Competition Beginners guide to sled pulling

[FDavid]

I have 0 experience pulling. Do you guys use 4Hi or 4Lo. If its a manual, do you start in 2nd? About how fast do you hit? Anything else you can share? Although there are alot of pulls that go on around where I live, I have yet to go to one. When I go, I wanna know whats going on and maybe with a few more bombs, enter an amateur class. Thanx...

 

[Rob Thomas]

Use low range, and depending on what rear gears you have, use either 2nd or 3rd in the transmission. Let the clutch hold before you mash on it, don't try and come out full tilt, your clutch will hate you for it.



Most important, have fun, that's whats it's all about. Good luck.



Rob

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I've pulled one time last year at a local fair, I used 2-lo because the guy flagging us in said I should and I was nervous about the clutch holding, if I was doing it again I'd try 3-lo since I have 4. 10 gears. I know that with the 255 tires and the 4. 10 gears in 3-lo the truck tops out at 35 mph, I'm not sure what 2-lo does. I found a road with no one on it and tested the speed I could do foot to the floor.

 

[Sled Puller]

First off, ignore Rob Thomas, trust me, it is for the best.



Then do a search on this site for that topic.



Buy my videos from the last threes years, it will show you what happens from stock, to slightly modified.



Or, go to Diesel central and start downloading pulling videos.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Originally posted by Sled Puller

First off, ignore Rob Thomas, trust me, it is for the best, by the way dump trucks are cool and they rule.

 

[Rob Thomas]

You can ignor me like pudpuller says, but I haven't broke anything yet. Ask him to send you the long list of mangled parts he has.



The inventor of "Jesup gear", Rob

 

[DSteinel]

at least gene wins. It makes breaking parts a little easier to take

 

[Cumminsman]

LOL!!!

 

[Crankshaft]

If you have stock HP and 3. 55 gears pull in 2nd low or 1st hi.

If you have more HP and 3. 55 gears pull in 1st hi or 3rd low but you will need a better clutch to hold 3rd lo. I've been there

If your running 4. 10s pull in 3rd lo or 2nd hi.

Top speed in 3rd lo with 3. 55s in about 20 mph, the same as

2nd hi with 4. 10s. that should get you started. Have fun!!

 

[csutton7]

do not pull in 4hi with an automatic--you could break the output shaft---chris

 

[BrandonF]

Brandon says if your not breaking parts your not makin power.

 

[Sled Puller]

I guess that explains Suttons lack of breakage... ... ... .



Say, Rob, you must have lots of power, to twist both frame rails like you did 2 years ago.



Silly dumper, sled pulling is for real trucks, not nonusable show toys.

 

[DSteinel]

Originally posted by Sled Puller

I guess that explains Suttons lack of breakage... ... ... .



Say, Rob, you must have lots of power, to twist both frame rails like you did 2 years ago.



Silly dumper, sled pulling is for real trucks, not nonusable show toys.

OUCH!!!

 

[WadePatton]

Have a neighbor build a track and buy a practice sled.

I've hooked 20-30 times now.

 

[Redmega06]

Ok what about mechanical fixes like traction bars or blocks to keep the suspension from squating. I would like to hear all of the things that should go with out saying.

 

[BigBadDodge]

Gene, Chris hasen't broken because he hasen't pulled in the last two years. I think him and that guy who had the Phurd Psycho I think his name was have retired :-laf



Just ribbin ya buddy :-laf



BBD

 

[Cummins724]

I have 0 experience pulling. Do you guys use 4Hi or 4Lo. If its a manual, do you start in 2nd? About how fast do you hit? Anything else you can share? Although there are alot of pulls that go on around where I live, I have yet to go to one. When I go, I wanna know whats going on and maybe with a few more bombs, enter an amateur class. Thanx...

When I was searching for answers, I learned that watching videos is what helped the most. As the guys have mentioned, just try to watch as many videos as possible to get a idea of how to launch. You'll see in the videos that guys with manuals use only one gear, Rev to redline & slip the clutch out the hole to get moving. This should only be attempted with a Dual Disc clutch. If you have a stocker, I wouldn't recommend pulling at all. Single disc clutches will not hold up to sled pulling. Go to YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. type in the search "Dodge Cummins sled pull" & you'll see alot of videos on the subject. In my signature is a link to one of my pulls, but I am just a beginner also when compared to some of the guys posting in this thread like BigBadDodge & Sled Puller. I watched their videos to get me started, learned alot.

 

[BAnsley]

set your hitch as high as the rules state, Now depending on your rule book if you can have a blocked rear or not , If so bolck it solid to hold your height or if not allowed make spring clamps and a bump stop set really close but gives you a inch or so to travel. O and if ever something goes wrong or breaks never slam on the brakes!!! ease out of it and let the sled stop you,it will take no time at all for that sled to stop you... ... no need to add insult to injury!





Good luck, Brian

 

[AFoulk]

What gear do you guys recommend for my truck with the 5600, 3. 55's, and 285/75's? I might give it a try this summer. If I do, it'll be my first time as well. Oh, and I will putting a twin disc in it this spring.