Just now seeing this thread. James, I imagine you've got a handle on your truck by now. Nice to see another large 80 in the club....we've had a long history in the club with Jeff's, Logan's and my former rig. Nice thing about an 80 when you get up that high is you can still make it over things out there that others need lockers to do. After I added an aussie to my rig it made it amazing. When I regeared and went F/R ARB's it was even, better pretty much unstoppable.
Don't go lower or smaller tires. Only reason I can see for this if you absolutely hate the 80s street manners. I DD my truck for years with no ill effects and even drop it across the US with bad brakes and worn out bushings. Even like that the 80 design shone through and I maintained 70 on the hwy with 4.11 gears. It is very forgiving. Yours I imagine is even better on the street just with the extra power. Mine was a 3FE and it still could get up to 80 if I wanted even with tires weighing 114lbs a piece.
As far as lockers go, Put an Aussie in the rear for now but safe for ARB's or TJM's in the future. You can also do what logan did and put an Aussie in the front but you would either have to do a part time kit or just run manual hubs and CDL engaged (poor mans part time) I've driven his truck both on and off the trail quite a bit and it also drives fine.
I'd keep the flares but get used to popping them off for the trails or you will lose them to the trails.
Even with no experience off road an 80 makes you look like you know what you are doing.
Don't go lower or smaller tires. Only reason I can see for this if you absolutely hate the 80s street manners. I DD my truck for years with no ill effects and even drop it across the US with bad brakes and worn out bushings. Even like that the 80 design shone through and I maintained 70 on the hwy with 4.11 gears. It is very forgiving. Yours I imagine is even better on the street just with the extra power. Mine was a 3FE and it still could get up to 80 if I wanted even with tires weighing 114lbs a piece.
As far as lockers go, Put an Aussie in the rear for now but safe for ARB's or TJM's in the future. You can also do what logan did and put an Aussie in the front but you would either have to do a part time kit or just run manual hubs and CDL engaged (poor mans part time) I've driven his truck both on and off the trail quite a bit and it also drives fine.
I'd keep the flares but get used to popping them off for the trails or you will lose them to the trails.
Even with no experience off road an 80 makes you look like you know what you are doing.
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. I didn't take any pics and I know that's not a good thing but thankfully others did .
