Are you hard core or are you soft core like me?

[CG]

My first 67-72 Chevy truck was a K10. I bought it because I wanted a 4x4 for towing and hauling. And I didnt want a K20 because I figured it would be too rough riding and I didnt want 8 lugs. I really knew hardly anything about how the truck works mechanically.

Now I have a K20 (lol). I miss the K10 because it was a family project thing, but if you are gonna haul and tow heavy stuff you really have to have at least a 3/4 ton.

I still know almost nothing about how a 4x4 works. I have all the manuals so Im sure I could fix things that go wrong. I have no real desire to run it off road. Dont want giant tires and lift. I just like have the 4 wheel drive part in case I get in a oops situation when hauling crap. I think thats only happened a few times and it was nice to lock in the hubs and drive out of the muck.

So I guess Im a soft core 4x4 guy. It sure seems like Im in the minority though. Seems like most of you guys really know your trucks drive train inside and out. Which is good for me when I have a question =)

[Stocker]

I am definitely not a hardcore off-roader either. I have 4WD simply because I sometimes need it. Been stuck a few times, and helped others get un-stuck a few times. Bought my K20 in 1977 to haul firewood (and a lot more) and have never regretted it. The 33" tires are virtually the same height as the OEM 7.50-16s.

After years of chaining up various cars (and a couple vans), we bought a Grand Cherokee in 1995 and a Tacoma in 2005. My son now owns the Jeep.

I have also driven several 4WD trucks at work. Frankly, I have no use for a truck if it doesn't have a t-case and a front drive axle.

But I'm no expert. I have a fair idea how everything works, and just hope that nothing breaks!

[donut]

Not hard core here either. I think this is the first time in my trucks life that the hubs haven't been locked for the winter. The main reason I got it was for the snowplow, and now it's gone.
I believe I can fix it if anything goes wrong, if not I'll be looking here.
My truck is close to stock, for me a lift and big tires would have been counter-productive.

Wise man told me years ago, 2wd is to get you there, 4wd is to get you home.

[68,69 K20]

I guess you could call me soft core as well. I've always been a 4wd guy and it's kinda necessary here in upstate NY during the winter. I wouldn't mind being more hardcore off road, but with my luck I would break something and not be able to or afford to fix it lol...

[bigbadchev72]

You cant fully enjoy a 4x4 until you take it off the road

[CG]

Those are awesome pics. I like how four wheeling is a family thing for you. I bet your kids love it!

[bigbadchev72]

Originally Posted by CG

Those are awesome pics. I like how four wheeling is a family thing for you. I bet your kids love it!

Haha yeah they love it, Its currently under the knife and getting some more offroad friendly upgrades.

[swamp rat]

Well the way i look at it ya really cant go wheeling in a long bed so why think of its as a wheeling rig? My truck has seen many miles of logging roads, hunting trips, and camping, and been used as a work horse pulling trailers and boats and yes hauling livestock. Its been a daily driver as well for a number of years after i first got it, but now its primarily driven on weekends when its sunny out, for pleasure and pride and the waves and knods i get from other 67-72 drivers (usually 4X4 drivers) when we pass.

[Burt4x4]

Taking the kids out wheeling is awesome. My boy ^^^ a few years back. He would head straight for the mud hole everytime
Me, I'm not hardcore..I follow some that are but if there is a "go around" I will use it..all about not breaking and surviving...spent way too many hours busted on the trail back in the days of learning and upgrading my rig.

Hahaha poor lizard will never be the same..

Pics are from 2001

[Gene]

<<<Soft core here. I drive a 4wd daily but it has never been off road. My 71 started it's life as a 2wd truck, but I always had love for the shortbed 4x4's so i had to have one.

[Gregs71]

I try to buy nice trucks, and take pride in keeping them nice. All my trucks are 4x4, and I use 4x4, but I don't go looking for rocks or mud holes to 4x4 in. Like the OP, I use them in everyday use.

[DirtyLarry]

I wouldn’t say that I am as hard core as the peeps at pirate4x4 or CK5 that hack up perfectly nice trucks to make buggies, truggies or whatever they call them just for the sake of crawling up a rock wall. On the other hand, it seems the only time my K10 leaves the shop is when it is headed out on a trail riding/adventure trip in the CO Mountains or UT/AZ desert for a weekend or 10 days at a time. For the long distance vehicle dependent trips where we are often 8 to 9 hours from civilization we tend to be very ginger on our trucks 99% of the time so we can get back home in one piece and alive but we do often get into some rather hairy spots in the desert that quickly turn hard core in the blink of an eye. And usually we are committed where it is too late to back down or turn around at that point, which is the reasoning for having a winch on both ends of the truck and a GPS messaging devise in case we need to call in a air medic.

