pulling ??????
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,675
Likes: 996
From: Near Yosemite CA
I HAVE never done any pulling, but I would talk to the guys there, ask them what they run and why, most guys are more than willing and like to share info to help you out. I am just speculating, but maybe 4Lo and 3rd? Let us know what ya used!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
Just to throw my hat in the ring, engine info might be another varible. A truck making 600 plus horsepower, will pull an entirely different gear than the same truck with the same tires making only 200 hp's.
All of which will be just speculation. Tire bite, and surface / track conditions add to all of these variables. There is probably not a magic combo, and trial and error will be your best bet. Just gonna have to jump in with both feet and see what your driving style, and what the truck seems to like.
All of which will be just speculation. Tire bite, and surface / track conditions add to all of these variables. There is probably not a magic combo, and trial and error will be your best bet. Just gonna have to jump in with both feet and see what your driving style, and what the truck seems to like.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Near Madison, WI
Almost everybody pulls an NP435 in second gear, low range. I did the math once, and the granny gear first in high is very close to second low. I don't remember the exact numbers, but you can google the stock ratios and multiply if you want. Nobody ever pulls in third low, and first low is for guys with straight sixes. Pull it in second, low. Don't scream it coming out of the hole, unless you have a metallic clutch. Regular clutches don't like that kind of slippage. Bring the revs to 2000 or 2500, slip the clutch till it locks up, then get after it. The number one goal(besides winning), is to not start bouncing. Things break very quickly when you bounce. Depending on how much power you have and how good the track is, you might be able to flat foot it. If she starts bucking, ease up to get it to stop, then gradually get back into it. There are a lot of variables in pulling, but that should get you started. Good luck and have fun. Pulling rocks, especially with highboys. Oh, and by the way, it might help to clamp your rear leaves. The 4 inch block back there is a big lever and can easily wrap up the springs and cause it to hop. Make some big clamps, it helps.
-Jared
-Jared
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Near Madison, WI
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Here's some motivation for ya!
-Jared
Here's some motivation for ya!
-Jared
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Local truck. Good luck!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Near Madison, WI
Right on. The thing is, tire size is sort of irrelevant, at least to a point. The percent change in overall ratio between the gears is too great to pull in anything above second low. First low will get you moving easier, but you will quickly reach redline without ever getting any momentum. Ground speed = momentum, which is the key to sled pulling. Even in the modified classes it is the trucks that get the sled moving that are successful. They all have the power to spin out. It's about maintaining traction by moderating the throttle and clutch to gain as much forward momentum as possible. Back to what I was saying though. Any gear other than granny first in high is too much. Once again, I forget the numbers, but second high I believe to be faster yet than third low. I'll run the numbers if I have time, but the only real viable options are first high, and first or second low. If for some reason your highboy has some oddball 3.00:1 axle gears or tires that are really big or really small, go with second low.
Hope some of this helps-
Jared
Hope some of this helps-
Jared
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Near Madison, WI
Hypothetical-
Highboy with 460, np435, and np205 t-case.
NP435-
1st 6.69
2nd 3.34
3rd 1.79
4th 1.00
NP205- 1.96: 1
So assuming a 4:10 gear,
First low = 53.76 : 1
Second low = 26.84 : 1
Third low = 14.38 : 1
First high = 27.43 : 1
second high = 13.69 : 1
third = 7.34 : 1
Third low and second high are similar, but both are too tall to pull with. You can see why there aren't many options, the split between gears is too wide. Later model trucks with a greater reduction in the t-case may have more options.
-Jared
-Jared
Highboy with 460, np435, and np205 t-case.
NP435-
1st 6.69
2nd 3.34
3rd 1.79
4th 1.00
NP205- 1.96: 1
So assuming a 4:10 gear,
First low = 53.76 : 1
Second low = 26.84 : 1
Third low = 14.38 : 1
First high = 27.43 : 1
second high = 13.69 : 1
third = 7.34 : 1
Third low and second high are similar, but both are too tall to pull with. You can see why there aren't many options, the split between gears is too wide. Later model trucks with a greater reduction in the t-case may have more options.
-Jared
-Jared
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Near Madison, WI
-Jared