I have a few questions in regards to my truck...the first one being (I know this might sound retarded) but what kind of front axle are we running? I can't stand an open differential and I feel that if I am going to put my truck in four wheel drive, that all four wheels should be pulling. These trucks are heavy and though I am not an avid offroader, back home it will be REQUIRED to be off the pavement almost daily on our farm.

These diesels are really heavy and areas especially near loading shutes where you can sink the front end due to the weight pose pretty serious threats to trucks with open diffs (we had to break out the John Deere a couple times to get my dad's '99 out). I can live with the limited slip rear diff IF I have a locking front diff because a lot of times the locked front can keep you going until some traction loss allows for the rear diff to finally lock up...but in sloppy mud and cow crap, an open front diff and limited slip rear will get you stuck in a hurry and if those tires DO ever start spinning and you have to tap the brakes a little to try and get the other rear tire to help out, you're pretty much STUCK at that point. So will Detroit lockers in the front be a good choice? When I'm not in 4wheel on the farm, my truck will be towing a good amount and daily driving on the street as well...

My other question (and I spoke a bit with Joe T yesterday about it) is what are some pretty good upgrades I can do to my suspension that will strenghthen my offroading capabilities some (for when I AM offroad)? I don't need crazy Carli/Kore components allowing me to jump and all that...just some stuff to alleviate axle wrap/wheel hop, smoothen the ride out, etc while just making the truck "tougher" and less susceptible to breakage WITHOUT jacking me way up in the air and affecting WHAT trailers I can hook to the truck without jacking them up as well...I will be running stock wheels and the biggest tires I would EVER put on would be 35s...

I am going to need a tough truck, ya'll...one that pulls, daily drives, offroads...etc...farm guys know what I'm talking about. Sorry for the long post by the way...I couldn't figure out any way of wording it shorter though Thanks in advance

 

Guess this isn't a very "touched on" subject? Or maybe it is posted in the wrong place?

 

Hey, these trucks run AAM axles, with I think a 9.25" gear. There are a few companys that make lockers, but selectables are the best way to go with the full time front hubs. If I am not mistaken ARB makes an air locker and there are a couple of electrics, Eaton being one. If you go electric there has been some of them that have clearance problems and require grinding the case for clearance. On the lift, alot of the smaller ones that aren't Thuren/Carli/Kore will just increase your wheel clearance, without actually strengthening much. This works for a lot of people, depends on how hard you plan on pushing it.If you use the search function you will find some good reading, but I hope this helps a bit.

 

Yeah, I asked a bit ago who made good, dependable lockers and was told about ARB and Eaton, but when I clicked on the Eaton site, it just gave me a HUGE list of different lockers and different axle configurations and I ended up more lost after I closed the window than before I started reading! I know how to turn wrenches pretty well and usually can isolate a problem and fix it with the best of em...but I don't know SQUAT about suspension and lockers...that's why I asked. That Detroit job sounded real cool, minus the fact that since we have our hubs turning full time, kinda made me want to ask...thanks...as for the clearance issue...i don't think that grinding my case will be an option, so it is seeming like ARB is something I am going to have to read more on

 

Also, when I search ARB OR Eaton, it only lists Dana 60s, 70s or 80s as being possible options in the Dodge Ram 2500s? Which do I have in the front and the back?

The ARB Air Lockers is sounding REALLY sweet!

 

I have seen some pretty amazing things when I was riding in a diesel excursion with ARB air lockers. Throw the switch and you are going to be able to go farther than most of the trucks out there. We could almost get stuck without the lockers on, but with the lockers, we didnt have any problems.

 

C'mon now fellas! I KNOW there has to be some Suspension/Driveline gurus out there! Help a brotha out! LOL

 

I'm no guru,but for a beefed up suspension with quality components that will last, I think you need to look at the major players for obvious reasons.

Carli, Kore, Lornez, Thuren are some folks that do hardcore work and Thuren may be the best bet for a limited budget or just piecing together what you need.

Detroit Lockers, ARB, and Eatons' are hard to beat, and you can always put bags under the rear to level you out.

My Lorenz system is only a 3" in the front and 1.5" in the rear so it's not jacked way up there.

Just some things to consider. Just MHO.

 

I have ARBs front and rear on my Jeep and they are the way to go on some rigs.I would hesitate to install any locker on the 9.25 till some stronger axles have been made.In my use with out a locker they are too weak.I haven't found the need for them any where the truck fits yet.Even pulling out 2 stuck race trucks in tandem


Bob

 

Ok, after reading around on EVERY 3rd Gen thread containing the word "lockers" in it, I have found that ARB doesn't even have an Air Locker available for our axles yet (9.25" AAM front axles)...And apparently you have to grind away at the casing to fit the Eatons...that's garbage? They can't design an application that doesn't require grinding?!

P.S. Thank you for your response MacMan...I just think that it sucks that to add strength and durability to your vehicle requires SO much money (especially for somebody that does NOT need stuff good enough for a few big jumps in his truck!)

 

After the fiasco that my truck was in yesterday and the severe axle wrap/wheel hop that I experienced for nearly 5 minutes straight, i think that these axles have proven themselves to me that they are PLENTY strong enough to handle a locker if used correctly. Had I had an IFS, I am almost SURE I would have broken something yesterday in the sand I was in...

 

Derek,

Call me if you have my number. If not, I'll shoot you a PM.

Easier to send you in the right direction over the phone.

Conrad

 

Hey I got a shout out!

 

Oh and I was going to help you too... If I had your truck and the use you demand seems similar to mine... So I'd be looking at running a 35x12.50 Mud. I'd pick Toyo. I'd also go with a wider rim, no blingy 20's, but 17's or 18's X9 inches with 5.7 backspacing but the stockers might work but will be little skinny. I got my BFG's for free is the only reason I have them. To do this will require a lift. When lifting it you can kill a few birds with one stone. Leaf packs and the thurn trackbar are probably 2 areas people miss and really miss out in performance and reliability. Better performance and better ride and most likely will get rid of a lot of the wheel hop you were talking about.

For the economically minded person who wants some off road performance then just go with the Lorenz Bilstein 5100 kit with +6% coils unless you have a heavy bumper or plow then go with his heavier coils. You get good coils, drop blocks for the swaybar, 4 bilstein shocks and good leaf packs that won't let the butt sag \ . You'll need to get the trackbar seperate.

For a locker up front you'd need lockout hubs. $1400 to $1900 if you can stomach that plus the price of the locker. I'd try the 3 wheel drive first.

 

You can also look at the Carli starter kit or contact thurn and tell him what you want. Just make sure in the rear you avoid the use of blocks to lift it. With the leaf packs I had to reuse one factory block or plate whatever they call it... Because it has the center pin that goes down into axle.