sirhk100 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I've been offroading for 29 years now. My experience has been dirt bikes, buggies and 4wd crawlers. I've had some 2wd prerunners also but never in the dunes and not at the level of what I'm finishing up. I've been to Glamis a bajillion times but was usually on bike and the times I was there in trucks I always had 4wd and didn't really "dune" you could say... Obviously I know about airing down. Question though... I'm finishing up my latest toy. It's a 2wd early 90's F150. 21" travel front, 29" rear. bypass and coilovers all 4 corners. Has a factory stock 100K+ mile 6.0L Chevy LQ9 backed by a culhane built 4 speed auto. The truck should be an absolute blast basically! I'm building it primarily for hard pack desert racing type stuff but do want to take it to the dunes. I know I can air down and get around fairly well. But realistically, how much better will running a set of paddles be? I know on bikes it's night and day between knobbies and paddles. Would it be that substantial on the truck too? Do you think I can reasonable expect to actually somewhat "dune" the truck with a group of buggies if I wanted if I was running paddles? How many scoops do you think I should try and run? It's obviously not finished in this picture but hopefully you get the idea.... Thanks, Khris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltr450rider Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I would air down and see how it runs for awhile rather than spending a bunch of money on paddles and not see much of a difference. If you can do what you want on aired down dirt tires, there is no point in spending the extra money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I've seen a few prerunners at Dumont with paddles, but they seemed like they were super built and had quite a bit of power to turn them. Paddles can be very hard to turn and power robbing on a heavy truck. I'm not sure how many paddles you could run, but I bet it would go great with a set that aren't too overkill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtdiesel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) I think paddles would help a ton since its 2wd. With out them I don't think you would be able to climb any hills very good. I also don't think you would be able to dune with a group of sand rails paddles or not. I could be wrong?? Sure be fun hauling a$$ through the woops and climbing the hills and jumping though. I vote paddles! Sick truck. Are those tires in the pic 35"? I would think a 33" Paddle would work good and look ok. Get the shorter paddles so you get some tire spin. Edited October 2, 2014 by nwtdiesel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltr450rider Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I've seen plenty of 2wd trucks in the dunes tearing it up without paddles. Hell, I saw a 3-Day Blinds van tearing it up out in Pismo one afternoon! I'm pretty sure the 2 guys "working" were done with their job and with the company that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Yes, it's sitting on 35's currently. And the paddles I'd eyeballed were 33" for power reasons exactly. I'm running 6.0:1 gears in the rear though so I do have that advantage. Most the "prerunner" trucks aren't going into that low of a gear range but this truck won't see street use or if it does, it's from street light to street light, no highway. 6.0 gears is more of a race truck type deal... Thanks for the feedback in general though! I've asked around a decent amount and it always goes unanswered. I figured I'd try it just aired down and see how it does but would love to know real world how much better some paddles would be? I've got a lead on these for $550 with the wheels and it's the right wheel/lug pattern I'd need. But like mentioned above, I don't really want to spend the money if not needed or if the truck won't really push them. I contacted the guy and tape measure no mounted on a truck they're a 33" tall setup. If things go right, I should have it in the dirt for the first time ever in 2-3 weekends and then probably a month or so's worth of testing/tuning and then I'll haul it out to the sand and see what it does there. Decent step up from my last truck... Last one was half the power, 17" front, 24" rear travel, coilovers, no bypass and the chassis wasn't built near as stout as this one is for abuse! LOL I should've had this truck out about a month ago but on my 3rd start up after one full heat cycle for a new motor... Well this kinda happened... In fact this happened when I fired it to pull it off the trailer in that top picture above! I should be slapping in it's replacement hopefully tomorrow night/Sat and then goes for exhaust and a few minor check over items and should be good to go. I've got a couple evening's worth of fab to finish up on it also but I'm really close! Thanks, Khris Edited October 2, 2014 by sirhk100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakster884 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Nice get that truck out in the sand and let us know how it does. Paddle no Paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) That's the plans for sure! It's hard to say time lines cause well, I thought I was hitting the dirt the weekend after labor day with it but then BOOM... I really don't have much left on it though. Granted, won't have a front clip for a bit but cosmetics is the least of my concerns. (although I do need to peel the stickers off those used rear fenders ASAP!!! LOL) I just want one or two good runs with it to test for gremlins, then pay to have the shocks tuned and then one or two more good solid testing sessions on the hard pack and at that point I think I'll be ready to try the sand. I want some confidence in it before I play in the dunes with this thing! Edited October 2, 2014 by sirhk100 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Those look like they would hook up a little more than you would want, but ya never know until you try. Searching for the right paddle is tough unless you have something to go off of and you don't since you haven't run paddles on it yet. Try em out though. With that gearing you might be good. If it's too much, you could always shave off some cups if you aren't too worried about reselling them later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Crap, sometimes I completely miss the obvious!!! Didn't even think about the fact I could just shave some off it I feel it's too much. I have a friend with a nice groover that would likely make quick work of them if I needed to pull some off. Like you said, not having a starting point, I'm just kinda diving in. Either way I'll take it out with just the MT's on it and have fun. But if a set of paddles would allow me to actually "dune" the truck persay, that would be pretty darn cool/fun!!!! Those ones pictured above are available right now and I feel like $550 with the right wheels that I need is a fair price but then