Power
But how about power? Again, couldn't you just bolt on a blower, add some nitrous, and blast down the road? Sure, but you wouldn't have the wide variety of choices that gearing gives you. In our Chevy example, 160 hp is definitely anemic. We like to see at least 350 horses out of a mill this size, which equates to quicker getaways and more stump-pulling ability. Through a variety of carbs, cams, pistons, and other items it's relatively easy to pump up some ponies on most engines, and it's usually enough to offset the bad choices some people make in the tires/axle ratio department.
We'll never solve the debate over which is better, gears or power, but we figured you all want to know what the heck is going on. For our money we'd do lower gears first and engine mods later, but without a doubt we want 'em both.
Gears or Power?
When it comes to different styles of wheeling and different terrain you intend to conquer, different choices of gears or power come into play. Choosing the right combo for you isn't that hard, and this chart can help you decide what you want.
| Low Gears | Big Power |
| Sand | | | | |
| Pro | Helps to turn big tires | Pro | Good wheel speed for floating |
| | with small engines | | |
| Con | Not enough wheel | Con | Hard to spin tires from a start |
| | speed to float on top | | |
| Mud | | | | |
| Pro | Torque reduction keeps | Pro | Ability to pull through resistance |
| | the tires turning | | |
| Con | High wheel speed not | Con | Little lugging ability at low rpm |
| | available in first gear | | |
| Rocks | | | | |
| Pro | Slow wheel speed allows | Pro | Torque helps steady momentum |
| | finesse in driving | | |
| Con | Slow tire speed can con- | Con | Hard to drive smoothly if touchy |
| | tribute to rollovers or loss | | |
| | of control during descent | | |
| Speed | | | | |
| Pro | Good throttle/speed | Pro | Great acceleration and fun |
| | control in any gear | | |
| Con | Engine winds out too | Con | How else do you go fast? |
| | quickly | | |