Damage your truck by mudding

Is it possible to damage your truck by mudding? As in, the internal components, or anything like that, or does it just get dirty?

Also, does leaving the dirt cause any damage?

Sorry for the noob question

 

Yes.

 

Depending on the type of mud- It can leak back down thru vents and breather valves. It can also expose problems (like frayed wires, loose connections, etc) faster as water/mud leaks into them.

As far as mud damaging the paint- Yup. Depends on the type of mud, how well you wax/care for your truck before hand, and lots of other variables.

 

yes if water gets to high you can hydro lock your engine,
also i am sure if you leave mud on any of bushings and steering componets could dry rot

 

I've got some jacked up pulley's right now

 

I always say no



to mud that is. Unless its a few small puddles or so. Mud pits are not my cup of tea. Trail rides with obstacles like mud "puddles" rocks and tree are a normal ride around here.

 

Possible, Yes
Likely, Yes
Getting it "dirty" is the least damaging thing it does to your truck.
Worth it?
Thats up to you.

 

I fried my alternator when mudding once.

 

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Mud can fuck shit up if you bury yourself up to your frame religiously. If play in the mud once and awhile and clean the undercarriage especially your output seals/pulleys/bearings mud will have minimal time to tear apart everything...

This is the outside of the ADD shaft on my old front diff. It had about a half inch of play.


This is the inside end of that long connector shaft housing. Mud worked it way down and smoked this as well.




Why was my frame 2x to heavy

 

Just don't be an idiot doing it. Cut doughnuts in a muddy field if you're scared.

 

what is that, and what is inside it? (I know this is a mudding thread but that doesn't look like mud at all.

 

Looks like his frame filled with mud.

 

Compact mud the funny texture is from the torch getting it warm.

 

Nougat. Like a 3 Musketeers bar.




Looks to me like accumulated impacted dirt.

 

Wut.

 

^the way you can tell it was in the frame before the cut the area where the torch chopped it apart is clean. Had it impacted the ground enough to fill the frame it would be dirty

 

Mud caused me to have to replace one of my idler pulleys. Apparently they aren't sealed so muddy water can get in em and make them whine... and fail.

Some types, like super fine silt can get all up in gaskets and such. I tend to avoid super silty areas.

When I do get it muddy, I try to pressure wash it within a week or so. Paint, undercarriage, engine bay, everything but the interior.

Mudding can cause you to hit unseen/buried obsticals... or slide into them. Depending on where you are at....

As with any off roading, if you are going to do it, be prepared to break shit eventually!

 

I've read that pressure washing can backfire on you because it pushes dirt deep down into seals where it wouldn't have gone.

 

Probably does have some adverse affects. Gotta get the mud off somehow though and when a garden hose isnt cutting its.