How do you guys keep traction? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

charx2 · 04-19-2010, 11:43 PM

I'm just wondering how everyone here weighs down their bed or rear end. I'm curious as to a way that does not look completely like trailer trash, like tires and a bunch of heavy junk in the bed. I would really like to see what type of power my truck has but I can't get any traction what-so-ever! The tires are pretty bald and i have 3.07 rear end. Stomped it the other day from a stop and burned rubber for 150ft. I have a posi and 3.73 waiting to be installed (ran out of funds). I would just like to get some weight back there to see what she has from the start! So, how do you make it "bite"?

**special-K** · 04-19-2010, 11:50 PM

Hauling stuff in your bed makes you trailer trash?Try a pair of tires that aren`t bald.The 3.08s will hookup better than 3.73s.Definitely run a posi.

Dark Knight · 04-19-2010, 11:54 PM

Quote:

The 3.08s will hookup better than 3.73s

Seriously? Guess my little six-banger just isn't up to the task then...although I haven't tried it after overhauling the carb......

charx2 · 04-19-2010, 11:54 PM

Sorry, no offense man. That's not how I meant it, I'm talking people with trash piled high in their beds, not people who haul stuff. I don't want to run around town permanently with a set of rims and tires, concrete blocks and wood stacked in my bed to keep the tires on the pavement is all... that's all I have to put in their until I can figure out another way.

charx2 · 04-19-2010, 11:57 PM

My bed is very light, I was thinking that when I install the posi and gears and new tires, it still won't bite due to there not being much weight back there. I heard of some shocks that transfer weight to the rear end when stomped but I'm thinking those will be big money.

AustinScott · 04-20-2010, 12:02 AM

well just to add to this thread, I have 3.07's and no posi... and it is like a stoners dream if i get on it.... so i would say start with the posi & go from thier!!!

But with a posi 3.73 I think you are not going to get to much better... maybe with the right tires... truly if you are smoking a bald single tire on 3.08's, you need to go with posi 3.73 with fat stickies to make the traction you are looking for.

but with a strong motor, you will have trouble getting traction in these trucks no matter what you do, unless you wait down the back..... My Dad, back in the day had 6-5 Gallon buckets filled with water/sand in his shortbed to aid with traction.... but it was TRULY REDNECK, but again it worked like a charm & his burn-out went from 180ft - to 80ft and some get up and go was the result!

good luck in your search for traction...... with a stout motor... its hard to come by in these trucks.... it all plays out to be throttle control...

charx2 · 04-20-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinScott

good luck in your search for traction...... with a stout motor... its hard to come by in these trucks.... it all plays out to be throttle control...

Actually, sand bags might not be such a bad idea. But I would have to have a bunch of them. Hurricane season is coming so the bags will be plentiful next hurricane or tropical storm. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

charx2 · 04-20-2010, 12:10 AM

http://www.shurtrax.com/ Just found this, kinda tacky but gives me something to go on...

jbristo67 · 04-20-2010, 12:13 AM

My gas tank is back there and when full that's like 170 extra pounds on the rear Axel

charx2 · 04-20-2010, 12:17 AM

My tank is still behind the seat, maybe in the future I will relocate it. I think I'm going to try the sand, or dirt right above the axle. Thanks fellas and take it easy, it's bed time for this guy.

Newtz67 · 04-20-2010, 12:17 AM

Suspension and tires. Summit Racing used to sell a pad you put in the bed and fill with water. Never tried it out but I'm sure it would help. Your best bet would be a decent set of tires and posi.

Newtz67 · 04-20-2010, 12:45 AM

Check out djracer's vid. stock suspension with 10.5 in tires! Nice!

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.flv

67ChevyRedneck · 04-20-2010, 12:53 AM

I too have the fuel tank under the bed, so I'm sure that helps.

I have good BFG tires on my truck. I've found that if I feather the throttle for the first second or so, just so the truck starts to move, THEN nail the pedal to the floor, she'll really take off, and I'll even get a little bit of a 2nd gear scratch

vectorit · 04-20-2010, 01:04 AM

Get a K20 Suburban!

4.57 gears, SM465 trans, T-221 Transfer case, and 33x12.50 BFG's.

