Traction Bar Location

[durallymax]

Wanting some opinions on what works best for the front mount of the T bars, basically the location is all I need.

Currently mine were mounted inbetween the t bar and trann x members i Believe, maybe behind the T bar member, but they were long.

should I shorten them up?? Im thinking keep the same length but Ive been wrong before.

BTW I have to make new ones as my old ones were another night before pull creation out of pipe that was too thin.

 

[1lowdiesel]

the ones i've always dones were 6.5', it put the front mount just in front of the fuel tank. wanna buy a set :hug:

 

[Righteyeblind]

Mine are 60" and work good.

 

[1lowdiesel]

here is a better pic

 

[SmokeShow]

here is a better pic

For the load applied, isn't a weld along the frame (front to back) stronger than across the frame (side to side) like on that front frame mount???

I like the joints/ends! The bars look a little small as far as OD goes. What's the dimensions???

 

[1lowdiesel]

those are actually welded all the way around. i wasn't too thrilled about that front mount though, looks wise that is. those were inch and a half.

the new ones i did were almost 2" and ALOT nicer and higher end. those ends are great, very durable and never a squeek.

check em out...
http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h197/1LOWDIESEL/bars/

 

[dmax687]

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284816

Here are some bars I made for myself about a month ago. Work really well and look pretty good too. The front mount works awsome too. Bars are set at 66" in the pics. Everything is fully TIG welded

 

[othrgrl]

1LOWDIESEL - Only issue I see is how do you pre-load them? We have rods ends on each ends with reverse thread on one end so that you can crank the bar to preload them.

 

[durallymax]

well my old ones were a little longer than most of you guys bars. im thinking of bringing the back.

For my bars Im gonna use 2x2.5 aluminum square with a 1/4" wall otto and some of the gas 4x4 mod guys run them around here and they just look really nice.

For the front mount I designed it so that it distributes load evenly. It will connect to the rear part of a square tube and have a bracket the is welded to the side of the tube and bolts into the vertical part of the frame. I like this method as it transfers the load to the frame rather than through bolts or welds.

 

[durallymax]

my front mounts will be similar to dmax687s

 

[1lowdiesel]

there is no need to preload them when installed taught (sp). i've done 3 sets that way and havn't any wheel hop issues. the new ones that i built have super pivot joints on one end that is adjustable just not for preload.

 

[dmax687]

1LOWDIESEL - Only issue I see is how do you pre-load them? We have rods ends on each ends with reverse thread on one end so that you can crank the bar to preload them.

Yeah on my setup I have a 3/4 heim at each end. One right hand thread and one left hand thread so it works like a turnbuckle to get them tight.

I installed the brackets on the rear axle and them on the frame then I put the bar in and tightened the bolts and then twisted the bar as much as possible so that the axle would not be able to move anywhere from where it was sitting flat on the lift. (drive on lift)

 

[dmax687]

my front mounts will be similar to dmax687s

They have worked very well for me so far. Very stout!

 

[Kspen90]

Where do you get the ends from and does installing trac bars ruin the street drivability of the truck?

 

[05chevy]

I get mine from ballistic fab or ebay. And my truck rides decent. Was better with the 6' bars then the 4' I have on it now