want some opinions on caltracs vs long trac bars. i have ran caltracs for the last three years but i am not sold yet on them. i notice in videos i get some flex between cab and bed . is this a issue or not really??
caltracs vs. long trac bar design
- Thread starter dracing70
- Start date
Longer is better. About the length of the drive shaft seems be what most are running. The longer bars transfer the force in a forward directio instead of upwars like the caltracs.
yeah makes sense. i also was thinking that by the frame flexing in the fashion that it does that being a arch down u technically lose some hitch height also
Not trying to argue, but I've actually seen the opposite. The Caltracs actually use a pivot to push down instead of up like a traditional bar (one of the reasons drag racers love them as they already have enough weight transfer). A straight bar will push up. The longer the bar, the less of a push up, but unless the bar is mounted with a downwards slope to the front (not likely), it WILL push up to a degree (simple physics).
Also the Caltracs do not tie into the frame so there is no force transerred to it (ask the Dodge guys who bent theirs).
One of the guys around us (Mad Maxx) ran a "Burkhart" style long bar, then switched to Cal-Tracs and his hook greatly improved.....and as he stated (It's simple physics). FWIW.
Edit: As for loss of hitch height. If the frame is flexing, you are keeping your hitch height up as the front "sags" down. If you reinforce the frame our use a bar to keep the front end up (it will force your rear down...again physics), which will actually decrease your hitch height.
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No worries what your saying makes sense. In my case I am more worried about keeping the axle from moving for ujoint longevity. I just feel the the caltracs don't do this as well. If I was drag racing caltracs would be my first purchase.
The caltracs actually try and raise the rear as they work where as long bars only control axle wrap. some may say the caltracs produce wheel hop sooner but most all have said they don't see this, JMO
I have never had a issue with hop ever it plants and goes. I usually raise my truck off ground to unload everything then tighten the cal tracs so they touch then go one turn. Then when I set the truck down they load up. They work great but I do get some frame flex that I don't care for and feel that long bars would correct this.
Yes I do mine r nodded and beefed up for more durability and easier adjustment though
When you pull a sled, you have the hook pulling down on your hitch, and the power your truck produces turning the wheels . The caltracs pushing up/ down, longer bars pushing more forward and less up, etc. is all the same in the end.
A setup with flex ( stock) will allow axle hop.
A setup that's rigid ( long bars ) will not allow axle hop, but will not allow the suspension to maintain traction in a situation where available traction is changing.
A short bar ( caltracs ) setup controls axle wrap enough to prevent hopping, but allows the axle to move a little so that it will maintain traction.
I do not think you can prove to me that one setup will create more or less lift on the front, the only affect is on smoothness of weight transfer and maintaining traction.
A setup with flex ( stock) will allow axle hop.
A setup that's rigid ( long bars ) will not allow axle hop, but will not allow the suspension to maintain traction in a situation where available traction is changing.
A short bar ( caltracs ) setup controls axle wrap enough to prevent hopping, but allows the axle to move a little so that it will maintain traction.
I do not think you can prove to me that one setup will create more or less lift on the front, the only affect is on smoothness of weight transfer and maintaining traction.