2011 Ford F-150 FX4

[Jake]

Dude yes, I hope to do this someday in the Canyon. I was actually going to ask you about your air dam, that is much less intrusive than mine is (which is designed to be removed for off-road use and reinstalled for cooling / mileage purposes). I never thought I would see a mighty Raptor beached like that, but that looks like the right kind of mound to do it! Very nice!

You'd have an easier go at it than I did, given your truck is shorter in length (I would guess). I just had to watch it around some tighter turns on the trail, but never had to do a 3-point turn or anything.

My air dam is some sort of flexy rubbery plastic. I definitely bashed it on the rocks that I "flexed" on but no damage caused. If I had the foresight to remove it before the trip, I would have, but laying in dirt and gravel to remove it wasn't something I cared about, given how low-intensity this trail was.

The Raptor owner gave it hell getting up that hill. The sound it made as it crashed down on the running boards was wonderful.

Best part is, the Raptor is his wife's truck.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I figured I'd make that dirty air filter even nastier and joined a few friends on Sunday for my first-ever off-road experience.

Holy balls this is fun. I want to do more of it, with a harder trail next time.

Trucks are fun.

So proud. Much happiness.

[SlimKlim]

I kept singing the Team America theme song under my breath every time I was driving and climbed up a hill, something about that chaka-chaka Coyote intake noise and lots of dirt just brought the 'Murica out in me.

BTW that Raptor didn' give a fuck that its belly landed on a rock either. After we got it down I looked under it with the owner and it didn't have so much as a scratch. In addition to the skidplate it has ridiculously beefy jack points under there which prevented any of the delicate stuff from getting close to the dirt. Pretty awesome.

[Senor_Taylor]

Youre making me proud, son. We'll make a redneck out of you yet. It'll be fun to get a ton of MM'ers out to flagpole and do some stuff up there.

Also Raptors aren't really in their element when trying to crawl over things. They're more of a Baja/overland kind of truck. Except for the frames snapping when they get air. Long wheelbases aren't great for getting over things.

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[Beej]

That's sorta interesting that you like the off road stuff. The only other go-fast guy that I've talked to that has given it a shot hated it. Just said he bounced around for a few hours at 5mph while occasionally getting to an obstacle. Doesn't sound appealing to me but hey. I did enjoy taking the Jeep out on the beach.

Gotta be a whole new angle of enjoyment for the truck if you dig it though!

[Jake]

That's sorta interesting that you like the off road stuff. The only other go-fast guy that I've talked to that has given it a shot hated it. Just said he bounced around for a few hours at 5mph while occasionally getting to an obstacle. Doesn't sound appealing to me but hey. I did enjoy taking the Jeep out on the beach.

Gotta be a whole new angle of enjoyment for the truck if you dig it though!

I think what appeals to me is a mix of things...

• Ability to use all the fancy off-road gizmos Ford put on the FX4
  
• Loud V8 noises
  
• The need to focus on placement of wheels/corners - kind of like track driving but far, far slower
  
• Slinging mud everywhere
  
• Loud V8 noises

[ScottyB]

cool, never thought an FX4 on highway tires would EVER take you that far! i love that electronic incline meter.

[Jake]

cool, never thought an FX4 on highway tires would EVER take you that far! i love that electronic incline meter.

It seriously didn't struggle at all. I really want to see how far I can push it before it gets stuck.

[PDenbigh]

cool, never thought an FX4 on highway tires would EVER take you that far! i love that electronic incline meter.

It seriously didn't struggle at all. I really want to see how far I can push it before it gets stuck.

I have some experience here :-).

I find it interesting how sometimes a vehicle will feel like it'll do anything, and other times it's a "seriously, this is all it took!?" moment. Enjoy that journey though, and take some pics when you find the limit!

[JPolen01]

cool, never thought an FX4 on highway tires would EVER take you that far! i love that electronic incline meter.

It seriously didn't struggle at all. I really want to see how far I can push it before it gets stuck.

Those tires seem to do really well in deep mud too....

