ok i'm tired of trying to find a good set of traction bars and i'm not going to pay $850 for a set from EEP. so i'm going to make my own i think i have every thing figured out except for a few things. i'm thinking of making the brackets out of 3/8in plate steel and then use 1-1/2 thick walled tubing for the bars, and 3/4 in heim joints. do you guys think 3/4 heim joints are large enough and what about the tubing

 

You'd be really surprised at how thin the tubing can be and still be strong - You're not bashing them on the rocks or anything.. 1.5" .120 wall tubing is actually more than plenty.. if you're gonna go with pipe, sch. 40.

Heims - well, I don't like 'em on a DD, but the 3/4 x 5/8 heims (they use a 5/8" bolt) are normally about twice as strong as a 3/4 x 3/4, especially in the teflon lined better ones.

Oh, for the brackets, 1/4" is also PLENTY.

 

i found a set of heim joints 3/4 with a static load of 28,000lbs they are teflon and kevlar coated. i have seen traction bars flex so much while pulling that they were almost dragging the ground. i will probably go with 1/4in plating though

 

go to www.calvertracing.com these things work.

 

don't calvert's bolt to the leaf spring bracket. i'm looking to build something heavy duty. i like eep's but the price is ridiculous. this truck will not see the road again after this winter it's going to used for strictly pulling. my new rides going to be a 98 honda civic.