Traction Bars rancho/fabritech?

[Ted Constantine]

I am looking at dealing with axle rap. I like the single bar of the ranchos but the higher axle mount point of the fabritechs look to keep the bars further out of the way, which is counter acted by the masive bars. Which do people prefer and has anyone had problems with either?



Do the rancho bars come for long box trucks? All of the guys with them seem to have SWB trucks.



Ted

 

[JR2]

Ted,

Take a look in the vendor promotion section of the classifieds. There is a link to some traction bars being sold by Entiprise Engine. They were origionally designed by someone for Steve St. Laurentt. They are expensive, but they look really nice and are hidden up under the truck vey well.

Check out this page for a really long thread on the SS ladder bars.



I am planning on getting these someday.



John

 

[Ted Constantine]

don't steves bars require welding brackets to the axle tubes? I am trying to stay away from welding in the quest.



Ted

 

[John]

SS Bars

Yes, the SS Bars require welding 4 small mounting ears to the top of the axle tube.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If you don't want to weld to your axle tubes then go with the fabritech bars. IMO, they are the best ones available off the shelf. I watched a truck at the sled pull last week at the Scheid event with the Rancho bars on it and when he came out of the hole the bars bent big time (about 3 inches out of straight) and when they went back straight he blew out his driveshaft (I believe it was the driveshaft, but broke in any case). I was at half track and could see this from where I was standing! This is because the Rancho's put the bars in compression and round tubes are not strong in compression. In order to mount bars at the bottom of the axle they need to be trussed (looking like the fabritech bars). JMHO, take it for what it's worth.



-Steve St. Laurent

Supplier of SS Ladder Bars

 

[mseitz]

Where do I find Fabritech bars? Mike

 

[BigBadDodge]

Fabriteck bars

You can get them here http://www.natltire.com/ntw0799/pages/susacc.html#Fabritech



I have the stage II and they appear to work great. You can check out picks at the link in my signature.



Scott

 

[csutton7]

check out www.LandLProducts.com for L&L ladder bars---they work on my truck for the sled pulling... . chris

 

[Ted Constantine]

thanks for the advise. I have been without internet access for over a week.



Steve, How complex is the alinement on your bars? I would like to be able to do this myself. Also I hate to admit it but I will never be doing tractor pulls. Can the rancho bars handle everything I might throw at them in normal life? I am looking for control of the rear axle, stopping wheel hop and most importantly taming that axle for winter. Last winter I would get terrible axle hop in the deeper snow.



Chris, Those L&L bars look good but the web site needs some help. Can you tell me more about how they attach to the axle and what they cost.



Thanks



Ted

 

[csutton7]

Ted--you're right about their website---



attach to the axle with 2 u-bolts and to the frame with 3 bolts(maybe 4)-you'll have to drop the fuel tank for the driver's side--heim joint at the frame connection---you'll have to remove your rear sway bar--and it' wouldn't hurt to reroute the emergency brake lines either---



cost--I want to say around $250--just don't remember---chris

 

[DAWG-1]

Rancho

Hi Ted,

I have the Rancho traction bars on mine and they make a tremendous improvement. No need to drop the tank, just loosen the front strap and move the tank over a couple inches. If you need #s e-mail me at -- email address removed -- . Sam

 

[David_VT]

I have the fabritechs and suggest them for your usage.

They have rubber bushings which do make them 'more' driveable then others might. (opinion only)



I do not suggest the bright color finish as it is too brittle. Go with something with very little tint. The mounting brackets are grey powdercoat and show no wear, my bars are bright yellow and peeling very bad. This is not a product defect, just the effect of the tint to the powdercoat.



I don't think they had to drop the fuel tank and I've never had a problem hanging up on anything.



Steve's are likely better for the 'strip', but if you don't want to weld to the axle, the fabritechs should please you.



David

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Single Racho bar?

Ted, I don't know what you mean by a "single" Rancho bar, Dawg-1's setup utilizes a pair of Rancho bars. They look pretty substantial and should withstand quite a bit of torque loading. That is what I'm looking to go with.



Vaughn

 

[Ted Constantine]

Vaughn,



I am refering to the single bar ( one on each side) as opposed to the fabritech Ladder style bars. Meaning that each traction bar is one length of tube or bar rather than the ladder style which take up more space. I think I will go with the Ranchos because they are easy to install and you don't even have to jack up the truck. Steve does have a very good point about them being placed on the compression side of the axle tube under heavy accelleration. Meaning they are mounted on the bottom fo the tube and the force compresses the bar rather than trying to stretch it.



sorry this is very disjointed. hopefully it is decypherable



Ted

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks Ted, I found your response to be very straightforward, understandable and even decipherable!



Vaughn