Ladder bars or?

[03wr250f]

I am having some axle wrap on hard acceleration. I do not get on it hard enough to experience it that often, well because there is no need. But that being said I have been contemplating Ladder bars for some time now. I have weak springs that I know, but what are your thoughts on a way to eliminate wheel hop. It is mainly used to haul light loads to fairly heavy trailers. It doesn't see much off road use either it mainly sees towing/hauling and farm work. I have heard about torque bars doing the same thing as ladder or traction bars, but me personally I like the look of ladder bars. I also don't want to spend money on just a "look". I am open to all options, as long as they work, and will bennifit me in basically whatever I do. Also I would like to have my truck to be more planted when towing... and im hoping ladder bars would help with that, but I may be way off too.
If I do plan to go with ladder bars I will build my own, but they will have a heim joint welded to the axle with a two mounts one on each side of the axle(top and bottom). I would mount it at the same angle as driveshaft and mount at the transfer case. At that mount I would have a shackle mounted to the frame, and all points of contact would have bushings.
If you all have any ideas as to what to better my set up that im designing, ideas for companies who make shackles and bushing, or any better ideas to help with my problems im all up for it. Thanks in advanced.
Btw its on a eclb.

 

[IDIoit]

i have the same issue.
with everything ive searched, asked, and looked at.
a nice ladder bar system was my first choice.
i quite often do hard launches. i dunno i like to drive fast,
but thinking about the geometry, the pivots, and the strain it would be putting on the already old and fatigued leaf springs.
ive 86'd the idea for ladder bars,
we dont have 700 hp on tap.
we arnt going to run a 9.99 1/4 mile.
the correct decision ive leaned twards is, new leaf springs.
if we fix the problem instead of spending 2x as much to bandaide it, we will be better off.

 

[03wr250f]

that was my thought I am not putting serious hp or tq down but would be nice and I like the look. but my thought was I have never heard of a old ford that didn't have wheel hop. I just don't know how much it would help to have new springs. and I am going to WyoTech and I will have a chance in there chassis fab class to build a set with some good instructors to give pointers. that being said I also want to go in having a plan of what I want to do. I also plan to start fabing up a bumper while im there. I was planning on builing the mounting bracket for the ladder bars, mounting them and then in class builing the ladder bars. and then with any extra time start on my bumper... but that's another story. So that's why I thought I would ask your guys opionions. I posted on obs fords the facebook group and from one guy I trust fairly well he said go with torque arms. but as I have heard all around, everyone has their own opionon.

 

[IDIoit]

my opinion is:
if youre starting a project @ whine-o-tech make sure youre doing something that does not put your truck down.
they are infamous for letting students tear their cars apart, then sending them off into the wind.
IMO, become a certified welder before you go if you want to work in the fabrication industry.
with new leafs and extra spring packs, you can eliminate the hop.
air bags work well too
everyone has their own opinion, just make sure yours does not leave you stranded.
i have been fabricating for 15+ years, and wrenching for another decade as a hobby.
good luck.

 

[jay22day]

If your problem is axle wrap, just buy a single anti-wrap bar kit or if you can weld, they aren't terribly difficult to make.

Guys that run off road rigs with a "low cost" axle under flip (often found on leaf spring jeeps that have solid axles) prevent axle wrap with a simple single anti-wrap-bar. IMHO anything more is probably overkill, unless you plan to make big big power with an aggressive turbo kit

 

[03wr250f]

IDIot I definetly hear ya about them telling you to fend for yourself. I Do also have a car to drive around for any time my truck is down, but duly noted as well. With the bumper it wont take my truck down, and I doubt that the ladder bars will either, but I will cross that bridge when I get there. and hmm ok then I guess I will just start looking at spring kits. And see how that does me. besides having the extra capacity without it sitting on the ground would be nice. ( I know it still has the same capacity, just no squat!) Thanks yall

 

[marmot]

Just a new spring pack will probably make a world of difference for you. Non turbo 7.3 should not be wrapping the axle much with a good 3/4ton spring pack if at all. I put a new set on the 99 f350sd 7.3 and it made a world of difference, no more hop and squat and way better ride height. When the shop pulled them with 200k on em they fell apart into 7 pieces And I am a firm believer in the fact that to keep these diesels running you need to put your foot in em daily. Keeps carbon at bay and injectors clean. I am still crushing hondas on the freeway at 274k and counting. My wife hates how I drive but 170k with only a clutch, alternator and water pump has made her a believer.

 

[03wr250f]

haha fair enough, that's what I will look into and I will probably go to a new 3/4 ton or 1ton suspension, its a truck not meant to be a Cadillac. But I also did measuring and it would take a lot of work for ladder bars. Springs sound good right now, thanks guys. When I do do ladder bars would it be better to do greasable shackles and bushings, or just bushings?

 

[IDIoit]

its a truck not meant to be a Cadillac.

they sure do jump like one!!! ive launched my 87 pretty damn hard, and she always came down like she was on clouds!!!
(pre 6 door conversion, shes retired from such beatings now)

i used to have a 81 chevy i beat in the same fashion, and the landings were harsh.
98 malibu, yea jumping these destroys the car lol

FYI, these are the best ends on the market IMO.
they have 2 styles, but only one pictured, give them a call, the other is a roller swiveled end,
ive used these on 4 link kits time and time again.
http://thorbros.com/catalog/4-link-parts/4-link-bar-bung-kits