Among truck owners there is a certain, select group that enjoys modifying their vehicles into off-roading, rock-crawling beasts. Improved flex helps trucks handle even the most daunting terrain. "Flex" refers to the suppleness of a truck’s suspension, and allows, for example, one wheel to be perched on a large rock while another is buried in a ditch. Thus, improved flex translates to improved traction, as all four tires are planted on the ground at all times, regardless of terrain.
Decrease the air pressure in your truck’s tires until you notice the sidewalls beginning to bulge slightly. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve the flex of your truck. In off-road conditions, fully inflated tires have reduced surface area and do not adapt well to uneven surfaces. A tire with less air pressure will flex as it encounters rough, uneven terrain, thus increasing the surface area of the tread and allowing more traction.
Install a lift kit on your truck. A lift kit will increase the truck’s height. The extra height will not only allow the truck to tackle more daunting off-road obstacles, it will create more room for the tires to travel up and down as you move over uneven terrain. You may install either a body lift or suspension lift. A body lift, while cheaper, will not improve off-road capability as much as a suspension lift. Suspension lifts will come with shocks and springs specifically designed for close encounters with rough terrain.
Install long-travel shocks on your pickup. This may prove an expensive upgrade, especially if your truck is equipped with torsion bars and leaf-springs instead of shocks. The upgrade to softer, longer-traveling shocks, however, will prove worth the investment if you’re serious about off-roading. Softer shocks that allow for increased vertical movement will ensure the tires stick to the ground, no matter the terrain.
Disconnect the sway bar on the truck. The sway bar is designed to give the pickup greater on-road handling, especially through corners, by reducing the amount of body lean in the truck. In off-road conditions, though, the sway bar reduces the ability of the tires to move separately from one another, thereby decreasing flexibility. Be aware, if you disconnect the sway bar, also known as anti-roll bar, the on-road handling of your truck will be noticeably diminished.
