Competition Newbie Puller Needs Help

[EdK]

A friend and I are putting together a pulling truck for stock class (this year anyway). It's a '97 Ram 2500 4X4 with 12 valve & 5-speed. What do the "experts" think of spooling the front end and a locker in the rear. The truck will not be street driven.



Thanks in advance for your suggestions.



Ed

 

[Excessive Force]

You won't like the spool in the front. I've got a powerlock in the front,and i've thrashed the hel! out of it. I'd go with a "LINCOLN LOCKER" in the rear.

 

[Sled Puller]

Putting together a "stock" truck that will not be street driven. That makes sense.



Spooling the front is a mess in tight quarters-unless you have lock out hubs.



Try the Eaton electric locker in the front

.

I like the Detroit in the rear, some guys, the ARB. Non-street, spool or weld it.

 

[EdK]

Better explanation

Ooops, didn't mean to sound like a cheater in stock class. We bought the truck for pulling ONLY and will start this summer pulling stock class. We're starting with transmission improvements and drivetrain strength. Engine rebuild will be next winter and (hopefully) moving up a class next summer season.



I thought a spool in the front would be OK if left in 2WD until ready to pull; then locking it into 4WD. Aren't the front axles disconnected from each other in 2WD? Guess that's why I posted here... trying to learn the right stuff.



Ed

 

[Sled Puller]

There are no cheaters in pulling-just rule benders.



You would think it would work that way no problem, but I have seen welded front ends just bind up terrible, trying to manuever. Weird.

 

[DieselNasty]

What exactly is spooling?

 

[GO 4LO]

Like a locker than never unlocks - one piece, much stronger, no differentiation between wheels, which means it hops and pops going around corners. Front spool not for the street without man hubs to "unlock" the wheels from one another - rear spool is useable onroad (daily drove my Jeep for 2 yrs this way) but not pleasant. "Lincoln locker" is a homemade spool created by welding up the spiders (think Lincoln welder).

Chris

 

[Excessive Force]

There are no cheaters in pulling-just rule benders. :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[supersonic]

Spool wont work in front, the CAD is the weak point in your FA, go with a eaton or OX electric or an ARB in the front. do a good weld job in hte rear if you don't plan on driving it much, otherwise ARB.

 

[JDailey]

Save your money... weld them both both. The CAD is the weak point, but just keep plenty of spare parts. You can buy alot of parts for what you'd spend on these fancy(and $$$$!) lockers. Or eliminate it. This is coming from a "rule bender", right Gene?