I believe that for different types of terrain, one might want to consider an all around better system to get to where you're going. So far my 25" tires have functioned well in much of the terrain out west but here in the east where lots of the trails were not only rocky and steep but also muddy and deep. All over the RRB trails I found myself continually bottoming out and hard. I'm extraordinarily thankful that I purchased the SSS OffRoad UMHW skid plates. Without them I'd of been up a Stinking Creek with lots of underside damage. I am curious how @trigger did with his stock plastic armor?
I'm thinking now about going with a 27" tire and 1" wheel spacers for better clearance and stability. If I head west anytime soon and am limited by trail width, I could always remove the spacers as needed. Also my front rim took many hits and it now shows 5 sizable dents along the bead edge. Even though each tire has two quarts of Quad Boss in them, I was still loosing air towards the end of the day on Saturday. Which in itself made me feel more tippy to the left. Will aluminum rims be any better as far as denting/bending is concerned? I'm also wanting to pick up and mount a spare tire somewhere on the P5. I'd also like to look into some better shocks at some point too for a smoother ride as well.
Although my big box on the back holds a lot of gear for when I'm riding way out in the backcountry alone, it also blocks a good rear view for when backing up and reverse maneuvering. Plus the more space you have, the more crap you bring, weighing down your vehicle even more.
There are a few things that I think are more important to have on hand which I'll be purchasing soon, and those items so far are are: One of those 12 volt air compressors. The one I have is a nice ARB but it's large and isn't 12v. One must remove the battery cover to access the terminals to operate it as it only comes with alligator clips. It's great for my Overlanding rig but not for the Pioneer.
Another item on the must purchase list is one of those 12 volt water pump with intake filter and sprayer nozzle to clean out the radiator. Myself and quite a few others seemed to have overheating issues due to clogged radiators. Because of the high amounts of dust and mud, I think carrying an extra air filter is a must as well. I'm really glad I brought a spray bottle of Cinch window cleaner and microfiber rags with me. it was non streaking and did a great job removing all the mud and dust from my windshield.
I think adding a snorkel is also a important addition. There were a few creek crossings that I wondered if I was gonna go too deep and get flooded. That and I believe it'll help with less dust being sucked into the airbox.
I'm very thankful for my winch as it's pulled much larger machines out of the mud and saved my butt a few times as well and I know there were a few folks out there without them. So, whomever reads this please note this as being one of the 1st accessories you should purchase! Without one, you may find yourself stuck and s*** out of luck. Although I've not had the chance to use it on my P5, I have a great heavy duty tire plug kit made by ARB and keep it in the box all the time.
Again, overall my machine outperformed any and all of my expectations and gave me a better peace of mind when riding at RRB. It climbed the steepest trails and powered through the muddiest bogs and ruts. I think with a few more changes soon, the Scarab will be climbing trees!
If anyone else has any suggestions for must haves please feel free to add them here and thank you..
