Smokey Build and Adventure

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
So over 5 months ago I ordered at set of tires that I have wanted for a really long time. Pitbull Rocker Radials. Well the time it took for them to be made gave me the time to really talk to some people who are running them. While I know that they are probably the best non-sticky offroad tire on the market. But I still daily my Runner and so when I was told that the PBR's suck on the highway (@theesotericone ) it made me rethink my choice. I was able to cancel the Pitbulls (it hurt inside a little) and then back to the drawing board of picking a new tire that would be good on the road and great offroad. I knew that I didn't want to go back to MTR's as they were horrible on the road, BFG's are notoriously undersized, Everybody and their brother is running the STT pro's. So I settled on a tire I knew would meet my needs. The Mickey Thompson MTZ p3's. I didn't get the metric size but got the D load 35x12.5R17's.

I am super happy

Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr

Here is a pic of the Day I put the MTR's almost 4 years ago for comparison Smokey 63 by Sam Wright, on Flickr
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
15,882
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OC
I gotta figure out what's next. I love my km2s, but honestly I feel like they've been shit in the rain around town and I wasn't too excited with the way they felt on ice/wet. Could just be my alignment sucks balls but they didn't handle the way my duratracs did during wet/ice/snow situations. If they could fix the sidewall issues with duratracs I'd run the again in a heartbeat, but I replaced 4 tires within. 1 1/2 years due to sidewall blowouts.
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
I gotta figure out what's next. I love my km2s, but honestly I feel like they've been shit in the rain around town and I wasn't too excited with the way they felt on ice/wet. Could just be my alignment sucks balls but they didn't handle the way my duratracs did during wet/ice/snow situations. If they could fix the sidewall issues with duratracs I'd run the again in a heartbeat, but I replaced 4 tires within. 1 1/2 years due to sidewall blowouts.

It's tough, and the selection of available tires just grows. I've run MTZ's in the past and they are a great all a round tire, they are tough and roll great, and they are sticky on the rocks. If this wasn't my daily driver I absolutely would be running the Pitbulls but maybe by the time I wear these out I will have another daily and this will be my trail rig. Time will tell. LOL
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
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31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
So over 5 months ago I ordered at set of tires that I have wanted for a really long time. Pitbull Rocker Radials. Well the time it took for them to be made gave me the time to really talk to some people who are running them. While I know that they are probably the best non-sticky offroad tire on the market. But I still daily my Runner and so when I was told that the PBR's suck on the highway (@theesotericone ) it made me rethink my choice. I was able to cancel the Pitbulls (it hurt inside a little) and then back to the drawing board of picking a new tire that would be good on the road and great offroad. I knew that I didn't want to go back to MTR's as they were horrible on the road, BFG's are notoriously undersized, Everybody and their brother is running the STT pro's. So I settled on a tire I knew would meet my needs. The Mickey Thompson MTZ p3's. I didn't get the metric size but got the D load 35x12.5R17's.

I am super happy

Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr

Here is a pic of the Day I put the MTR's almost 4 years ago for comparison Smokey 63 by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Bummed to see that you didn't stick with the PBR's. I'd probably do the same thing if it was my daily too. I'm surprised to hear so many people don't like the MT/R's in the road. Maybe I just have really low expectations, but I've never had any real issues with them on the road. They get decent road traction and don't make too much noise.
I gotta figure out what's next. I love my km2s, but honestly I feel like they've been shit in the rain around town and I wasn't too excited with the way they felt on ice/wet. Could just be my alignment sucks balls but they didn't handle the way my duratracs did during wet/ice/snow situations. If they could fix the sidewall issues with duratracs I'd run the again in a heartbeat, but I replaced 4 tires within. 1 1/2 years due to sidewall blowouts.
Well Duratacs are known to be great in the wet/ice/snow situations. KM2's are the complete opposite. Only good in the rocks and dirt. Can't really compare AT's to MT's when it comes to those conditions. Hard to have tires that are good in all situations.
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
Bummed to see that you didn't stick with the PBR's. I'd probably do the same thing if it was my daily too. I'm surprised to hear so many people don't like the MT/R's in the road. Maybe I just have really low expectations, but I've never had any real issues with them on the road. They get decent road traction and don't make too much noise.

