motor soaked my interior but it is fun though

 

x2

First time I did any serious playing in mud I found myself under my Jeep several days later digging mud out of places I didn't know existed.

 

mud and water...mostly what i run.. be ready to get dirty

 

We have a lot of mud and water around here. Mud is tricky at first. Some looks nasty but It's Just hard bottom and you can idle through it then some looks like nothing and you'll sink out of sight. Best advice I can give is low range and spin the tires as fast as you can. Keeping the tires cleaned out is key. if It's any kind of real mud as soon as You lose momentum and the tires pack you're done. Put it to the wood and use the rev limiter like It's your job. And NEVER LIFT! til you're stuck or make it or break it.

 

I avoid mud as much as I can, but heavy lugged tires / horse power and momentum always help.

 

Low range wont give you near enough wheel spin. Stick to high range.

 

Ha. Rookies. Just gotta shift it or let it shift. If it starts bogging down high range could be too high and you might not be able to turn the tires. It's hell on the tranny too. Unless you have some crazy gears. If it starts bogging down in low you can always drop a gear and keep rippin. Low range will get you off to a much faster start and make it rev much quicker. Auto or stick 2nd or 3rd gear is usually the sweet spot. Mine likes 2nd gear on the limiter.

 

Alright, spin those gears as fast as you can while ripping the high RPMs.

I'll use the more versatile gearing that allows for higher speeds normally.



Hahaha, rookie. You kill me with your name calling.


Just wondering, what's the highest speed you've reached in 4lo?

 

Sorry I just really don't like seeing poor advice given to a newbie. It's not about how fast you can get the vehicle to go, its about accelerating the tires as quickly and easily as possible. If You must know the fastest I've been in low range is probably about 60mph but that was not topped out and I'm not sure what that has to do with it. Basically what I'm trying to say is you have a wide selection of gears. Let the tranny do its job, use them. A stock or even stroker 4.0 does not have anywhere near enough power turn the tires faster than low range will let you, unless its got low gears with little tires. The only time my jeep ever sees 4hi is on the street in the snow. There's just no reason to put that much strain on your trans or clutch.

 

Oh btw over the past five years or so my jeep and five friends Cherokees (all 6cyl) have taken home well over 20 trophies in 6 and 8 cyl mud races at a very large event. Not one of them was won in hi range

 

I too used low range when in the mud and hammer down with my stock t-case but now with the 4 to 1 case i have to throttle it some to keep below 2500 rpm as per manufacturer specs on t-case. Not sure if high range is an option yet as i dont have matched set of gears just yet still working on frontend with 5.38's it may be something i can try. Back to the question at hand the right tire speed is your freind.

 

For mud I do well keeping in high range and 1-2 gear. Works well for me but keep in mind I have light 29" tires

 

slimey, sticky, suctioned, slop, chunked,.... any kind of mud you can imagine. USE THE SKINNY PEDAL.