My truck wraps up the front half of my springs in certain situations off road.
79 short bed 4x4, 6 inch lift, 9 inch rear.
Is there any advantage to having two ladder bars opposed to one torque bar? Im planning to fasten solid to axle and use a shackle at the point where it connects to the frame either way I go.
What are you guys running? Hows it work?

 

a set of ladder bars will be the easiest way to eliminate the axle wrap

 

Single arm with shackle is good n least limiting on articulation.

 

most ladder bar setups do NOT allow for much articulation though. they are great for straight line, fast track stuff but worthless in most other offroad situations.

 

BamBar - Ultimate Anti-Wrap Solution - Jeepaholics Anonymous

 

Or

 

Mine was like that pic, but didn't have the threaded area, and the shackle was reversed. As in the bar on top, crossmember mount on the bottom. That way the bar pulled on the shackle instead of pushed. My shackle consisted of two 3/4 rod ends put together to make a short shackle.

 

good to know Rob. i am not a "hard core wheeler"
i do soft sand beach running, and swamp mud/muck for work or hunting.
i don't need massive articulation so ladder bars work fine for me.

 

+1 put it as close to the middle as possible and a little lower than the driveline so it will protect it from rocks and logs it workes great.

 

Great info guys! Gonna build a single arm with shackle. Hiem joints at the two axle attach points too? I'm thinking that will give me some side to side movement that it might need. Looks like I have room to put the shackle on top of the t-case / trans crossmember right beside the t-case (pass side). Should help lift the front end in mud bogs too?? maybe? Do you think 3/4'' square tube will suffice?

 

I would use a heavier tube. Square tube I wouldnt really suggest as its more difficult to attach end links and threaded section.
Heres my setup.
Just under 1/4" wall,1 1/2" DOM all homebrew backyard style





Top threaded 1.25" rod bushing. Tube was tapped on a lathe before I put it together

 

Bushings are these


Ballistic Poly Bushing 2.63" w/ weldable housing

And 1 of these

Ballistic Forged Poly Bushing 2.63"

All for the biggest 3/4" bolt.

I wouldn't use a weld in tube thread either as I was going that route but realized the top threaded rod was 3/4" vs thenow 1.25" and would of been the weak area.
I guess you could always weld a big 1.25" nut on your DOM or square tube if you choose. Bevel into the nut to get better penetration weld. Not a fan of heims. These work awesome with no sloppy play or noise.

 

I need to build a ladder bar for my other stock 79 camper special real bad right now! It hops like crazy on wet roads. I'm thinking I will go with a bam bar though because it's stock now but I plan to add like a 6" lift so I can easily modify and lengthen afterward with this route..

 

Nice work man. Thanks for posting the pics!

 

If your going to do all that fab work why not setup a 4 link?