Van traction

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
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Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
This past weekend at the DPG invite, I had issues of moving in the Field. When I got there all I could do was spin, so I unloaded and backed up, and got to where I wanted to go.
When I left to go to the new place, I was loaded, and could only spin. Tried many ways including about 10 guys trying to push me, nothing but being towed all the way out to the gravel worked. BTW thanks for all the help guys in getting me out of there.

My question is, how would a locker like a lock-rite or Detroit work being in a tow rig? I pull a lot of weight between van, gear, trailer, and rig. Should I maybe look at a limited grip?
Someone told me there I should weld the rear, I don't think that's the ticket, but I do need some help in the traction dept.
And I do have have new tires on it with a more than all weather type tread.

Just looking for opinions. Of course I didn't feel too bad when I saw 4WD trucks having problems too.
 
Limited slip for sure. Lockers can get nasty when there's a bunch of weight on the drive axle... I've heard NOTHING but bad things from guys who have tried lockers on a tow rig..
 
Based on my experience in the past with 2wd vehicles in slick towing situations the cost of a limited slip/locker will not be worth the benefit. You just cannot beat a front drive axle along with a rear. From what I have seen it just won't make a big difference in a wet, muddy or snowy field, gravel road, ect.
I have however towed with a detroit and a lock rite equiped fullsize truck many many times in various weather conditions with no problems.
just my $.02
 
James - interesting.. Was this a 1/2 ton truck, or a 3/4 - 1ton?
The Dodge CTD guys had reported failures with the D70/D80 lockers when loaded down, which is why I ask... Mostly accelerating out of a slow turn IIRC.
 
ok, well we all know having the front wheel spin 'would' be better :/ i've been reading everyones comments on a detroit or LR and i really don't know.. Being from up north a locker can really be a bad thing on patchy traction situations.. So the real question is how much is this driven on road NOT towing?

When I had the PSD and the LSD would be in limited mode i would just get out and air down the rear tires.. I've been stuck and almost stuck many times.. When i got unstuck i would air backup.. It is just part of the deal

Speeking of tires, i always ran BFG-ATs on that truck and found that alone to be the best thing.. Ya i was spinning a tire , but was able to get traction.. But if its soft mud, grassy field stuff, not much you can do..

So my vote would be some aggressive ATs and try a LR.. Worst case you remove it..
 
Adding some weight in the rear of that van would help some but a 2wd tow rig is good for pavement only basically. Every year at the Dixie Run, I just load up on the road because my 2wd won't get out of the pit.
What you have is one tire trying pull 15,000+/- lbs and 7 other tires. A limited slip will help in a "limited" way.
 
RQ adding weight isn't an option. Already very heavy back there. Ask Caver, he was noticing my negative arch on my rear springs.
And to answer the question it isn't driven hardly at all without the trailer pulling something.
A more agressive tire might be an option. I know in the old J-truck I had Buckshot Maxis mudders and went in on trail 1 at Tellico with snow on the ground.

An ARB would be awesome, but far from in the budget.
 
I have a 2500 with LS and it is 2wd. Unless I am having to pull uphill from a stop the LS helps a ton. I wouldn't run a locker, but you could probably find a limited slip in the junk yard and toss it in there. I typically don't put much weight in the back of the truck and my only problems thus far are when pulling uphill, trying to backup a hill, or when I had bald tires and found a wet leaf.

The thing a lot of people miss out on is how when you are in a 2wd truck, getting power to both pulling wheels helps out. You will probably still spin and get stuck, but doubling your pulling traction is never a bad thing.
 
Why not put a hitch on the CJ, load the van up on the trailer and swap them when you get to the pavement?:rolleyes:

I think a LSD will help, but there will only be so much you can do.
 
LS or spool. I wouldn't run a locker in a tow rig either, especially something as comparatively short wb as your van. Better tires would definately help too.
Thought about swapping in a 44 up front?
 
Detroit. Period.

I've never had a problem towing with a detroit, no matter the weight, wheelbase, or road conditions. They tend to be better behaved behind automatics, but they're no trouble, even with a two-speed Eaton.

A lock-rite would be a good, cheap experiment. But I suspect you'd crack a carrier sooner or later.
 
I've never had a problem towing with a detroit
Click to expand...
me either. i towed a boat, two waverunners, and a camper (not at the same time, lol) fairly frequently with my ram w/ a detroit and never had any problems. i very rarely exceeded 6k lbs. or so though.
 
If you can get a Power Trac no-slip for your axle I would recommend that..I have used that and you will not even know it is back there until you start to spin and it engages.. on the road, I NEVER had it engage even once..
 
I was thinking about this some more last night....

A 14-bolt with a gov lock might be interesting. You can probably snag one for next to free, and so long as you pay attention to it and don't let the pin drop while you're doing a 40mph one-wheel-wonder, it'll last a long time.

Just another idea.
 
saf-t scissors said:
I was thinking about this some more last night....
A 14-bolt with a gov lock might be interesting. You can probably snag one for next to free, and so long as you pay attention to it and don't let the pin drop while you're doing a 40mph one-wheel-wonder, it'll last a long time.
Just another idea.
Click to expand...

OK what trucks/vans would this be in? As stated, I have a van which is wider than a truck, axle wise anyway. The van is used primarily for towing. That's the only way I can account for the mileage it gets, otherwise( used as a DD) it's just too much to run it. Although while towing, it does get better mileage than the J truck did.
 
How wide? Normal 14 bolts are already ~2" wider than Ford truck rears.
 
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