Why do we have such bad wheel hop off road? When we went off road this past wed. we ran into some snow on the ground not much but about 6-12 inches. When done and said the hole truck was jumping up and down!!! So into reverse I went and the only way not to lose traction or dig my self into a whole was to slip the clutch to avoid some nasty wheel hop. There are a ton of post about this and I havent really found any that apply to the questions I want answered. Most everyone has them for at the track or pulling of which I do neither of. What will tractions bars/ladder bars do for off road ability and do you need something in the front to? The front of the truck seemed to do just as much if not more hopping. Are the lift blocks the problem with these trucks and the wheel hop? Would removing the block and getting a simple 4 inch lift solve this?? I did find some bars I like but not sure how well they would work off road? They are made by calvertracing and are called Caltrac. I also know of Lazer smith bars.

 

I have REALLY stiff springs on the rear of my truck and do not have a problem with wheel hop in the snow (even the deep stuff, was even out today). Traction bars will help with this. A friend has a Tocoma TRD and almost cannot use it in the snow due to the wheel hop. Soft springs are the problem. Traction bars are the solution (or stiffer springs, but thats REALLY hard on the kidneys).

 

what springs did you go with or r they something made in town

 

Z,
I have never driven in the snow, but have you tried to air down your tires? I had similar issue when i first started driving in the sand dunes. Deflated my tires to about 15psi and never had the problem again.

 

Ya I had this problem with my last one. I didnt air down because it was real quick run in the praire. I just hear good luck with the traction bars and was courious as to what routes people have gone for off road use. I plan on running the dunes in Michigan after this deployment I go on in 18 days. So I'd like to have some kind of route to head in for added traction. thanks

 

The wheel hop is from the rears axle wrap. The front suspension is a 4link design and the hopping you feel there is likely suspension bounce from the rear ends axle wrapping as a 4link doesnt allow for axle wrap like a leaf spring does. And yes it is the blocks under the leafs - the best leaf spring setup for no hop is a spring under like on the older FJ40's and CJ5's; the higher above the axle the spring is, the easier it is to flex and wrap.

I made my own traction bars for pulling, like the lazarsmith bars. They cut wheel hop completely out, both ends run smooth as glass wheeling through sand or snow. They also dont hinder the truck flexing anymore than the stabalizer bars do, havn't tried with them disconnected though. However haven't had too good of luck keeping the hop out during the pulls when used in conjunction with suspension blocks - next time will be one or the other solo.

Hope this helps
TNutcher

 

TNutcher thanks for the input. I think I will have to get some HD 4 inch lift springs made and also run some traction bars to. This way I shouldn't have a problem at all transfering power

 

I think you would need some pretty extreme Leafs and U-Bolts (for the clamping force) to run just leafs for no hop. Even in my 1 tonne I can get it to hop in the snow and sand like nothing. The other day I was back near my forest to cut some wood and sunk the truck down a bit...reverse to drive, reverse to drive I went. If I kept it in drive lets say and accelerated, it would shake the truck apart.

Sometime in the future I will purchase or build my own traction bars, but until then I'll try to keep off roading to a minimum.

 

I used to have an 01 6spd and it would wheel hop badly and was bone stock. I now have an 02 auto with twice the power and it doesnt wheel hop no matter what I do whether it be pulling a sled or smoking the tires. The springs in the clutch disc are what initiates the wheel hop and it just snow ***** it. I think stick trucks need traction bars and Dinner your dually has a Dana 80 as my 01 did and maybe the thicker axle tube and possibly a taller block also causes it.

 

Yup. Let us not forget the FJ60's

Sorry. Had to throw that in there...I love my 60

But yeah. IMO, trucks like ours, or any other truck for that matter, just isnt built for 'off-roading'
Granted, yes they do have 4 wheel dirve but I see it more as aiding in on-road traction.

The bad suspension setup is sacrificed by payload ability.

 

so true wish I had the money for a old cj7.....