It was a hard choice. I really wanted the PBR's but I make several long trips a year in the Runner and it has to drive well on the Freeway. My MTR's were fine around town and did great in the rocks but from day 1 we were never able to really get them to balance or roll well, my friend who is a manager at Discount Tire said that my experience was not uncommon unfortunately. I figured that the Pitbull's would be similar to the Goodyears and so I made a choice. I know that the Mickey's will do great so I will be happy for now, but look forward to the day when I have another vehicle to drive daily and can run 37 Pitbull Rockers. LOL
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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Messages
15,882
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It was a hard choice. I really wanted the PBR's but I make several long trips a year in the Runner and it has to drive well on the Freeway. My MTR's were fine around town and did great in the rocks but from day 1 we were never able to really get them to balance or roll well, my friend who is a manager at Discount Tire said that my experience was not uncommon unfortunately. I figured that the Pitbull's would be similar to the Goodyears and so I made a choice. I know that the Mickey's will do great so I will be happy for now, but look forward to the day when I have another vehicle to drive daily and can run 37 Pitbull Rockers. LOL

Yeah I'm kinda getting tired of the km2s on the long drives and it's at least 2 hours to any wheeling spot. Unfortunately they have a ton of tread so it's gonna be awhile until I can replace them.
 

theesotericone

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
3,494
Location
Bishop, CA
So over 5 months ago I ordered at set of tires that I have wanted for a really long time. Pitbull Rocker Radials. Well the time it took for them to be made gave me the time to really talk to some people who are running them. While I know that they are probably the best non-sticky offroad tire on the market. But I still daily my Runner and so when I was told that the PBR's suck on the highway (@theesotericone ) it made me rethink my choice. I was able to cancel the Pitbulls (it hurt inside a little) and then back to the drawing board of picking a new tire that would be good on the road and great offroad. I knew that I didn't want to go back to MTR's as they were horrible on the road, BFG's are notoriously undersized, Everybody and their brother is running the STT pro's. So I settled on a tire I knew would meet my needs. The Mickey Thompson MTZ p3's. I didn't get the metric size but got the D load 35x12.5R17's.

I am super happy

Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr

Here is a pic of the Day I put the MTR's almost 4 years ago for comparison Smokey 63 by Sam Wright, on Flickr

Good choice Sam. My PBR's suck ass on the highway. They're heavy as fuck. But they stick well and are very true to size so I'm just gonna deal with them. My next tire will not be PBR's. I'm glad you listened to the advice because I'm sure you'll be way happier with the Mickey's on the highway.
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
Good choice Sam. My PBR's suck ass on the highway. They're heavy as fuck. But they stick well and are very true to size so I'm just gonna deal with them. My next tire will not be PBR's. I'm glad you listened to the advice because I'm sure you'll be way happier with the Mickey's on the highway.

I know I will be happy. I will just wait for the PBR's for down the road when Smokey is a dedicated crawler or I build a Rock Lizard. Then I will go back to bias in a 42". LOL
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
Well it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. In October my family and I went to the Chili Challenge in NM. It was a great week of wheeling on some fairly challenging trails. Days one and two we did trails that were rated 6 and only had to swap out one broken CV. Then on day three we did a trail called Crystle Canyon that was a tough 7 easy 8. Well 35's were just not enough and I ended up taking out both drivers doors and they climbing a pretty good sized waterfall broke another CV and snapped it off inside the diff so couldn't change it on the trail. So I had to 3 wheel the rest of the trail. It was rough. LOL. crushed a passengers rear quarter and took out the bottom of both passengers doors. So on day 4 we changed from another 7 rated trail we switched to a scenic trail rated 5 and just did it in 2wd with the rear locker. fun day let my almost 12 year old do a lot of driving. Came home and found out that Insurance wanted to total the rig. Valued it at just over 9K and got 7500 after buyback. So now this will be our dedicated crawler. So now for some of the pics.
 

