Bobbed deuce or 5 ton for light to moderate crawling, mudding, and general wheeling

[dmolson92]

Howdy,
I am getting ready to graduate college and I have been contemplating/lurking here for awhile. As I am graduating I am planning to use some saving to buy a good solid wheeling truck that I can drive on nice days and get some wheeling done as well! I have always dreamed of heading out to Moab, but I know I will only be able to do the easier trails. I plan on bobbing the deuce or 5 ton. Also upgraded air ride seat and lockers would be in order one day, along with upgraded lights and an adequate radio. My dad is a machinist and I welded for him all through high school, so I'm not afraid of facing my own stuff and I know it will take time! But that is what I'm looking forward to! We have a 12k mile marker winch I plan on throwing on there.

My question is, do any of yall wheel your deuces or 5 tons like that? Is this an over ambitious idea? If you do wheel your rigs post some pics! Or anything I'm missing on for a good wheeling rig? Thanks in advance!

 

[Tlauden]

Um yea, We wheel them!!! I've never driven a 5 Ton or a bobbed deuce but I'd imagine a 5 ton is on the verge of being to big for some 4-wheelin trails. Bobbed deuces though look awesome on the trails!!!! My stock deuce also did great on the trails, and it was some thick clay type mud that clogged the NDT's almost instantly.

Here's some pics of the fun to be had with these trucks








And this is why you always let your buddy go first into a big hole!!!!!!

 

[dmolson92]

Thanks so much!!! My current idea is to lean towards a bobbed m35a3 for size and the fact it already has power steering! And comes with super singles.

 

[doghead]

Try one unbobbed first. They are much more off road capable stock.

 

[Jeepsinker]

Try one unbobbed first. They are much more off road capable stock.

Yep! Look at the articulation of the rear ends in that pic, you cant get that or the contact patch of that with one less axle. Go on youtube and watch some bobbed deuce wheeling videos, you will see that they almost always end up stuck. Then watch some regular deuces wheeling and see what you think.

 

[welldigger]

Yep! Look at the articulation of the rear ends in that pic, you cant get that or the contact patch of that with one less axle. Go on youtube and watch some bobbed deuce wheeling videos, you will see that they almost always end up stuck. Then watch some regular deuces wheeling and see what you think.

That's because bobbers are front heavy. Chunk some sand bags in the bed. The weight on the rear end will help the rear axle get traction.

 

[ATPTac]

I'm partial to stock deuces for the reasons stated above, plus I think they look better. Bobbed trucks will enable you to get into tighter areas though. It's mostly personal preference. Also something else to keep in mind, if you end up doing any kind of fording, if you submerge the axles in water/mud there is a lot of maintenance to take care of afterwords.

 

[w3azel]

When making your decision don't forget to add up all the upgrades you plan down the road. Your smart thinking M35a3 for a better engine to turn larger tires and power steering. I more then doubled the cost of my deuce with 2 lockers $2,000 (shop installed), two axles lockouts $1070+$450 for rear axle shafts, and power steering $2350. Now I'm on the rims and tires payout $330 each for re centered and powder coated HEMITTs. Tires I might be trading for those. Still haven't done anything to interior and lights. Now these are big numbers and I'm not including my crew cab and bobbing expenses. Don't get me wrong I love my truck but my little toy has become my largest expense. For the money I could have bought a better wheeling only rig but it wouldn't be a show stopper like it is now and Id have nothing to do with my time. O and if we could just keep these cost's to ourselves and not show my wife that would be great.

 

[Jeepsinker]

That's because bobbers are front heavy. Chunk some sand bags in the bed. The weight on the rear end will help the rear axle get traction.

This may be true man, but you still don't get the contact patch that you have with the extra axle. More rubber on the ground is a good thing.

 

[welldigger]

This may be true man, but you still don't get the contact patch that you have with the extra axle. More rubber on the ground is a good thing.

Depends on the scenario. That extra axle and the extra length of a 6x6 can hinder you just as much as help you. Just depends on where you are trying to go.

 

[Jeepsinker]

Depends on the scenario. That extra axle and the extra length of a 6x6 can hinder you just as much as help you. Just depends on where you are trying to go.

Agreed sir.

 

[dmolson92]

That was my thought on bobbing it... So I can get into some tighter trails... While I was lurking in some of these builds I am thinking of winches front and rear. I really like the m809 series looks and how they drive (only have driven an m35a2 and an m923) with the 5speed and that big nhc250under the hood, but now I'm thinking through the width issue of a deuce versus a 5 ton and the deuce seems better fitted to what I want to do...

 

[Mercunimog404]

Um yea, We wheel them!!! I've never driven a 5 Ton or a bobbed deuce but I'd imagine a 5 ton is on the verge of being to big for some 4-wheelin trails. Bobbed deuces though look awesome on the trails!!!! My stock deuce also did great on the trails, and it was some thick clay type mud that clogged the NDT's almost instantly.

Here's some pics of the fun to be had with these trucks
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And this is why you always let your buddy go first into a big hole!!!!!!

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Those are neat pictures. But that's not moab.

 

[Merc1973]

You don't need a bobbed deuce, just an old Crown Vic to crawl Moab....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwPXEeJ3aI

 

[Mercunimog404]

You don't need a bobbed deuce, just an old Crown Vic to crawl Moab....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwPXEeJ3aI

Those are easy trails

 

[Tlauden]

Well that looks interesting lol

 

[dmolson92]

Lol that's pretty awesome... Still looking to see some people that rock crawl/ wheel their bobbed Trucks... Seen plenty of videos and been in plenty of bobbers that are mudding, so I know they can accomplish that!!!

 

[desert demon]

DOUBLE D aka DESERT DEMON

I have met a new friend that has a full size M35A2.We will find out witch one does the best and if the extra axle makes any difference or not soon

 

[desert demon]

Lol that's pretty awesome... Still looking to see some people that rock crawl/ wheel their bobbed Trucks... Seen plenty of videos and been in plenty of bobbers that are mudding, so I know they can accomplish that!!!

I will be doing a lot more with mine this year.Last weekend playing on the rocks,the only thing I noticed was ya got to watch youre steps and fuel tank.Im running the bigger tires and no power steering at this time LOL.If ya like a good work out on youre upper body strength its all good

 

[dmolson92]

Desert demon , let me know how that goes!! That's exactly what I want to do!!! Where is that at???

Thanks all for the comments! I posted this same thing over on pirate4x4 and received little help except that I am apparently a complete moron for wanting to use an m809 series to go wheeling in... Go figure...

Anyone think of anything I'm missing besides lockers, winches (contemplating front and rear winches), HEMTT beadlock with 53's. Drove an m818 for sale and really liked it, so leaning towards that.