Three Ways to Add Traction to Your 4x4

Whether we like to wheel on dirt, in mud or snow or on the rocks, one issue constantly comes up: traction. How do we get it? What are the best, most effective ways? No matter if you drive a big Dodge, Ford or Chevy truck or a tiny Jeep or Samurai, more traction will cause it to perform better.

Install a locker. While this option is in no way cheap, it is one of the most effective and sure ways to gain traction for your 4x4 on the trail. A locker replaces the differential in your axle, creating a positively locked condition which forces both tires to turn at the same rate at all times. Detroit, Lock-Right and Grizzly are popular brands. You can also weld the spider gears together which will also lock the axles, but some experience in both welding and ring-and-pinion gears is necessary to do so. This type of job is often called a "Lincoln-Locker".

Install better tires. If your 4x4 is running the stock-size, bald tires then you can greatly increase traction by slapping on a new set of mud or even all-terrains. They have the benefits of being wider, having a more aggressive tread and most times they are made out of a slightly softer compound so they conform to obstacles better. BFG and Interco are two very popular off-road tire brands.

Air your tires down before you hit the trail. This aspect of wheeling is often overlooked by beginners but it does wonders for the performance of your 4x4. Try letting the air out of your tires until they hit seventeen pounds or so, and see how your vehicle operates. Most of the guys I know air-down to between twelve and seventeen pounds, depending on tire make and size. A 33-inch tire at seventeen pounds will greatly outperform the same tire at forty pounds because it is able to flex and conform to the terrain.

I hope this article has been helpful. Now, hit the trails and see how your rig performs!