Ladder bars

[Andrewm]

Went driving in Duck, NC and the sand causes the rear axle to wrap and bounce a lot. If y’all have done ladder bars, how or what brand do you recommend?

I was thinking of having someone make one but I don’t want some cheap solution on a truck I spent over 70k on

 

[Guest6749]

were you aired down?

 

[EverythingZen]

I also noticed alot of what felt like wheel hop when stuck mudding. I am also curious as to what solutions are out there.

 

[Andrewm]

were you aired down?

No. I wasn’t getting stuck. Airing down would have likely made things worse.

I talked to one guy at food lion about 2mons ago with a lifted f250/350 with tires and said he went one time and realized he needed ladder bars and put some on. I didn’t ask where or how he did it though

 

[Guest6749]

No. I wasn’t getting stuck. Airing down would have likely made things worse.

I didnt insinuate you were getting stuck.

I have wheeled a lot of solid axle Jeeps in a lot of mud, sand, etc... and never experienced what I would call wheel hop. BUT I was ALWAYS aired down(used to run 37" MTR's at 8 psi).

Did you have your traction/stability control off or on?

 

[Andrewm]

I didnt insinuate you were getting stuck.

I have wheeled a lot of solid axle Jeeps in a lot of mud, sand, etc... and never experienced what I would call wheel hop. BUT I was ALWAYS aired down(used to run 37" MTR's at 8 psi).

Did you have your traction/stability control off or on?

Off and I tried it in sport mode too

 

[TJ Carr]

No. I wasn’t getting stuck. Airing down would have likely made things worse.

I talked to one guy at food lion about 2mons ago with a lifted f250/350 with tires and said he went one time and realized he needed ladder bars and put some on. I didn’t ask where or how he did it though

Actually not airing down is a large part of the problem

Not airing down on sand is incredibly hard on your drivetrain and is the best way to end up stuck and in the shop with broken pieces parts, it’s pure physics

 

[Andrewm]

Actually not airing down is a large part of the problem

Not airing down on sand is incredibly hard on your drivetrain and is the best way to end up stuck and in the shop with broken pieces parts, it’s pure physics

Can you explain how airing down keeps your axles from twisting up the leaf springs then?

Physics tells me the opposite. The more traction you have, the more the tires are going to bite the sand and then in turn pull the leafs around and twist and buckle them and cause it to smack and bounce.

Maybe I don’t understand though, so if you can explain it differently than how I’m thinking physics works

 

[EverythingZen]

What I know is as soon as I broke traction on all 4 tires in mud, and aired down. Traction off I felt wheel hop, but I was in some slippery mud.

 

[1FORDy3rd]

I’ve seen a few different options out there. Check out the ones from Cognito.

 

[TJ Carr]

Can you explain how airing down keeps your axles from twisting up the leaf springs then?

Physics tells me the opposite. The more traction you have, the more the tires are going to bite the sand and then in turn pull the leafs around and twist and buckle them and cause it to smack and bounce.

Maybe I don’t understand though, so if you can explain it differently than how I’m thinking physics works

Why do you think it’s mandatory to air down before hitting the beaches @ OBX?

Not to mention they have places to air down as well as free air stations to air up

Go hang out on OBX and talk to the tow truck drivers about broken drivetrains and what/why

Otherwise please feel free to use Google

 

[Andrewm]

Why do you think it’s mandatory to air down before hitting the beaches @ OBX?

Not to mention they have places to air down as well as free air stations to air up

Go hang out on OBX and talk to the tow truck drivers about broken drivetrains and what/why

Otherwise please feel free to use Google

I know about the air down and what not honestly. Also, I googled and ended up seeing everyone recommending traction bars or ladder bars.

So leads to my original question I guess. Thanks for the input though. Might try and gave a friend weld something up because I keep seeing pre made ones for $1500 and I’m not paying that. I’ll pay like $300

 

[Father of One]

Went driving in Duck, NC and the sand causes the rear axle to wrap and bounce a lot. If y’all have done ladder bars, how or what brand do you recommend?

I was thinking of having someone make one but I don’t want some cheap solution on a truck I spent over 70k on

Check out Dunks Performance. Mine have a Johnny joint at the frame end and a poly bushing at the axle end. They work well. May want to verify that they work on the Tremor axle as mine are on an AAM 11.5.

 

[1FORDy3rd]

I know about the air down and what not honestly. Also, I googled and ended up seeing everyone recommending traction bars or ladder bars.

So leads to my original question I guess. Thanks for the input though. Might try and gave a friend weld something up because I keep seeing pre made ones for $1500 and I’m not paying that. I’ll pay like $300

You said earlier you’re not looking for a cheap solution?
The biggest issue is the F350 leaf springs on our trucks. I’d address that before looking into lateral traction bars.

 

[Andrewm]

Check out Dunks Performance. Mine have a Johnny joint at the frame end and a poly bushing at the axle end. They work well. May want to verify that they work on the Tremor axle as mine are on an AAM 11.5.

I just see an option for f150

 

[Andrewm]

You said earlier you’re not looking for a cheap solution?
The biggest issue is the F350 leaf springs on our trucks. I’d address that before looking into lateral traction bars.

I’m not doing $1500. I’d do $750 tops, but if I have to find a friend, I’ll pay them like $250.

I won’t do a straight bar like I’ve seen at some truck pulls, but still need something. Heck, I feel the axle twist when going in reverse or taking off from a stop. It’s minimal and I know most people don’t feel it, but it is annoying. It’s been about 2yrs since I drive something with leaf springs and I’m sure the leaf springs I’llget used to but I doing want to have to get used to it. I’d rather just fix an annoying issue.

If I make them, I want them to be installed with a pin I can easily remove and installed. Just in case I go off-road on an overland trail. I don’t want them smacking a rock

 

[njburn]

Have you looked at Roadmaster Active Suspension, https://activesuspension.com/products/ford-f-250-2011-2021? Had this on my F150 to help with squat but made a big difference in cornering & wheel hop also.

 

[Andy]

one of the issues with the stock suspension and axle wrap, is the axle sits up a a 2.5" spacer bracket. this doesn't help the leaf springs out any with the amount of torque these things produce and traction.

one solid option out there for the traction bars is the BDS recoil kit. kinda spendy but it will solve the issue of wheel hop/axle wrap

think I saw them on stage 3 motorsports for 850 shipped for a stock hight to 6 inch lift . I have no affiliation but here's a link:

17-22 F250 & F350 BDS Recoil Traction Bars & Mount Kit for 0-6" Lifts 123416+123409

www.stage3motorsports.com

 

[Andrewm]

one of the issues with the stock suspension and axle wrap, is the axle sits up a a 2.5" spacer bracket. this doesn't help the leaf springs out any with the amount of torque these things produce and traction.

one solid option out there for the traction bars is the BDS recoil kit. kinda spendy but it will solve the issue of wheel hop/axle wrap

think I saw them on stage 3 motorsports for 850 shipped for a stock hight to 6 inch lift . I have no affiliation but here's a link:

17-22 F250 & F350 BDS Recoil Traction Bars & Mount Kit for 0-6" Lifts 123416+123409

www.stage3motorsports.com

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Thanks

 

[Andrewm]

2017-24 Ford F-250/350/450 PMF Traction Bar Kit -PMF-FRD-401

www.pmfsuspension.com

Found these. Just for reference for myself and others