Traction Bars??

[Ted Constantine]

My friend who works at a 4wd shop in Bozeman, MT said that he used a set of Pro-Comp traction bars for a super duty on a 04 3500 srw ram. The bars and the mounting kit are about $450. I think he said that they were completely bolt on because the super duty frame and the ram frame are similar. The truck he put them on was lifted about 10" with a custom 4 link front suspension ans coilovers with high steer and a AGR rock ram system.

 

[WhiteSheep]

Foxy:



I've been out using my RAM for the last week so haven't been on the forum.



You asked how I achieved "full droop" on the rear suspension to install the Hellwig springs. I used a bumper attachment on my 60" Hi-Lift jack to raise the rear of the truck one side at a time. Romber to NOT GET UNDER THE TRUCK with only the jack support. The only problem with this method is that I now have two small indentations in my bumper from the jack. This is another side effect of the weight saving thin steel DC used throughout this truck. If I had to do this again, I would lift from the hitch instead of the bumper.



The only other problem I encountered is that the square U bolts supplied by Hellwig are not long enough to put two nuts on the back set as suggested in the instructions. I called Heliwig about this and the sent me new U bolts. Too bad they were true U bolts and not square. I installed the square bolts that came with the kit with one nut anyway. No problems yet.



If you do try this install, let me know how you like them.



PS: I got bigger tires too with my wifes consent. Blowing a Frenchie at 65 on the front really reduced the wife's perceived cost of USA made tires. Go Goodyear.

 

[jwilliams3]

You jacked your truck up by its bumper?? and your blaming DC?? :--)

 

[Ted Constantine]

they do make an attachment for a highlift to lift a stock bumper. This was our method of bumper lifting to install front coils

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Anyway find a friend with a pneumatic bumper jack or a chain fall off the receiver.

 

[WhiteSheep]

Yeah, I did use the Hi-Lift bumper attachment to lift my RAM. I should have known better, but I am old enough to remember that was the way you always lifted a body on frame vehicle. I don't plan on doing it again.

 

[Jeff_K]

Superlift make traction bars for the 2003+ trucks now... .



http://www.rockymountainsusp.com/tractionbars.htm

 

[Briman]

Short bed only?

 

[Diesel Nut]

Thats ok, looks like they only hold the axle from one piont anyways. I think Procomp makes a good set. I can't remeber, but they were a nicely put together set that held 2 points on the axle and mounted to the frame useinsg factory holes. And where it mounted to teh frame it used a shackle like setup so it wouldn't hinder axle articulation. Nice set up. If I find the info I'll post it.

 

[Jeff_K]

Diesel Nut, You are talking about ladder bars. They are typically better for controlling axle wrap then single bars because the single bars type rely on the spring as the part of the system, where-as ladder bars are completely independent of the spring. I think with the beefy springpack in the 2500/3500 trucks that the single bar type will be more than adequate for most people. I see a lot of Sled Pullers using the single bar type and I would think they would have the worst cases of axle wrap.



There is some good info here...

http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/susp/axlewrap/

 

[Briman]

If the single attachment point is on the top of the axle I think it would be OK. Kind of like Steve's old discontinued SS bars for the 2nd gen. If you launch one of our trucks and the bar is attached to the top of the axle the bar is being pulled on instead of compressed. That way a single bar is sufficient without a "ladder" type structure built into it.

 

[strokerschmoker]

If its a single bar design i would definately mount it on the bottom of the axle tube. The center pin in the springs keeps the top from moving so when you mount off of the bottom it provides another attachment point 180 degrees opposite the center pin. This creates two attachment point(sort of like a real ladder bar) where as if the mount was on top it would be acting a reinforment for the center pin

 

[FOXY005]

White Sheep



I did get the Hellwig Traction Control Bars-Springs several months ago, but for circumstances beyond my control I just got to bolt them on this weekend.



I did have to e-mail Hellwig to get longer U bolts and they sent them out no questions asked they seem to have a great Customer Service Department.

I got the flat ones @ 4 1/2" long



I have not had a chance to try them on anything other than hard pavement

yet and probably wont get to the Beach till next year



They did not seem to stiffen the ride at all



Maybe we will get a foot of snow soon that will give me an opportunity to

try them out

 

[ECappleman]

White Sheep



I did get the Hellwig Traction Control Bars-Springs several months ago, but for circumstances beyond my control I just got to bolt them on this weekend.

Let us know how they work out.

 

[FOXY005]

Will Do... .....



As soon as I get a good chance to try it out I will report back.



I will be doing some scouting at deer camp next weekend if the meadow is

wet & soggy I will have the perfect place to try it out.



Oo.

 

[DHayden]

That way a single bar is sufficient without a "ladder" type structure built into it.

Something like... this?





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[MNielsen]

DHayden,

Where did you get that and how effective is it in controlling axle wrap?? Does anything need to be relocated or is it a direct bolt-on?

 

[DHayden]

I bought it from old TDR member Kwikkurt. He put a few sled pulls on it and it has held up well, to my knowledge it is the only one he made. It is very effective and removed my launch shutter. It is direct bolt up, The holes pre exist in the cross frame for the rod-end bracket and then the 6 u-bolts as shown in the pics (2nd gen) I don't know about the 3rd gens.

 

[BNakamura]

White Sheep



I did get the Hellwig Traction Control Bars-Springs several months ago, but for circumstances beyond my control I just got to bolt them on this weekend.



I did have to e-mail Hellwig to get longer U bolts and they sent them out no questions asked they seem to have a great Customer Service Department.

I got the flat ones @ 4 1/2" long



I have not had a chance to try them on anything other than hard pavement

yet and probably wont get to the Beach till next year



They did not seem to stiffen the ride at all



Maybe we will get a foot of snow soon that will give me an opportunity to

try them out

Can you post some pictures and prices.

 

[FOXY005]

Price was about $ 80. 00 + Shipping.



Sorry I dont have a digital camera so no pictures.



Maybe White Sheep can help with the pictures

 

[GWBourne]

Price was about $ 80. 00 + Shipping.



Sorry I dont have a digital camera so no pictures.



Maybe White Sheep can help with the pictures

any update on how if at all they worked?

Grant