Ladder/traction Bars

[OutbackDiesel]

I am thinking about installing some type of traction bars. Maybe Steve's ladder bars. If it helps significantly with performance over washboard roads, I'm sold on the idea. My question is and correct me if I am misunderstanding the operation of these bars is: If the axle is now attached to the frame with these bars, the axle cannot move forward or backwards right? But they are set for the unloaded, uncompressed spring position. So when you do load your truck, and the frame moves closer to the axle, the bars would become longer than necessary and push the axle towards the rear of the truck would'nt they? Or is there some allowance for that? Am I just not understanding the way these work? Could some of you explain better? Thanks

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The SS ladder bars were designed such that the length and angle of the bars allows for the proper amount of rearward axle movement as the suspension moves upwards. Short bed and long bed trucks use different length bars along with different angles because of that. With a leaf spring suspension such as ours which is mounted rigidly at the front and on a shackle at the rear as the springs compress the distance between the eyes gets longer, hence the axle moves rearward in the chassis. It also rotates slight rearward. Properly designed and installed ladder bars allow for that movement.



-Steve St. Laurent

Supplier of SS Ladder Bars

 

[OutbackDiesel]

Thanks Steve... I have a quad cab short bed. Could you Email me some more information about your bars? I have a few other things I need to buy and add to my truck first, but I am looking at these in the future. Thanks again.