If you could hook a chain to the Titanic, I think I could pull that rust bucket up from the bottom of the ocean with out losing traction.

eightbanger · 04-20-2010, 05:12 AM

Mine's scary on wet roads, that's when I drive like an 85 year old woman on her way to church.

I was considering having metal blocks welded along both sides of both frame rails to add the weight, but what puts me off doing anything permanent is the extra fuel consumtion due to the added weight....Catch 22!

**special-K** · 04-20-2010, 08:05 AM

Taller gears resist tire spin more than lower.Also,try taller tires.

big_al_71 · 04-20-2010, 08:08 AM

I think the only way to maybe have some kind of traction you need a good pair of street slicks with a posi unti. My truck is all over the road at any speed under 45 mph.

**Hart_Rod** · 04-20-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charx2

So, how do you make it "bite"?

This...

charx2 · 04-20-2010, 02:14 PM

Another problem I have is my truck sits on bags. So when I raise and lower, of course the rear end moves. I have a new panhard bar coming in and I'm going to adjust for ride height. What I fear is that with wide tires, when I slam it they will hit the fender or bed. Wish I had money for a watts....

junkyardjohn · 04-20-2010, 03:59 PM

TRAILING ARM SUSPENSION + GOOD SET OF MEATY TIRES WILL DO THE TRICK. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SUSPENSION THAT NASCAR USES TODAY. AS FAR AS A SLAMMED TRUCK.... I REALLY DON'T KNOW. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOUR ADDING TO THE EQUASION??

JOHN

*Fitz* · 04-20-2010, 07:33 PM

Tires are good. Gears are good. On my truck they both needed a little help so I put four recessed padeyes in the bed so I could clip this to them. 400 pounds of water right over the rear axle! Or 200, or 100. all depends on how much you put in the bag. www.shurtrax.com

tommys69/454 · 04-20-2010, 07:55 PM

I have the same problem with traction. I am running 3.08 and a posi unit. I might go to a 3.73 set up but was going to look at some softer than stock springs. I have been looking at a compression rate of around 100lbs or slightly less. I think this will help load the axle upon launching from a stop. I am then going to look at weight placement and distribution.

handsomerob · 04-20-2010, 08:37 PM

Throw a couple engine blocks back there, works with our plow truck.

Actually though I've seen guys pull the box off and actually a weld 1/2" steel plate to the top of the frame rails then reinstall the box, adds like 400Lbs above the rear axle.

04-19-2010, 11:43 PM	#1
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	How do you guys keep traction? I'm just wondering how everyone here weighs down their bed or rear end. I'm curious as to a way that does not look completely like trailer trash, like tires and a bunch of heavy junk in the bed. I would really like to see what type of power my truck has but I can't get any traction what-so-ever! The tires are pretty bald and i have 3.07 rear end. Stomped it the other day from a stop and burned rubber for 150ft. I have a posi and 3.73 waiting to be installed (ran out of funds). I would just like to get some weight back there to see what she has from the start! So, how do you make it "bite"?

04-19-2010, 11:50 PM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Hauling stuff in your bed makes you trailer trash?Try a pair of tires that aren`t bald.The 3.08s will hookup better than 3.73s.Definitely run a posi. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-19-2010, 11:54 PM	#4
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Sorry, no offense man. That's not how I meant it, I'm talking people with trash piled high in their beds, not people who haul stuff. I don't want to run around town permanently with a set of rims and tires, concrete blocks and wood stacked in my bed to keep the tires on the pavement is all... that's all I have to put in their until I can figure out another way.

04-19-2010, 11:57 PM	#5
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	Re: How do you guys keep traction? My bed is very light, I was thinking that when I install the posi and gears and new tires, it still won't bite due to there not being much weight back there. I heard of some shocks that transfer weight to the rear end when stomped but I'm thinking those will be big money.