[Senor_Taylor]

You'll be surprised what a tire/truck can handle when it's dry. The true test is when the weather is cold and the tires get caked with mud.

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[Jake]

Those tires seem to do really well in deep mud too....

Dude, that was all due to a heavy right foot and the right attitude. And your relentless encouragement from the backseat.

[V1GiLaNtE]

That's sorta interesting that you like the off road stuff. The only other go-fast guy that I've talked to that has given it a shot hated it.

I think what appeals to me is a mix of things...

• 
  
• The need to focus on placement of wheels/corners - kind of like track driving but far, far slower

^ I think this is seriously underrated and not well understood for many people who have never experienced it. Definitely not usually understood by those who usually go fast. Technical off road driving is all about tire placement and the "line". Picking a bad line can lead to things as simple as not clearing an obstacle to as devastating as a rock sized hole punched through your oil pan. These are skills that force you to really understand your vehicle, where all 4 tires are at all times, as well as the drive train elements underneath. There is a lot to think about when maneuvering challenging terrain. Will my diffs clear? Do I have enough of an approach/departure angle that won't smash or rip off a bumper or gas tank? If I come off this rock am I going to smash the shit out of my transfer case?

I know we talked about an event in the Fall. Honestly, if you guys are really interested (and this goes to all MMers) I'd be stoked to put on an MM 4x4 101 class. The drivers seat is always open in the XJ.

[Senor_Taylor]

Once we have a set date for the college solo, we can start planning. It would be cool to do them the same weekend, but I think thats a lot to cram in all at once especially with how sparse events are in the fall/winter

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[D_Eclipse9916]

I know we talked about an event in the Fall. Honestly, if you guys are really interested (and this goes to all MMers) I'd be stoked to put on an MM 4x4 101 class. The drivers seat is always open in the XJ.

Plan it, would love to join in. The truck wouldn't do so well but we might have an "easy trail" capable vehicle by then. I don't find it as enjoyable as track driving, but it sure is a ton of fun!

[*insertusernamehere*]

That's sorta interesting that you like the off road stuff. The only other go-fast guy that I've talked to that has given it a shot hated it.

I think what appeals to me is a mix of things...

• 
  
• The need to focus on placement of wheels/corners - kind of like track driving but far, far slower

^ I think this is seriously underrated and not well understood for many people who have never experienced it. Definitely not usually understood by those who usually go fast. Technical off road driving is all about tire placement and the "line". Picking a bad line can lead to things as simple as not clearing an obstacle to as devastating as a rock sized hole punched through your oil pan. These are skills that force you to really understand your vehicle, where all 4 tires are at all times, as well as the drive train elements underneath. There is a lot to think about when maneuvering challenging terrain. Will my diffs clear? Do I have enough of an approach/departure angle that won't smash or rip off a bumper or gas tank? If I come off this rock am I going to smash the shit out of my transfer case?

I know we talked about an event in the Fall. Honestly, if you guys are really interested (and this goes to all MMers) I'd be stoked to put on an MM 4x4 101 class. The drivers seat is always open in the XJ.

Yes please. I've always asked Taylor or Colton to take me but it doesn't ever workout.

[Kaan]

Cabells and Sylvias Jeeps both attack trails slightly differently but generally the same line.... the issue that changes things would be a wheel base issue. but both rigs have proven that tire placements (and armor) can get you a LONG way down the trail with much larger jeeps.

the long tail of a truck AND the long wheel base make it more important.

[Senor_Taylor]

Cabells and Sylvias Jeeps both attack trails slightly differently but generally the same line.... the issue that changes things would be a wheel base issue. but both rigs have proven that tire placements (and armor) can get you a LONG way down the trail with much larger jeeps.

the long tail of a truck AND the long wheel base make it more important.

Ask my bumpers how I know this.

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[Jake]

Mileage: 55,537

I like loud noises, so I bought a Roush intake for this thing. It was used, it was cheap, and I need to get some filter cleaner soon. It sounds amaaaazing, particularly in tunnels around DC



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[SlimKlim]

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