Mudding with your truck is a great hobby, not only is it fun but it also requires skills that you can develop over time. The more you develop your driving skills, the more rewarding each challenge becomes. Whether you are new to off-road mudding with your truck or have some experience, the thought has probably crossed your mind, can mudding ruin my truck?
Mudding can damage your truck, because it has a lot of parts that can all be adversely affected by mud over time. The best way to prolong the longevity of your truck and avoid damage is through proper routine maintenance practices before and after you go mudding.
That being said, let’s dig in a bit deeper and examine exactly which parts are the most vulnerable to damages from mudding and what you can do to avoid it.
The right truck for the job
Certain trucks are built for off-road use, and with a little bit of tweaking and customization, you can adapt your truck to be best suited for mudding.
Shopping for your off-road truck can be exhausting but if you understand what to look for, it can make the process a lot easier. It is important that you understand exactly what you are looking for but there are a few aspects that are fundamental to buying the right off-road truck.
In most cases, the vehicle must be four-wheel-drive, they must have a ground clearance of at least 215mm (8.5 inches) but most off-road vehicles have a clearance of 220mm or more. The truck must have the right wheels and an optimized suspension system.
Best practices
Proper maintenance starts before getting to the site where you will be mudding. You want your truck or SUV to be as optimized as possible to lessen the effects that mud has on it.
Ground clearance is one of the most important factors you need to look at. You want the ground clearance to be as high as the truck or SUV will allow. Every vehicle has different dimensions so be sure to speak to an expert regarding your vehicle.
For the suspension, soft-riding leaf springs may be the best suspension design for mud because they will tolerate the wet and harsh environment.
Buying a set of all-terrain tires is recommended when doing any type of off-roading, be sure to check the specifications on your vehicle.
When Mudding, it is best to go as a group so that there are at least two vehicles, so make sure you have a winch to pull you out of tricky situations. If you get stuck while alone and without a winch, you might not be able to get out of the situation and would have to wait for help to arrive, giving mud time to seep further into the components of your truck.
Which parts get the most damaged
It’s important to know which parts are most vulnerable to damage when mudding. This way, you can regularly check, clean, and maintain them to prolong their longevity and keep the mudding fun going for longer without unnecessary interruption by your truck breaking down.
The paint
Mud is abrasive, not only while you are driving through it, but also leaving it on your truck to harden makes matters worse. Always wash your truck as soon as you can after spending time in the mud. If you are using a pressure washer, be careful not to use it at full power and do not spray directly onto the vehicle.
You can also detail your vehicle with specially designed car waxes before you you leave for the off-road site.
Idler Pulley
The idler pulley regulates the belts that connect to the crankshaft. Its primary function is to produce movement in numerous engine components. Muddy water can get into the pulley and if you hear a squealing sound, that sounds like it’s coming from the engine, it could be a damaged idler pulley that is causing the engine belts to have problems.
Idler pulleys are relatively cheap to replace and only takes around 25 minutes, but if you are not familiar with it, you’ll have to take your truck to the nearest mechanic to get fixed.
Body
Most 4WD off-road vehicles are built to handle the elements, but if you want to take extra measures in protecting your vehicle, you could always get aftermarket Bumper, grills, side kits, mud flaps, etc.
Alternator
Mud can splash into and flood your alternator and can damage the alternator shaft bearings along with the brushes and electronics inside the unit as well. Mud can also corrode the bearings and wiring of the alternator.
Vents and breather valves
Mud can leak in the vents and breather valves of your vehicle.
Electronic wires
Due to the abrasive qualities of mud, having it constantly interact with your wires could expose those wires and create a short circuit on your electronics. Before setting out on your adventure, check your wiring and make sure there are no kinks or exposed wires.
Suspension and steering
Bushes are cushions mounted to your suspension to absorb bumps and also mounted to steering joints to restrict movement. The mud could seep into the bushes and because mud traps moisture, it will cause the bushings to rot. This will ultimately damage your suspension and steering components.
Wheels and bearings
Mud can affect your wheels in several ways.
Mud traps moisture, so when it gets caked onto your axel it can accelerate the wear and tear of your CV axel.
Wheel bearings are designed to lessen the friction in the axel, but if mud gets into the chamber that houses the wheel bearings, it can damage the bearing. Damaged bearings will mean more friction, causing your wheels to wobble, damage the axel, and throwing the balance of your vehicle off.
Even just having mud harden on your rims and tires could throw the balance of your truck causing extra strain on your CV joints and axel.
Solutions
There are a variety of ways you can enjoy off-roading, if you choose to go mudding, yes, it can damage your vehicle. But just like most other vehicle and “machine” hobbies, you will always have to do regular maintenance on your equipment.
- Routine maintenance and thorough cleaning is the best way to prolong the use of your off-road vehicle.
- Use a pressure washer but remember, with thicker mud you run into the risk of pushing it deeper into the components that you are trying to wash. You might want to manually clean some components by hand first.
- Make sure you have the right equipment. You can buy aftermarket suspension systems, all-terrain tires, and suspension systems specifically built to handle muddy terrain.
- Try to always have a friend with you in another vehicle when going mudding. Having a winch to help get unstuck is also essential.
- Once you have an issue with your truck and suspect any damages, take it to a mechanic before the damage gets worse.
- It’s also important to regularly send your truck for its routine services.
You also need to ensure that you have the right equipment in your recovery kit in case you have an issue with your truck while out mudding or if you get stuck. You can check out our recommended gear for mudding here to help you out of those sticky situations.
Conclusion
As well as trucks and other off-road vehicles are built, they are not immune to damage by mother nature and you should keep this in mind when taking your truck off-roading.
Mudding can end up causing a lot of damage to your vehicle if you don’t take care of it and keep up with regular maintenance best practices, like thoroughly cleaning it after every off-roading and mudding adventure.
Stay safe and happy mudding!
