Group Purchase On Rob Thomas Traction Bars

[thekidfan]

I have been talking to Rob Thomas (Michigan Performance Diesel) about the possibility of a group purchase on his custom traction bars and this is what I have worked out.

His traction bars are regularly $595. 00 plus S&H which to California can exceed $60. 00 If we can get 10 people Rob has agreed to give us 10% off ($60. 00)and cap the S&H at $50. 00 in the continential U. S. Now if we can get 20 people he said that he could do 15% off the $595. 00 ($90. 00). Also you will need to measure the length of the excess threads on your factory U-bolts, if you do not have 1" extending below the factory nuts you will need a longer set of U-bolts which Rob charges $45. 00 for.

Seems like a good deal to me especially when you concider the rising cost of steel and these bars run around 90lbs. It is also possible if you can get someone close to you you may be able to save some $ on shipping by sending them truck freight.

As of now we have 3 confirmed sold. I will start a list on the site and if you are interested please send your contact info to me and I can add you to my list as well.

If you have any questions reguarding the group purchase please contact myself via the website or my home phone so we don't have lots of calls going to Rob. For any tech questions feel free to contact Rob Thomas. Thank you

JEFF A. MEITROTT

707-678-4387

e-mail:my1974tr@cal.net



ROB THOMAS

MICHIGAN PERFORMANCE DIESEL

248-343-1665



P. S. This group purchase will run from 9-8-04 through 9-22-04 at which time we will call in the orders

 

[thejeepdude]

Anyone have firsthand experience how these compliment the t-rex system? I've heard they're not really required with the mini-packs, but I hate wheelhop when I'm in the sand and want to throw some rooster tails.

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

sign me up!!!



jim

 

[HoleshotHolset]

If I wasn't buying some real estate - I'd be on this like a cheesehead at a beer tent.



Matt

 

[JGK]

I'd be up for it if we can get to the 20-participant pricing.



-Jay

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

You know I'm in Kidfan



How about some pictures?: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&albumid=201

Post on NW Bombers http://www.nwbombers.com/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=11;t=9391;st=0;&#entry116282

 

[willyslover]

Just a note to those on the fence. . they make a real improvement in snow traction amd also in the mountains if ya like to slot car your rig. .

I live in the mountains in snow country on a steep hill, had very bad spring wrap going up hill in mid/deep snow. . now none



also an unexpected benifit is the way your traction or weight plant in the turns helps big time. . I am able to really leave the tight turns much harder without any side stepping and when it does drift out you can control the angle much smoother

 

[JGK]

willyslover,



I asked Rob this yesterday and got a response this morning (a postive one, fortunately). Not to question his reply, but just to get a second opinion, and from a 1-ton owner this time, but did they affect any harmonic bouncing you may have experienced on roads with regular expansion joints? We have a stretch of freeway here that just beats me to death. Rob says his bars make a big impact on settling that down. That's enough for me to consider the expense.



Any comments?



Thanks,

-Jay

 

[TORQUE THIS]

2wd, or 4wd.

 

[willyslover]

Jay. . I can not honestly say yes to that question . . I had already changed out my shocks to Rancho 9000's and that was a huge help on the expansion joint issue. . I didn't notice a huge improvement over that after the install of my bars. . however mine are Steve St L's bar which are a bit different than Rob's even though they are close in design.



if you meet any of the things I spoke of earlier post . . then I would highly recommend them. . snow, mountain road or loose gravel/sand conditions. .



I wish I had had them on my 98. 5 1 ton that I wrecked. . might have been a different outcome and I would not be retired from the wreck now.

 

[RHARVEY]

I can answer or supply some feedback on Rob's bars. I have a set on my 97 2500 that use both for towing a 30' 5th wheel that the GVWR is 12,400 lbs and I use it as a daily driver. There is a stretch of highway that I travel that has some of the worst expansion joints that I know of. It felt like the truck as going to bounce off the road but now that I have the bars on the truck. . the bounce has been cut by 50% or more. Yes it still bounces but not nearly as much.

The reason that I bought a set was because of the axle wrap that I started getting when we bought this heavier 5th wheel. There is no more axle wrap!

I did have to order the longer U bolts to give me more space to mount the plates.

There is no question in my mind that the cost of the bars was worth it!!!



Rick

 

[bpenrod]

Count me in!

 

[JGK]

Willyslover - well, we do have snow...



RHARVEY - good answer (agree's with Rob's)...



Hmmm... well, I do have checks in the checkbook, so I must have $... !



Thanks. On with the tally.



JK

 

[thekidfan]

Sorry

Count me in!

One thing I dropped the ball on is these bars are available to 2nd gen trucks only. Sorry for not informing from the start.

 

[thekidfan]

Also here is alittle reading about these bars from Rob. Jeff





A quick run down of them, they are almost a complete bolt on, you just need to drill 4~ 1/2" holes, and the rest is a bolt-on, about 1- 1/2 or 2 hours to install, and you don’t need to remove the fuel tank, or spring bolt(s).



On the rear they mount on the existing u-bolt threads (under the axle), and on the front they mount directly under the center of the frame. You won't believe how the ride changes for the better, the truck just feels more solid, not to mention the lack of axle-wrap.



There is no binding, at all, no noise, you'll never know they are on, until to feel how they perform. I took mine off to get coated, I'll just say I was glad to get them back; it was a looooong week without them. We’ve all experienced driving on concrete roads with expansion joints, especially when cornering at speed, every joint the rear of the truck wants to “kick out”, this is all taken care of with these bars, resulting in a much more controlled and pleasurable ride. The same goes for rough wash-board dirt-roads, under throttle the rear stays inline with the road, not fish-tailing like mad. Rail-road tracks, snow, ice, and sand, are all controlled much better without wrap.



They are pre-load adjustable, via heim-joints on both ends of each bar, a very thick wall tube, and heavy plate steel mounting plates on the front. The front mount consists of heavy plate steel on the inside of the frame (don't be concerned about the tank side mount, they have weld nuts already on the mount, just slide the mount behind the tank on the frame, and blot up) and heavy plate steel on the bottom of the frame (they sandwich the frame), and the bar bolts in the middle, to distribute the force evenly.



The joints come pre set in the tubes for installation, after installation just loosen the nuts, and adjust the preload. No welding at all. They are fully powder coated, the threads inside the tube are coated with anti-seize, and include all mounting hardware, you just need a drill, and 1/2" drill bit, and common hand tools.



These bars are drag race, and sled pull proven, and are awesome on the street, I wouldn't be without them. We spend all our money on engine modifications, finally we have something to harness all the power, and keep it to the ground!



Cost, $595+shipping



Thanks, Rob

Michigan Performance Diesel

(248)343-1665

 

[Mudinchev]

Pics of these any where??

 

[thekidfan]

Pics of these any where??

Mud, With any luck you may beable to see them in person, are you going to Piers' if so look me up I might have a set by then. Jeff

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Kidfan where in Michigan is Rob? I'm going to be in Michigan in about 3 weeks and might just pick mine up if it's not too far out of my way and I have time.



Vaughn

 

[Rob Thomas]

Vaughn, check your PM's.



Mud, check my readers rigs section for pictures.





Rob

 

[John]

Q

I'm wondering if anyone has installed a set of these traction bars on a LWB Ram THAT ALSO has a 54-gallon Transfer Flow replacement fuel tank. If so, does the tank have to be dropped?