Mud running can be quite demanding on the suspension and even harder on the engine, tranny and drivelines. You may want to improve on these areas as well or just keep spare parts and spare money aside for when things break.
The main areas of improvement -
Waterproofing
Splashguards
Hydrodynamics
Turning brakes
Tires
Those same tires that kick ass in dry or desert areas (B.F.Goodrich All terrains) really suck in mud. A pair of mud tires for the rear will make the biggest difference in how far you can go.
The absolute best mud tire is the Super Swamper Bogger. I have seen these in action on a baja, the car could idle through some really nasty stuff, very impressive. These are expensive, though, about $160 per tire (31 X 12.50 R15).
I think that the next best tire would be the standard Super Swamper TSL. I've seen these in action too, they work pretty well and are about $50 cheaper.
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Splashguards
There are two places were you might want to install splashguards. The less important place is on the fenders, to extend them downward to reduce the ammount of mud that gets caked on to the sides of the car. Down in Baja there was about 20 to 40 lbs of mud caked on my baja at any given time, it's thick down there.
This can be acomplished by bolting some old rubber splashguards, that you might find on the side of the road somewhere, to the lower part of the front fenders.
The more important place is between the rear tires and the engine. The same aspect of bajas that make them so easy the work on also makes the engine suceptable to mud and especially water. Water can short out the ignition sysem and cause you to have a nice wait while it dries out.
Some sheet metal bolted to where the original engine compartment sides used to be can provide the need protection. Just take it off when you need to get to your spark plugs or take the engine out.
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Hydrodynamics
When there is a foot of water over the foot of mud that you are trying to go through, it is a good idea to be able to hydroplane on top of the water.
This is acomplished by having a front skid plate. Instead of the water hitting the lower torsion tube and getting up by the firewall and rushing in all the little holes and getting inside the car, The water will hit the skid plate and your front end will float on top. If you are going fast enough, of course. ; )
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Useful things to bring...
- winch, come-a-long or about 5 guys and some rope!
- clothing that you really don't care how dirty they get.
- water proof boots/hip waiders
- a lead foot ; )
