Has anybody with a W250 or W350 done a crossover steering system yet? I have been wanting to do one for YEARS now and I am finally fed up with the lousey steering set up on my truck! I have found a source for the parts necessary to do the conversion,

www.offroaddesign.com/Dana60crossover.htm - 15k

they list kits for Dana 60 GM trucks but the last of the 1 ton GM trucks had the same Dana 60 king pin style front axle as our beloved Power Ram Dodges! My truck has a 6" skyjacker lift and I have run BFG 35-12.5/16.5 mud terrain tires the entire time I have owned my dodge (15 yrs now) and the factory "push/pull" short drag link style linkage has ripped the steering gear off it's mounting plate THREE times now! ( those plates arn't cheap either!)The stresses have also cracked the driver side front spring perch which I had to replace.

I have a 74 Jeep Cherokee and it came from the factory with a crossover steering setup and it drives like a dream, no bump steer at all!

 

What is the big advantage? Seems like a lot of parts doing the same thing as a few. Is the Ackerman different? Will it stop the wandering when the wind hits the doors? It looks pretty trick, but what will it do for a rolling brick?

 

For a street driven truck, there is little advantage, IMO. When a straight axle truck with a short drag link (like ours) gets off camber, the fun begins. If the driver side goes to full droop and the passenger side is stuffed into the wheel well, turning the steering wheel all the way right will MAYBE get the wheels pointed straight. A crossover setup eliminates this problem. (BTW, I might have the droop/stuff sides swapped...haven't thought about the mechanics of the setup in quite a while....)

 

I thnk you probably need it for anything over 2 inches of lift. The angle on that steering box link is too great to work effectively after that. Next time I need springs I'll move up to 4 inches of lift and crossover steering. Wouldn't consider doing it any other way.

 

I live in a fairly flat area and the only real obstacles are the occasional mud puddle. I guess I never really gave it that much thought. Sorry!

 

Bump steer....you get a lot less angle change with the crossover compared to the short little stock arm. A very good mod for a lifted truck. It's on my endless list of mods I plan on doing.

 

The place I am getting mine from is called WFO concepts out of Auburn, CA. I went and talked with them they make quality stuff. I have broke my steering bracket four times now.... You can use your steering box you just move it toward the cab and mount it in the two wheel drive holes (factory drilled) shorten your steering shaft and rotate your fully splined pitman arm. They include everything else you need, althought they do recommend to make some sort of gussett to support your frame from twisting. This does put a lot of stress on it if you run big tires. I will be getting mine next month, I believe everything is about $400.

 

bggrndodge- saw BAMF cv's in your sig....what are they? I've got some pretty serious vibration in my front shaft with 6" lift. Fix?

 

I work on radio antenna sites and most of the "roads" that lead to these mountain tops are more like jeep trails and there have been times that I have got the truck in a twisted up posistion and the factory steering would bind up and not move. My jeep with the factory crossover steering has been in similar situations and has never bound up on me. My dodge is ok on flat land but use it like a 4x4 off road and the factory steering setup is, well, pretty scary!

 

I should have known that! Still curious as to where they are from and if there is any vibration.

 

With the ORU kit you take the Plate off and drop the box down and mount it in the 2WD location and turn the pitmen arm to the rear and replace the cap onn the pasenger side knuckle. You can also get one for the driver side and move the tierod up about 6". I now have a Mill and plan to make my oun kit. I realy need it even at just a little (1" max) over stock on the suspinsion it has the turning radius of a school bus not even close to going lock to lock. My friend had a 94 4dr long bed 4x4 Ford that would turn twice as sharp.

 

I hear ya on the turning radius issue. Parking sometimes takes a little "thinking ahead," if you know what I mean.

 

Bite the bullet and go for the crossover steering. My 1980 Powerwagon now has the crossover steering on it and I have 40" Boggers on it. Without the crossover steering, I had crazy, dangerous bumpsteer. Now I can drive it with one finger and stay in my lane with those big agressive tires. It's even cheaper for a Dana 60 vs. a Dana 44. It's so easy to do it. If you want pictured directions on how to do the crossover steering, private message me and I will pass on the link to you.

 

I don't notice the bump steer that bad when running the narrow Buckshots. Throw the wider Swampers or Toyos on, and it's a whole different ballgame. Lots of wander, flat out dangerous when towing on our local freeways and highways, which are nice and smooth(NOT!) The crossover steering is moving up on my to do list.

 

Right on, it's worth every penny especially with that heavy cummins. I hope the link worked for you guys, enjoy...