The best Traction Bar?

Like to get a new traction bar. Curious if any one has thoughts on bud built vs ruffstuff, and ATO. I definitely want a weld-on version. Any insight greatly appreciated. Happy New Year!

 

Not interested also in the Caltrac version?

 

Definitely interested. It’s just lil more work for me. I’m curious if me having the 4 leaf would change anything from the setup you talked about on the other thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/traction-bar-options.298505/

 

i am in the process of purchasing a weld-on bar from Bud Built... was on the phone with him yesterday about it. I'm in a 3rd gen MT. i haven't found other options for me but I'm pretty happy with what I'm looking at.

 

I hav the caltracs and had them for about 70,000 miles. Only complaints I have is that they rattle a little bit when they break in. When driving on rough pavement that is. And they made the bumps slightly more jarring cause you replace your front rubber bushing in your leaf pack with a solid aluminum one. Other than that i have really liked them.

 

Ever buy it? I like how it stays close to the drive shaft but not where it attaches but I have actually never seen the weld on version pictured. Maybe it's better?

 

glad you asked. take a look here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/crazy-leak-from-the-rear-end-overnight.548948/

first, i don't think you'll be able to get a Budbuilt bar any longer. I'm not sure, but last i heard he's sick and not fully working. there are no other good options for bars on the 3rd gen I've found.

but i plan to keep my Bud bar and fab up a proper heavy duty gusseted mount solution for my current bar which is sitting on the garage floor. maybe next year.

the news you can use tho is that a traction bar transforms the truck in my situation. my truck is setup for highway driving and is pretty aggressive, so the bar helps a lot with a steady rear and no hop. I'm a throttle steering fool so really need all my rear traction. and right now i don't have it!

 

You throttle steer on the highway? With an open diff? Okay...

I've done some more research since my last post and it seems that both the weld on or bolt on designs from BB are junk. Right up there with procomp.

I'm going with the ruff stuff weld it yourself kit because that has actually functional brackets

 

the BB fastening solution wasn't "junk" per se, it was just a shit design. the materials were strong and appropriate, they didn't skimp on that part. but the design is literally a liability as you can see from my link up there. the bar is good, the bolts are grade 8, and the front clamp mount has appeared solid through all of that drama. but the rear attachment at the axle needs to be built up from scratch smartly for sure. i hope to do this next year at some point. i actually installed a new muffler this morning and selected one to give me extra room for the channel where the bar goes, planning ahead for when i get something fabbed up for the bar. the TRD muffler was too big to accommodate the bar and preserve clearance.

re: throttle steering... yes i do, but w/o big power and a posi or similar i have only lift throttle steering available to me unless i'm on a wet road, which is half of the throttle steering deal. my truck basically won't turn without a lift due to my setup. makes it absolutely tons o fun but nobody else can drive my truck including my wife who loves MT's but can't throttle steer it. one day i'll hope to put some real power in there and complete the other half of the throttle steer fun.

 

I literally said the design is what's poop but alas. You can get this here to fix what Bud Built shoulda done:

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...ff&Product_Code=AWCOMP&Category_Code=Antiwrap

Regarding the second per of your statement... sounds funny. I mean more power to you but still. It's a Tacoma. I like doing this stuff in the dirt which is why I have a locker that can be engaged in 2Hi but that's a step further than just the weight management you're talking about.

 

i have tossed around cars for years. i am not a fearful driver regarding the natural forces. of all those, the Tacoma is without question the most fun to hoon for me. on tarmac you can do stuff you just can't get away with in cars... legally, that is. i will spare no opportunity to have fun driving and I've never had so much of it on road with this thing. so you can say It's a Tacoma but I'll be having fun driving around you at speed while you're still waiting to get to the trails. maybe just take a white knuckle ride with me and find out something new about Tacomas.

 

Your poor groceries! Haha, it's all good! I have another car for on road fun as well as a 1989 Subaru Justy 4x4 MT for general hooning.

 

yeah my last 2 were a modded up R32 and a Subie wagon. they were great but got so tore up on the roads. so the MT Tacoma took over cus it's tough. and of course having said that I'm sitting in the alignment shop as i write this trying again to fix something messed up in my front end from hooning. i guess until i spend more it's not tough enough.