Ladder bars

[Shadrach]

Anyone got pics of ladder bar mounting on a 1st gen? In particcular the front left. The fuel tank is in the way and this is a commercial truck so we can not weld to the frame. It has a service body on the back so can't use normal U bolts either. TIA David

 

[DVolk]

Check the pulling sites

 

[NGuzik]

Are you talking about a traction bar from the front axle or rear? If you are going from the front axle the bars sounds to long. If you are talking about the rear axle they sound to short. I've found you should start with the rear and plan on making them at least 5 feel long. They should fall right around the rear of the cab area on most standard and quad cabs. As for the front we usually make them as long as possible before rear bars connection. Also make sure you know the difference between traction bars and ladder bars. Traction bars = single bar with one connection point. Ladder bars = a connection on top and bottom of the axle and one connection to the frame. Im also not sure you could make a true ladder bar that would not have to be welded to the axle. I would think you have leaf springs front and rear a simple plate bracket on the bottom of the leaf perch would make an easy connection to the axle and line up pretty straight with the frame. Square u bolts should work to connect a frame bracket, but have a lot of play once load is applied. Just something to think about.

 

[Shadrach]

I want Ladder Bars for the rear and the problem as stated is how to mount the front of them to the frame. In this case the purpose is to keep the rear axle not only from twisting up and down but sideways as we have broken several pairs of spring center bolts. We can't use U bolts as the service body mounts on top of the frame rails. There are no spacer blocks as with a pick up box. See here for an example of the style of bars I'm talking about #ad
#ad
This is what I have on my 03. The use u bolts on the axle and on the front. David

 

[DVolk]

What about about adding anouther set of bolts to the side or just simple enough add a bracket to the U bolt plate ?
Alot of the ones i seen done are home made and longer bolt to the U bolt plate then to bracket on the frame
Have you thought about the bars that mount ceter of the axel then go to the frame ?
A web site to check is Jack -it off road they may have a idea

 

[RSchwarzli]

Sorry. Been dong more wrenching on the 90 than reading the forums!

This is how the crew cab was done:

#ad


#ad





Although not visible, there is another perpendicular section welded to the back of that plate at approx the middle that bolts to the bottom of the C channel. It sits under the frame rail so to speak so it butts up creating the up down location. It kinda looks like this shape if eyeballing along the frame rail:

l-

 

[NGuzik]

Are those bars bolted to the same bracket as the air bag mount? Also really like light mounted before the wheel. Great idea there, to me seems like it would stay safe and clean.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Yes sir. The bag sits on a flat bracket that clamps around the axle, and the bracket has a T welded to the front of it (3/8" steel) that the two bars leverage off of.