These are a few from our Utah trip summer 2010. The picture doesn’t look hard core but if you were there you would definitely think it was hard core as your sphincter pinches holes in your new Cabela’s seat covers as you easy down the severely off-camber drop off. This is the Hole in the Rock trail which is a real frame twister and tire lifter at this spot. A good place to roll your rig if you aren’t careful. This spot is about 5 hours down the trail from Hwy 276 that leads into Halls Crossing at Lake Powell. Not a good place to make a mistake.


This spot is an easy 8 hour trail ride from Utah Hwy 95 near Hite. This spot is called the Doll House.


The Doll House. You’re not getting here in a Subaru or maybe even in a stock Silverado but you don’t need a rock crawler either.


Hairy drop offs


There is nothing like wheeling for 4 days straight without seeing pavement or a single person.


Spending two days on the trail to sleep on a cliff, watch satellites and the International Space Station flyover as well as getting accosted by bats all night was well worth the trip.


Be careful when you go to the beer return station at 3 am...could be a long fall followed by a sudden stop...or splat.


The view from camp that night. It is so beautiful it looks fake!


I guess we are somewhat hard core or crazy. Especially doing this in the summer when it is well over a 110 degrees in the canyon.

Here is a GPS tracking link to our 2010 trip to Canyonlands. Be patient, as it loads slooooowwwwwwww

[swamp rat]

I would not attempt that with my 8' bed. LOL! But if i had a short wheel base i would probably give it a try as as long as i knew the area or had guides ect..

[coyote72]

DirtyLarry that is an awesome trip, I would jump at the chance to do something like that...the pics are great as I'm sure the memories are!

[muddnutz]

my truck has never been west of Georgia id love to see some new scenery in it mine has also never been off road except to deer camp which is maintained red clay. which is a booger to clean off its like glue

[elks]

Hymm. I defineitely like to play in mine. Thats what 4x4 is for. If I just wanted a road queen DD I would get a nice 2 wheel drive. There is something fun about building a vehicle, testing it and then making it better. I am not all out like truggies, buggies, etc. In all honesty it is fun and my family loves it. At somepoint I will ahve to stop building my jeep and blazer and go for a buggy, but until then it is possible to have a nice vehicle and wheel it at the same time.










When they get messed up I just stop wheeling and start fixing for a bit. I need a new paint job for the jeep, and the blazers paint is cracking some, but they are still nice and very capable offroad. PS I use both in rotation with my dodge as DD..

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I hate to say it but my blazer is never dirty took it out a few times when I first got it and it seemed to sink like a rock... I tend to beat on my 82 yota though..

[stllookn]

DirtyLarry, Great pics...my wife says she wants to go there. I guess I am starting the 4x4 conversion on the Longhorn tonight...LOL! It really looks like a simple bolt-up to me, except for lengthening the rear driveline. I guess I need to find a short shaft TH400 too. I will definitely be soft core!

[lowrollin70gmc]

I'm medium core. I like to play but I'm not willing to absolutely thrash my stuff for the sake of wheelin', but I do venture off the road quite a bit. I can't wait to move back to the Dakotas and see how the 'burb does drift bustin' with some 37s!

[lurch115]

i am either, but it depends on what vehicle i'm in. if i'm in my '94 k1500 then i'm soft core because i don't wanna tear the truck up or scratch it up, but if i'm in the car in my aviator then i enjoy being hardcore.

[N2Clsx]

I'm not sure but did you Rhino line the inside? One of the pics looks like you might have. My son is thinking of doing his '72

[Prerunner1982]

I like there to be a lot of up and down... if it is wet and slippery that is even better. But since I don't have a hardcore rig I will stick with my softcore for now. My Jeep Cherokee is not highly modified, mostly due to money. Living in the country though it is nice to have 4x4 to get out of the driveway when it rains or snows. I would like to build a hardcore rig one day.

[67swb72klb]

thanks for sharing pics larry that would be a sweet trip to do

[vk_chevy]

I am building up my K20 more for street duty but will be capable off-road as well, should the need arise to hit the logging roads or moderate trails.

[coyote72]

Originally Posted by lowrollin70gmc

I'm medium core. I like to play but I'm not willing to absolutely thrash my stuff for the sake of wheelin', but I do venture off the road quite a bit. I can't wait to move back to the Dakotas and see how the 'burb does drift bustin' with some 37s!

I agree with medium core, I like to play but not completly thrash.