Traction bar placement - Competition Diesel.Com

01smoker · 01-18-2011, 10:53 PM

I know this may have been asked before but what are you guys' opinions on where to mount traction bars? I see alot of guys' bars go all the way under the door and others not even to the cab. I have a few ideas as to why but would like to hear some more opinions.

This is for a qclb dedicated pulling truck with blocked suspension btw.

SmokeShow · 01-18-2011, 10:55 PM

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01smoker · 01-18-2011, 11:01 PM

Thanks for your help smokeshow. I have searched but havent really found what im looking for.

ramtough01 · 01-18-2011, 11:31 PM

Look at side of truck see were the door handle is go straight down to the frame make front mount there

CGD · 01-18-2011, 11:34 PM

I agree with ramtough01 that seems to be the best place for them

01smoker · 01-19-2011, 12:14 AM

I see where guys are mounting them but what im asking is what is the reasoning behind it.

ramtough01 · 01-19-2011, 12:17 AM

longer the better plus frame is strongest right there

Johndeere9610 · 01-19-2011, 07:51 AM

For a daily truck I would say make them match the DS angle for flex reasons but my pulling truck is set up as mentioned above.

apocalypse1812 · 01-19-2011, 08:10 AM

But the drive shaft has u-joints and a slip yoke, won't they bind/ not allow as much suspension travel?

That's a question I've wanted to ask for a while.

OrangeNV · 01-19-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apocalypse1812

But the drive shaft has u-joints and a slip yoke, won't they bind/ not allow as much suspension travel?

That's a question I've wanted to ask for a while.

if they dont have a shackle style swing joint at the front frame connection your answer is yes. check out dt pro fabs rear traction bars, they have a shackle at the front and a cradle to hold the rear axle from twisting AT ALL

they are only gonna bind of you are rock crawling or get way off camber......normal driving poses no problems

Johndeere9610 · 01-19-2011, 09:50 AM

If your running a 2 point mount on the axle then yes you need a shackle on the front. But with a mono bar system its not as bad. My dodge I have the long bar to the door handles but my lifted ford is left up to match the drive shaft and I have never had problems and I pull my Gn with it and even loaded there still free. I thought I would have problems had to adjust them for the load but I have been running them for 3 years with out problems and I use to have alot of axle wrap.

ramtough01 · 01-19-2011, 05:34 PM

Ive never had shackles on my front mounts and i would pull a GN and haul are skid steer around all the time with it i never had a binding problem

Reaper · 01-19-2011, 09:01 PM

If your building a pulling truck and want it to hook shorter is better. If you run long bars they will flex and or bend like you see them do on lots of trucks. Short bars will plant the truck to the ground harder and let the chassis flex and do its job.

01smoker · 01-19-2011, 09:17 PM

Thank you reaper, that is the kind of answer im lookin for. I was thinkin along the same lines. I know of several trucks with short bars and they hook really well.

zstroken · 01-19-2011, 09:25 PM

I have seen short bars permanently bend frames also.

nwpadmax · 01-20-2011, 12:25 AM

If it's a dedicated puller and the rear end is blocked, there is no need to worry about binding, it's all bound up period, and no need for shackles. I ran mine all rigid for several years and it hooked like mad.

When you have suspension travel requirements, I think the longer bars (as long as they don't flex) do a better job of holding the axle in place because they more directly oppose what the axle is trying to do.

If it's a rigid setup, then I don't think it matters much how you do it. The net torque absorbed by the vehicle is the same. The stress applied at the mounting point is all you're doing by changing the length of the bar.

CGD · 01-20-2011, 12:42 AM

I thought that if you were pulling then you would want the longer bars and if you were drag racing you would want the shorter bars, at least that is what I have heard. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

94 12valve · 01-20-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramtough01

longer the better plus frame is strongest right there

you sure about that? the thickest part of the frame on my truck is right before the cab right where the front bed mount is ... thats where I ran mine too

cumminsman315 · 01-20-2011, 11:52 AM

last ones i built for a guy, were 2", 3/16 wall square tube and the have not flexed yet,, also ran close to where the ext. cab starts

revolutiondsl · 01-25-2011, 07:48 PM

Mine being a QC/SB I ran them about 3 inches forward of the back door handle and it seems to do well

01-18-2011, 10:53 PM	#1
01smoker Name: 01smoker Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central MO Member`s Gallery Posts: 961	Traction bar placement I know this may have been asked before but what are you guys' opinions on where to mount traction bars? I see alot of guys' bars go all the way under the door and others not even to the cab. I have a few ideas as to why but would like to hear some more opinions. This is for a qclb dedicated pulling truck with blocked suspension btw.

