Well, there was another thread about the terrible wheel hop these trucks are prone to in the snow or sand. Another member suggested these traction bars as the description says they will stop axle wrap and wheel hop. He put them on his 2500 and it appears they may have helped some although not totally eliminating the wheel hop. I decided to get some since my truck was hopping really badly last week just trying to back out of the driveway.
First off they say to drill a 7/8" hole in the rear leafspring mount as that will be one of the mounting locations. Has anybody ever bought a 7/8" bit? It's $40.00!! I decided to get a UNIBIT because I'm sure I will be able to use it again. It was still $34.00! The bar won't even reach the rear spring mount but looks like the perfect length to attach to the front mount. I thought for a minute and decided that it still should work fine even if attached there. So, I drill the hole and also mount the supplied bracket to one of the U-bolts on the rear axle. I button it all up and take one last look at everything before I put the wheels back on. It finally hits me that the bar is directly below the overload bumper and, of course, directly above the overload spring. All it would take is one big bump and that bar would be bent pretty badly. I think that maybe that's why it is supposed to attach to the rear mount but realize it would be the same situation. I play around with other mounting locations and even drilling new holes in the axle bracket but no matter what I come up with, the bar is gonna get bent. This really makes me mad after all the work including drilling a 7/8" hole in my spring hanger that I can't even use now. The only way I see these things working is if I get them cut in half and rethreaded. I could then drill a hole in the overload bumper mount and attach it there. That would entail spending even more money to pay the welding shop probably $50.00 to modify the bars.
The parts seem like good quality parts so I'm not downing that. The directions seem like they are geared towards 1500 trucks too. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do now but, of course, Tuff Country is not open on weekends so I was forced to put the truck back together and wait.
Sorry for rambling but I just get so irritated when something says it will work on your particular application but then it is nowhere near to working......

 

You should have bought the Glacier units.

 

Those sure look nice but I definitely didn't want to spend $800.00 on them....

 

You could try these. http://www.wickeddiesels.com/voodoo_barz.htm

 

Those look pretty good too. I'm hoping to figure a way to make these work though. I like $160.00 much better than $500 or $800. If I can't figure a way to make them work then I'll be going with one of those two options. I hate to spend that much money on them when I would need them maybe once or twice a year....

 

Very true. I didnt know the Tuff Country's were only $160.

 

I "need" these every time I launch, and for many of the gear changes... especially when the GN is behind me or my right foot cramps up against the floor.

 

So, what brand are those anyways?

 

doddgezilla I completely forgot that the instructions said rear mount when it actually takes the front mount. If attached to the rear it would be on the same side as the spring shackle, which I don't think would be good. I found mine for $125 to my door and I am satified with them but tuff country needs to say that they won't fit trucks with overloads.

 

I'm still looking for some that will go under the leaf pack.I had some Warrior bars on for about 300 miles,but they broke off at the weld .I didn't even get a chance to really get on them yet! No hauling either.I was PO'd.Anybody know of any bars that will fit with my firestone air springs?

 

These will definitely work if I get them cut in half and rethreaded. Heck they may even work better if they are only half as long as they will have less flex. Now the big question would be if they would work better mounted to the front or rear bumper mount. The bumper mounts look to be as thick as the spring mounts too....

 

Should be the same front or back. It's the same distance and the same mount so it shouldn't matter.

 

The brand is... "I Made This!"

My ladder bars fit alongside my Firestone airbags and the Helwig anti-sway bar; and it would take more than a CTD to break them!

 

Hmmm, I haven't seen that brand advertised.....

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I am going to cut these down and make them work. I'm too cheap to buy ladder bars......

 

Oh, here is another thread on the wheel hop? So should I try the Tuff Country bars or something else? I nearly got bounced out of the truck this weekend off-roading in the snow.