Well guys now that school has started and my metal fab class is in, I planned on making some sweet traction bars with the powerstroke logo etc. Going into this i know there is alot of math and geometrical numbers i have to plan out. But my main concern is how long from bolt to bolt do i make the tractions bars? how far apart on the axle and Do i need to do any welding to the frame, i know the hangers but, i read up on a guy who welded his traction bars right from axle to frame. any help would be great thanks guys, and if you can think of anything else that would correspond to truck that i could make in metals let me know (p.s. Long box regular cab, srw)

 

Ill post some pics up after I get up. On night shift. Oh yea make a bumper .

 

was going to make a nice ranchhand but then my parents paid for a new chrome one.. :/ so can't complain about an early christmas present, i think they wanted my truck to look nice for my sisters wedding..

 

I wish I hadn't welded the front on but I did it at school and didn't have time to pull the fuel pump bracket off. Got the brackets for the the rear from ballistic fab. I really wanna redo the front brackets but they get the job done. They are a little over 6ft from eye to eye.



This was when they were on my old truck and it didn't bind the suspension up at all. The cab was twisted so much I had to crawl out the window because the door wouldn't open.









I used tractor top links for the hiems. I figure they will hold up a heavy piece of equipment they should do well here and they are reversed threads from each other so easy adjustment.

Need any more pics just let me know.

 

Thanks for the pics man, really helped me get a good idea, but i am curious... I know i might be a pain in the *** but when making them do they have to be adjustable? Bolted to frame better than welded? can i have solid square tubing and have a bolt to axle and bolt to frame? Or must their be a outer pipe, with a inner pipe to alow suspension travel? I read up on oversize's comments from later post's but i still need some more answers i plan to have two nitro 2000 shocks mounted on for some exta support. i am aware of the 45* angle and such. thanks