01-18-2011, 10:55 PM	#2
SmokeShow Name: SmokeShow Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Apr 2006 Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,715	Search... __________________ Mitch IG: @_mitch_ratliff_ '14 Ford F150 FX4 SuperCrew, w/ 3.5L EcoBoost, bone stock 83 GMC K30 CC SB 4WD awaiting D/A chassis swap

01-18-2011, 11:31 PM	#4
ramtough01 Name: ramtough01 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: wisconsin Member`s Gallery Posts: 2,775	Look at side of truck see were the door handle is go straight down to the frame make front mount there __________________ Jeff 2001 dodge puller ODL limited pro diesel truck Ram Tough Thanks to Dennis at Fair Valley Performace www.fvpdiesel.com Badger State Tractor Puller Association Member Ramtough \| Teespring

01-19-2011, 12:17 AM	#7
ramtough01 Name: ramtough01 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: wisconsin Member`s Gallery Posts: 2,775	longer the better plus frame is strongest right there __________________ Jeff 2001 dodge puller ODL limited pro diesel truck Ram Tough Thanks to Dennis at Fair Valley Performace www.fvpdiesel.com Badger State Tractor Puller Association Member Ramtough \| Teespring

01-19-2011, 05:34 PM	#12
ramtough01 Name: ramtough01 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: wisconsin Member`s Gallery Posts: 2,775	Ive never had shackles on my front mounts and i would pull a GN and haul are skid steer around all the time with it i never had a binding problem __________________ Jeff 2001 dodge puller ODL limited pro diesel truck Ram Tough Thanks to Dennis at Fair Valley Performace www.fvpdiesel.com Badger State Tractor Puller Association Member Ramtough \| Teespring

01-18-2011, 11:01 PM	#3
01smoker Name: 01smoker Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central MO Member`s Gallery Posts: 961	Thanks for your help smokeshow. I have searched but havent really found what im looking for.

01-18-2011, 11:34 PM	#5
CGD Name: CGD Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Delavan, WI Member`s Gallery Posts: 627	I agree with ramtough01 that seems to be the best place for them

01-19-2011, 12:14 AM	#6
01smoker Name: 01smoker Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central MO Member`s Gallery Posts: 961	I see where guys are mounting them but what im asking is what is the reasoning behind it.

01-19-2011, 07:51 AM	#8
Johndeere9610 Name: Johndeere9610 Title: Ford guy Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Elberfeld IN Member`s Gallery Posts: 629	For a daily truck I would say make them match the DS angle for flex reasons but my pulling truck is set up as mentioned above.

01-19-2011, 08:10 AM	#9
apocalypse1812 Name: apocalypse1812 Title: Nailed It! Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Odessa, Tx Member`s Gallery Posts: 6,180	But the drive shaft has u-joints and a slip yoke, won't they bind/ not allow as much suspension travel? That's a question I've wanted to ask for a while.

01-19-2011, 09:50 AM	#11
Johndeere9610 Name: Johndeere9610 Title: Ford guy Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Elberfeld IN Member`s Gallery Posts: 629	If your running a 2 point mount on the axle then yes you need a shackle on the front. But with a mono bar system its not as bad. My dodge I have the long bar to the door handles but my lifted ford is left up to match the drive shaft and I have never had problems and I pull my Gn with it and even loaded there still free. I thought I would have problems had to adjust them for the load but I have been running them for 3 years with out problems and I use to have alot of axle wrap.

01-19-2011, 09:01 PM	#13
Reaper Name: Reaper Title: Rookie Status: Not Here Join Date: Jan 2011 Member`s Gallery Posts: 18	If your building a pulling truck and want it to hook shorter is better. If you run long bars they will flex and or bend like you see them do on lots of trucks. Short bars will plant the truck to the ground harder and let the chassis flex and do its job.

01-19-2011, 09:17 PM	#14
01smoker Name: 01smoker Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central MO Member`s Gallery Posts: 961	Thank you reaper, that is the kind of answer im lookin for. I was thinkin along the same lines. I know of several trucks with short bars and they hook really well.

01-19-2011, 09:25 PM	#15
zstroken Name: zstroken Title: For $$$ your name here Status: Not Here Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Western Michigan(by the lake) Member`s Gallery Posts: 23,151	I have seen short bars permanently bend frames also. __________________ 2008 4x4 Megacab, 68RFE 97 Dodge gone.... 24V P-Pump Mafia member #1(retired) Thanks to Mumau Diesel, Goerend Transmission, Northeast Diesel Service!

01-20-2011, 12:25 AM	#16
nwpadmax Name: nwpadmax Title: Turbo Geek Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Out in the shop Member`s Gallery Posts: 3,128	If it's a dedicated puller and the rear end is blocked, there is no need to worry about binding, it's all bound up period, and no need for shackles. I ran mine all rigid for several years and it hooked like mad. When you have suspension travel requirements, I think the longer bars (as long as they don't flex) do a better job of holding the axle in place because they more directly oppose what the axle is trying to do. If it's a rigid setup, then I don't think it matters much how you do it. The net torque absorbed by the vehicle is the same. The stress applied at the mounting point is all you're doing by changing the length of the bar. __________________ "What I said does equate too what can happen....Alote." Last edited by nwpadmax; 01-20-2011 at 12:28 AM.

01-20-2011, 12:42 AM	#17
CGD Name: CGD Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Delavan, WI Member`s Gallery Posts: 627	I thought that if you were pulling then you would want the longer bars and if you were drag racing you would want the shorter bars, at least that is what I have heard. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

01-20-2011, 11:52 AM	#19
cumminsman315 Name: cumminsman315 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2009 Location: Missouri Member`s Gallery Posts: 987	last ones i built for a guy, were 2", 3/16 wall square tube and the have not flexed yet,, also ran close to where the ext. cab starts __________________ 01 24v

01-25-2011, 07:48 PM	#20
revolutiondsl Name: revolutiondsl Title: Cat buys my Cummins parts Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lafayette, IN Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,391	Mine being a QC/SB I ran them about 3 inches forward of the back door handle and it seems to do well __________________ 03 3500 QC SB 4x4 Auto, 2.5 puller 07 Mega Cab dually4x4,Auto, 5.9 ,