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Old 10-22-2010, 03:01 PM   #29 (permalink)
Leadfoot
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: USA
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White Lightning - '98 Ford Ranger XLT Off Road
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
PS: And it's not as though the vehicle has to be that high for terrain clearance, since what matters there is the lowest part of the frame/running gear. Look at your typical SUV sometime, and you'll notice that the differential & rear axle is only about 6-8 inches above the road, while the body's jacked another foot or so above that.
You do need that high body line to not get high centered on berms and other obstacles, hence why jeeps and other off road vehicles have short wheelbases. There is a unique strategy you use off-roading to attack berms at a certain angle to not scrape the differential but you need high ground clearance between the wheelbase. Your typical SUV is a body on frame vehicle enabling it to tow more. So it will almost always have a higher center of gravity than a unibody. And if you don't need the ground clearance or tow capacity then maybe a minivan is more your style.
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1998 Ford Ranger 4.0L 4x4
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