again... There'll be more. Patience... Get the thing in the dirt first, then get it in the sand, then worry about it... LOL I live in Vegas, I miss Glamis, Dumont just seems like a great way to scratch that itch onces this thing is done. Perfect world, I'd find someone that's got a set of paddles mounted on a 5x5.5 that I could borrow for a weekend or heck, even just borrow for a single quick run from camp. I mean it's not like it's hard to swap them in camp... That may be my best bet. Start asking around for who's got a truck setup and smooze them into letting me take a test run with them so I at least have a starting point! Edited October 2, 2014 by sirhk100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtdiesel Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I have some 14.50x15 paddles that are in excellent shape. They have 1" scoops. They are 32" tall. If your interested let me know. I would sell them for $350 and you could grab some 15x12" wheels sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) How many scoops on them out of curiosity? 1" tall, sounds almost more like the desert tracks type of tire? Which I've also considered honestly, not as power robbing, more sand traction then a MT tire, crossover'ish, etc... It's what we used to run on our buggies as a good go between tire but wouldn't want it really in the rocks of a lot of our deserts. Are you actively pushing them to sell or just one of those things where they're collecting dust in the back and you'd let them go if someone asked about them? Just judging if I have time to try the truck on MT's a time or two first and if you'd likely still have them or not? Edited October 3, 2014 by sirhk100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtdiesel Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 They are real sand tires not desert tires. I have a friend interested in them for $350 but he's a good friend and won't care if they went to someone who needed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 Definitely do not hold them for me, if you have an interested buyer, let them go. I've still got a couple other items to spend money on that have priority in getting this thing in the dirt before I buy paddles when it really comes down to it. I'll hit you up when I'm ready and if you still have them, maybe we can make a deal, if not, no biggie, there'll be more on the market sooner or later. Got the engine/trans bolted in place. This week will finish safety wiring all my mounts, fluids, plumb it, hook it all up, etc... This weekend I'm hoping to button up 100% of the fab work on the rear end that I've been procrastinating and then take it for exhaust next week probably. If some shock parts I've been waiting on show up this week or next I could potentially have it in the dirt in 2 weekends. That's out of my hands though and I'm at the mercy of the shock machinest to get me the parts I need. WIll have the shocks tuned ASAP and basically just start gaining confidence in it. Potentially could be in the sand Nov time frame... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Well, still fighting motor issues on this hoopty!!! Finally bit the bullet and yanked it out. Has a hard spot every single rotation that I believe is my knock. Need to tear into it further though to find it. Did a leak down test also though and found one bad cylinder which I don't think has anything to do with my noise but while it's apart and out of the vehicle, I guess I obviously need to address that as well. Out of boredom though the other night while it was out of the garage and the engine hoist was sitting there mocking me I decided to see really what the rear end was capable of and well... Figured someone may get a kick out of this. It's 100% ready to go complete in this picture with exception of the driveshaft... And normal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Droop, there it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 On the rear bumpstops... Front... Low rider... Monster truck... And this was last weekend for the first time ever. Zero tuning, it'll get smoother once I get it dialed in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=vd&v=5dpBP0pnCgc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGSmq2Chzk&list=UUAr5O4XSxMHhdUvRMoKKkmw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Looks like she's working good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 It's getting there! Reality has set in that I doubt I'll be able to hit the sand this weekend. WIth race commitments on the other truck I'm involved with I'm slammed between now and the Mint and then after the Mint depends on what condition the race truck is in. Even if all good, by the time I finally have this truck finished up and 100% dialed in, we'll probably be into summer. So hopefully next season I can pop it's cherry in the sand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 Not 100% but there's a chance I may head to Dumont with it next weekend! We'll see how this weekend at the Mint goes with the other truck I'm responsible for and if I can knock out a few items I'd like to take care of on it between now and next weekend. Still building up my confidence in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 Well... I popped it's sand cherry this past weekend! It did excellent actually! I have some new truck gremlins to still work out but for the most part it did everything I asked of it! Climbed everything out there. Had one run where I was screwing around a bit too much and got the trans hot but that was the only "dune" related issue I had. The other gremlins are just known gremlins on the to do list that I still need to work out. Gonna fix a few things and then maybe head for Dumont or Glamis next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Wtf? We were there too! Check my trip report in the other areas section. Can't believe I didn't see you out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhk100 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 LOL, yeah, it was definitely hard to miss me and probably hear me. The truck isn't quiet by anymeans and the only other thing I saw out there was that smaller framed a-armed buggy with the V6 in the rear. It was all quads/bikes/utv's otherwise. We got out there mid Sat morning. Ran around a bit Sat from probably noonish till 4-5pm playing with tire pressures and settings. Sunday mid morning we went on a run and Sunday late afternoon went on another run but wasn't really long due to Transmission temps. Monday morning did another run and then loaded and headed home. We were camped in the pay spots, spot #17. Big green van, car trailer and the truck above. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Ah ok. We were riding on quads and were parked in the meadow. We got there late morning Saturday and bailed out around noon on Sunday. Still crazy I didn't spot you out in the dunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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