What traction bars is everyone using? I am thinking about just going with the 30" universal lakewoods. The "slapper bar" type. Would they be good enough or should I go with a link setup, I dont really want to weld, so thats why I was leaning toward the lakewoods. Any opinions are appreciated.....

 

Cal-Tracs all the way.....

 

Just my opinion and laws of physics but I would defenitely go with a 4-link over traction bars on leafs. 4-link will have dramatic handling and traction characteristics. If you wanna go for that? probably cost a little more and be more work but I think it would be worth it for sure.

 

Where is the best place to get them? And have any pics of your setup?

 

Not Sure?? I am having mine completely fabricated because I am running complete air ride suspension. Wish I had some pics to show everyone but I am broke with all the money goin into my truck. No money for a digital camera!!

U could try Air Ride Technologies just for the 4-link has pretty good stuff. They sell mostly air ride stuff but have good parallel 4-link kit you can buy by itself.

 

http://www.calvertracing.com/

 

I got mine from www.kennedydiesel.com but there are plenty of places to get them.

Here are some photos of them on the truck but I don't have any specific shots of them.







They have worked pretty well on my truck even with the heavy 3/4 ton springs. I can tow, use the truck for heavy work and as a daily driver and still lay down 1.8 60' times on slicks.

 

How difficult is it to install the cal-tracs?

 

It depends on how handy you are. I don't know how different the install would be on a 1/2 ton but the install was not too bad on the 3/4. It took me a solid afternoons worth of work. The hardest part on my truck was clearing the front spring eye bolt from the fuel tank and getting the front bushings out. I drilled out the rubber bushings and then hit them with an air chisel to pop out the sleeves.

Pressing in the new aluminum bushings went pretty easy with a handheld screw press. The rest is fairly easy, just take your time and support everything well as you work.

 

Those universal lakewoods would not work well at all. You would proabably control wheel hop some, but they would put a lot of stress on the spring. Dont they make a slide-a-link for these trucks? Similar to a cal-trac, but they adjust different and I heard they are a little better.