Competition Hitches and Traction Bars for Pulling

[Turbo Tim 1]

I want to make my own hitch and traction bars, anyone got some good pictures or design ideas? What about the stock receiver? I know a few have broken, jtisdale comes to mind, and the one on my truck doesn't look very beefy at all. I want to keep my rear bumper in place. Would reinforcing the stocker be good enough or should I start from scratch? What about DOM tubing, where do you get that from? Thanks guys

 

[Got Smoke?]

My traction bars were made by taking some heavy wall tubing and cutting some tractor top links in 1/2 and welding them in the ends. We used the biggest available top links you could by at TSC. I think the tubing was 2-2. 5 round? Not sure. They are about 7ft long, and very bulky and get noticed, but they work excellent! I have not had any bounce issues in my 3 pulls, and 2 were on pretty tight/hard tracks.



I also have all 3 pulls on my stock reciever. I think it would actually take quite a lot to tear up the stock one. But starting building one while pulling on your stocker wouldn't be such a bad idea.

 

[AFarmer]

Mine were made by Olee at Powerbypoole.com. They are two center stabalizer bars for a three point hitch on a tractor cut in the middle with a beefy section welded back in, nicely I may add. They allow adjustability on each end. A little 'custom' welding on each side to the frame and under the rear end to prevent that thing from moving at all once you put stiff knees in. He made those too and if you're pulling, you're gonna need them. Hope this helps.

 

[lcaad1249]

A friend of mine told me that you should not haul much weight with traction bars since the bind that the bars created would eat up your u joints. Is this true?

 

[biggy238]

If the bars are long enough, there isn't really enough bind to cause that.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Tim you need some KW traction bars. He posted pics and description here

 

[BigBadDodge]

Pic's of my set up on my web page, link below, click on the suspenssion tab to the left.



BBD

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

BBD, I was looking at your web site trying to get ideas, and I really like the looks of your set-up, now I just have to find the materials, where do you get the DOM tubing? Also BBD did you get the PM I sent you regarding driveshafts? Thanks for the input guys, if anyone else has other ideas let me know.

 

[BigBadDodge]

I had to special order the DOM at the local metal shop, any metal shop should be able to order for ya but watch out aint cheap especially the 2" with 1/2" wall. I had most of the Driveline done while I was home on vacation and attending MM two years ago. Drove into PA (Gene's neck of the woods) to a place called Greensburg Machine and Driveline (724-837-8233) very knowledgeable the guys has tons of trophies from pulling really know there stuff.



Be sure to get one of there T-Shirts (if Gene didn't buy them all) there awsome.



BBD