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Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
So the plan. 4th gen front diff is going in so I have 30 spline. RCV's are going to be a must. Built spindle that allows me to use 4th gen hubs but still going stay with a 3rd gen long travel. 37's or 40's and stretch the rear about 10 inches. This will take forever but will be great when done.

Oh and for my daily driver I have waited 18 months but picked up my new Bronco yesterday. Gotta take it easy on it for a while but after a day of ownership I absolutely love this thing. Next saturday we will take it out to the dirt and put it through its paces.

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AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
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Well sounds like you've been having a good time lately! Congrats on the Bronco and looking forward to seeing the build on the 3rd gen.
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
Well sounds like you've been having a good time lately! Congrats on the Bronco and looking forward to seeing the build on the 3rd gen.

thanks! Yes we have been having a good time. It was sad crunching the Runner but it did help knowing that I would be getting the bronco and be able to really put some work into the front end to beef it up. If your willing I might be interested in talking to you about your long travel you have been developing. Ive gone back and forth about just doing a SAS and building the IFS and I think the IFS is going to win. lol.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Messages
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Location
Yucaipa, CA
thanks! Yes we have been having a good time. It was sad crunching the Runner but it did help knowing that I would be getting the bronco and be able to really put some work into the front end to beef it up. If your willing I might be interested in talking to you about your long travel you have been developing. Ive gone back and forth about just doing a SAS and building the IFS and I think the IFS is going to win. lol.
The IFS that I was designing is placed on the backburner for now. I just haven't had the time to design that sort of stuff lately and not sure if I really ever will, which sucks. I have way too much going on these days. My plan from here is to likely go with the TT Motorsports 4wd kit. +5.5", with RCV's, Dana 44 style hubs and pushes about 18" of travel.
 

eimkeith

IFSFFS.
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The IFS that I was designing is placed on the backburner for now. I just haven't had the time to design that sort of stuff lately and not sure if I really ever will, which sucks. I have way too much going on these days. My plan from here is to likely go with the TT Motorsports 4wd kit. +5.5", with RCV's, Dana 44 style hubs and pushes about 18" of travel.

unlike button.
 

Blender

Swiftie
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
2,772
Location
Chandler, AZ
Well it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. In October my family and I went to the Chili Challenge in NM. It was a great week of wheeling on some fairly challenging trails. Days one and two we did trails that were rated 6 and only had to swap out one broken CV. Then on day three we did a trail called Crystle Canyon that was a tough 7 easy 8. Well 35's were just not enough and I ended up taking out both drivers doors and they climbing a pretty good sized waterfall broke another CV and snapped it off inside the diff so couldn't change it on the trail. So I had to 3 wheel the rest of the trail. It was rough. LOL. crushed a passengers rear quarter and took out the bottom of both passengers doors. So on day 4 we changed from another 7 rated trail we switched to a scenic trail rated 5 and just did it in 2wd with the rear locker. fun day let my almost 12 year old do a lot of driving. Came home and found out that Insurance wanted to total the rig. Valued it at just over 9K and got 7500 after buyback. So now this will be our dedicated crawler. So now for some of the pics.

Would you say Chile challenge is a must-attend?
 

Rockdawg84

Confidence the feeling before fully understanding
Joined
Oct 22, 2018
Messages
210
Age
55
Location
NW Tucson
Would you say Chile challenge is a must-attend?
Yes! it is a blast and we need more toyota's to represent amongst all the Jeeps. LOL. I only saw 3 other toyotas out of a couple hundred rigs. And there are trails for all levels of rigs from bone stock to buggy only trials.
 
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