Lousisana Swamp Truck

I'm new to this site, so please forgive me if I put this in the wrong place. I'm wanting to lift my 2nd gen to handle the swamps of South Louisiana. I'm new to modifying trucks as well, so any advice and pics would be greatly appreciated .

 

How experienced are you at this type of off roading?

Are you experiencing a problem a lift would cure?

 

Off-roading experience would be dirt/clay trails and mud tracks. the lift would be to keep cab out of the water and clearance to the frame?

 

Axle line clearance is the 'low spot', and the only thing that changes that is wheel/tire overall diameter.

A suspension lift will raise body height, which helps with entrance/exit clearance over steep things, and would give some depth of water clearance.

IMHO fording anything that requires submerging the driveline (which is needed to get water in the cab) is risky business for the health of the vehicle and should be avoided if at all possible.

Is this a dedicated off road truck, or only local short trips on pavement, or is this a daily driver that you expect to be able to take long road trips in too?

Makes a big difference in build choices and your overall enjoyment of the truck.

 

This will soon be a dedicated off road truck with Extremely limited road use. Will be put on a trailer as much as possible.

 

This is the truck being rigged.

 

Now that will make a lot of difference in your build.

Personally I'd just be in planning phases now, and not touch anything until you are ready to go to that level. Unless you KNOW something you are going to do will be 'good' for current and future versions.

You don't want to be 'redoing' stuff!

Tires will be your #1 friend in swamps. And if your dedicated, cutting, chopping and trimming the body for fit should be a non issue. As lift isn't what actually creates clearance anyway.

Another thing you need to focus on is recovery. Being able to winch from both ends is a real plus.

 

The only current items so for on my list is a 3" body lift w/ gap guards, 35/37 tires (maybe), and new front & rear metal bumpers w/ wench.

 

Good god don't do a body lift, especially a 3". Those are pointless. All they do is make you more top heavy and add no performance benefit (but they're cheap!)

Swamp Truck = SAS, 40's, super charger or an LS swap

All you need is like $15-20k...