caltracs vs traction bars

[Kspen90]

I'm going to be building a set of either traction bars or caltracs soon but I'm wanting a little advice. I plan on removing the overload and one full leaf for ride comfort and adding a set of air helper springs to retain payload capacity. My questions are #1 with the leaf pack stripped down will the caltracs still stop axle wrap? #2 will traditional trac bars compromise ride quality? #3 what's your opinion on which setup will be best for my application?

 

[paint94979]

What is your application? ... Pulling? Racing? DDing?

 

[Kspen90]

Shoulda put that in there, for some reason I always assume everyone already knows lol Mostly DD and ripping down the streets when I'm in a hurry and some towing

 

[JDub]

I haven't noticed any change in ride quality with my truck (pulled load spring, air bags, caltracs). I had caltracs on my old 2wd ford and they worked great, that's why I went with them again on my current truck. They can be a bit noisy around town but a piece of rubber hose around the pin that rides on the leaf spring cured that.

Sent from my XT907

 

[kmiller]

If you pull your overload springs off, install your Caltracs or ladder bars, or you will be buying a driveshaft and rear yoke....from experience ..

 

[Kspen90]

I haven't noticed any change in ride quality with my truck (pulled load spring, air bags, caltracs). I had caltracs on my old 2wd ford and they worked great, that's why I went with them again on my current truck. They can be a bit noisy around town but a piece of rubber hose around the pin that rides on the leaf spring cured that.

Sent from my XT907

Thanks :thumb:

If you pull your overload springs off, install your Caltracs or ladder bars, or you will be buying a driveshaft and rear yoke....from experience ..��

That is what I an planning to do....

 

[blk smoke lb7]

Im thinking about geting a set also been looking around and comparing.Steve sells some nice and light 1s but they look a little short,another memeber on here is making a bad ass set that uses 2.25 tubing and 1 inch heims but im wondering how heavy they are?That being said they will never flex or bend.

 

[Whitetail Addict]

I've only ran traction bars so I cannot comment on the caltracs. I will say my traction bars helped a lot with the truck pulling on the street under hard throttle in.

 

[WisconsinHick1]

I had traction bars and they were good. A little rigid for street driving though. I bought Caltracs last year and have been very happy with them. Better on the street and have worked great for sled pulling and drag racing.

 

[jnieberlein]

I haven't had traction bars, My cal tracs are installed with the full leaf pack still, although air bags and a pulled overload is in my future. They can be a little noisy as stated. I live on a dirt road so I try and hose em down about once a week or so with wd or kroil to keep the squeak to a minimum. I still tow with them and over all I am happy with their performance. The finish didn't last one year since the install, through the winter I have lost a fair amount of powder coat of the front brackets

 

[hondarider552]

I wouldn't tow with Caltracs.

 

[jnieberlein]

I wouldn't tow with Caltracs.

Why?

Had a 25' 10k GVW gooseneck trailer and a 7200 lb crew cab short bed on this weekend no issues

 

[hondarider552]

Ride like crap for no axle wrap


Rides nice with axle wrap.



James built me a set of "axle wrap" bars and I never even knew they were there, cant say the same with Caltracs. I only towed once with caltracs on my LBZ, and a few times with my GMC with long bars, so just my findings.

 

[blk smoke lb7]

Why?

Had a 25' 10k GVW gooseneck trailer and a 7200 lb crew cab short bed on this weekend no issues

I would think if you have a hell of a load wouldnt it push or pull on the rear end depending on the angle of the bar?

 

[jnieberlein]

Ok, I thought their may be some kinda of safety concern I was unaware of. My gooseneck tows pretty smooth so I haven't had the same experience as you, thanx for clarifying

 

[jnieberlein]

I would think if you have a hell of a load wouldnt it push or pull on the rear end depending on the angle of the bar?

Probably, I have em adjusted just off the springs normally and if the trailer is real heavy I have adjusted them again so they are not preloading on the spring with the weight of the trailer. This weekend I just left them as they were went about 300 miles round trip and didn't really notice any difference compared to just towing the trailer when I didn't have them on there. My thinking with the air bags is I can take any added load off the springs with the increase of air and adjust ride height according. Not the best pic in the world but you get the idea

 

[arneson]

Traditional bars will make it ridgid feeling. They can be driven on street or dd, but u will notice them. Longer bars are more for sled pulling and moving the load weight further up the frame. Never been in a truck that i couldn't feel them.

 

[Ryan T]

Also, Cal tracs plant your tires to the ground, bars just take care of axle wrap

 

[Kspen90]

Thanks for all the replys guys! I think ill tackle building a set of caltracs after I get done with my short throw shifter project

 

[hondarider552]

Also, Cal tracs plant your tires to the ground, bars just take care of axle wrap

I noticed that right away in my single cab. You could feel the rear end literally drop.