Ladder bars? What ladder bars?
 

At what point would adding ladder bars/panhard/ or trac bars be neccesary for an all leaf spring truck like my 91 w250? My plan is to be able to run 35"s, (maybe), and enough lift to let them travel properly. I want the truck to be all purpose. tow/haul, camping/off-road (mild stuff, not trying to keep up with jeeps on the rocks, more exploration, safari type 4x4), highway/ in-town, and impressing the imports down at the local hangout[laugh]. If I stay leaf sprung, do I need any thing else. limit straps, ladder bars, etc., I want to use full lift springs and not spacers. Any advice?

Ladder bars are for wheel hop issues. When you get on it, the axle tries to rotate and it starts to wrap the spring.

Traction bars control spring wrap on Hotchkiss-style suspensions, reduce body sway and driveline clunk, and limit wheelhop when launching or just driving on washboard roads.

Check out the Bomb Factory: http://lazarsmith.com/tractionbars.html

My Lazarsmith bars do a lot more than just control wheel hop!
They improve handling (light or heavy) on rough roads and control sway when loaded heavy or towing!

Good read on these bars.....HERE

RJ

Here's mine i made. Prob not what your looking for. But they look good on lifted trucks!!

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...74_47_full.jpg

^^^^

Those suckers are SHARP. You did a great job.

hey smoken can you post some other pictures of your setup you made.

My son & I made these: Attachment 15904

Yeah, i'll try and get some more pic's soon

So, do I need trac or ladder bars? I don't plan on lift beyond 4" and 35" tires. As far as horse power and torque go I don't plan on anything wild, whatever intake, exhaust, pump mods, 12-16 cm housing, will get me. I want to be able to cruise the highway at speed, tow, blow smoke at some Hondas, and do medium offroad without hanging up to badly.

My questions are:

When do I need bars?

Trac bars (above spring), or ladder bars (below spring)?

Based on my current goals, any more advice?

I wonder the same thing. I'd put them on just for looks, but that kind of goes against my thinking. But If I might need them, thats different.

Our traction bars mount from under the axle tubes to the frame, and they are only needed if you want the engine's torque to get to the ground instead of bending the springs.

NEED doesn't really enter the equation...IMO. Just as it doesn't for injectors...chips... etc.
The only CTD's I know that 'need' traction bars are all sled pullers and serious drag racers!
And both mount below springs in most cases....with some ladder bars mounting above AND below the axle.
My bars mount to bottom on axle/spring U-bolts (2nd Gen).

But if interested in improved handling on rough roads or when cornering or towing.... and good looks, the bars do a great job!! :D

RJ

I was under the impression (maybe wrong [duhhh]) that a "trac" bar mounted in place of the upper spring plate and to the frame, and that "ladder" bars were the ones under or infront of the axel (and some times look like ladders [laugh]). Is there a difference? Which version would be best for my goal? Both control axel wrap, beyond that all I can see is that the lower mount would find rocks alot faster. Do either version limit suspension flex/ articulation? If I make them my self how important is the length/ geometry/ mount location etc??

Ladder bars are rotationally locked to the axle housings, while traction bars positively locate the axle housings in relation to the frame.

Depending on the design used, either style can be packaged smaller or larger than the other. I've seen a bunch that compromise articulation and suspension flex.

Whether you make them yourself or not, of course the key is choosing the correct materials, swingarm radius, bracket style and location, etc.