Traction bars; anyone running some?

Was a lot more fun in high school when I just cut some tabs, did some welding, and rolled out.. haha

 

Implying that in high school I didn’t think about making stuff right, just making it work, quickly. Way more fun when you’re ignorant pretty much.

 

Traction bars see an insane amount of force if you are wheeling hard...especially on the shackle end where the bar is pulling away from the truck. Unplated 12 gauge crossmembers don’t stand a chance. You have to be super careful on the axle end too or else the housing itself will tear at the end of the bracket if it’s not welded fully around. Think of it as upper link of a 3 link type of forces.

 

Old pictures. To illustrate the Calvert Racing Caltracs. Originally on the super soft '06 4x4 leaf springs.

 

While typically any welding can weaken the steel at the weldment, it was the twisting force on the mount that caused the failure. Had the factory crossmember been triangulated back to the frame on at least one side, that failure probably would not have occurred. Add to the fact that he has a short bed, so there is more force on his crossmember than on mine.
Live and learn.

 

Is that an aluminum exhaust?

 

measure once, cut and weld three times

 

Yes it is.

It most cases, yes. Lol. That bend had a short leg, so they needed a short piece to fill the gap. No biggie.

 

Still functioning just fine. Also running 35's with boost. No loss in articulation.

 

Knowing you, it's a surprise you don't have a pretzel bar under there.

 

I think the last time we wheeled together it wasn't even hooked up yet.

 

exactly this happened to me. the bar handled the load, the axle housing steel was not enough to handle it at the weld, and it tore open my axle housing. I've lived, I've learned, and I'm still yet to get it solved although I'm all patched up and running... without the bar.

edit: sorry, I'm just over here repeating myself. nm.

but does anyone happen to know if these guys have an option for the 3rd gen? http://www.calvertracing.com/store/caltracs-tacoma-9404-please-call-p-108.html

 

I was able to weld 60% of the bracket closest to the third member and 100% of the other bracket. I hope it holds up.

 

Everything I make, I make bolt on. If I go a different route and do NOT use the u bolt system, I’ll still weld a perch to the axle then build around it.

 

i mentioned before i wish i had gotten the bolt on instead of the weld on version.. both were available. i knew it was designed for gen 2 so i thought some massage or fab may be a part of installation and i was tight. so I'm not actually sure the bolt bracketing would fit right either. I'd still prefer a bolt on but at this point I'm not sure the best way forward. the bar is awesome but getting it on the truck right is not at all straightforward now. maybe I'll find someone with the skills for this.