04-20-2010, 12:02 AM	#6
AustinScott Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southington CT Posts: 548	Re: How do you guys keep traction? well just to add to this thread, I have 3.07's and no posi... and it is like a stoners dream if i get on it.... so i would say start with the posi & go from thier!!! But with a posi 3.73 I think you are not going to get to much better... maybe with the right tires... truly if you are smoking a bald single tire on 3.08's, you need to go with posi 3.73 with fat stickies to make the traction you are looking for. but with a strong motor, you will have trouble getting traction in these trucks no matter what you do, unless you wait down the back..... My Dad, back in the day had 6-5 Gallon buckets filled with water/sand in his shortbed to aid with traction.... but it was TRULY REDNECK, but again it worked like a charm & his burn-out went from 180ft - to 80ft and some get up and go was the result! good luck in your search for traction...... with a stout motor... its hard to come by in these trucks.... it all plays out to be throttle control...

04-20-2010, 12:10 AM	#8
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	Re: How do you guys keep traction? http://www.shurtrax.com/ Just found this, kinda tacky but gives me something to go on...

04-20-2010, 12:13 AM	#9
jbristo67 resident oilfield trash Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock TX Posts: 1,465	Re: How do you guys keep traction? My gas tank is back there and when full that's like 170 extra pounds on the rear Axel __________________ 1967 SWB C10 396/400 factory air factory tach (sadly had to send to a new home) 1986 Honda 70 Fourtrax 1991 Chevrolet K5 blazer 2wd 1982 Mastercraft Pro Star 190 Stars and Stripes 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe 2011 Nissan Armada

04-20-2010, 12:17 AM	#10
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	Re: How do you guys keep traction? My tank is still behind the seat, maybe in the future I will relocate it. I think I'm going to try the sand, or dirt right above the axle. Thanks fellas and take it easy, it's bed time for this guy.

04-20-2010, 12:17 AM	#11
Newtz67 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A t w a t e r, Ca Posts: 1,201	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Suspension and tires. Summit Racing used to sell a pad you put in the bed and fill with water. Never tried it out but I'm sure it would help. Your best bet would be a decent set of tires and posi.

04-20-2010, 12:45 AM	#12
Newtz67 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A t w a t e r, Ca Posts: 1,201	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Check out djracer's vid. stock suspension with 10.5 in tires! Nice! http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.flv

04-20-2010, 12:53 AM	#13
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: How do you guys keep traction? I too have the fuel tank under the bed, so I'm sure that helps. I have good BFG tires on my truck. I've found that if I feather the throttle for the first second or so, just so the truck starts to move, THEN nail the pedal to the floor, she'll really take off, and I'll even get a little bit of a 2nd gear scratch __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 04-20-2010 at 12:54 AM.

04-20-2010, 01:04 AM	#14
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Get a K20 Suburban! 4.57 gears, SM465 trans, T-221 Transfer case, and 33x12.50 BFG's. If you could hook a chain to the Titanic, I think I could pull that rust bucket up from the bottom of the ocean with out losing traction. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU Last edited by vectorit; 04-20-2010 at 01:05 AM.

04-20-2010, 05:12 AM	#15
eightbanger 454 MAKES IT ROAR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Essex, U.K Posts: 2,701	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Mine's scary on wet roads, that's when I drive like an 85 year old woman on her way to church. I was considering having metal blocks welded along both sides of both frame rails to add the weight, but what puts me off doing anything permanent is the extra fuel consumtion due to the added weight....Catch 22! __________________ Nigel. An American living in a British body. 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 10 454 "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" - Thomas Jefferson No more pain. 03.12.60 -- 12.28.10 http://www.youtube.com/Eightbanger

04-20-2010, 08:05 AM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Taller gears resist tire spin more than lower.Also,try taller tires. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-20-2010, 08:08 AM	#17
big_al_71 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 11,375	Re: How do you guys keep traction? I think the only way to maybe have some kind of traction you need a good pair of street slicks with a posi unti. My truck is all over the road at any speed under 45 mph. __________________ Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

04-20-2010, 02:14 PM	#19
charx2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 365	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Another problem I have is my truck sits on bags. So when I raise and lower, of course the rear end moves. I have a new panhard bar coming in and I'm going to adjust for ride height. What I fear is that with wide tires, when I slam it they will hit the fender or bed. Wish I had money for a watts....

04-20-2010, 03:59 PM	#20
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,425	Re: How do you guys keep traction? TRAILING ARM SUSPENSION + GOOD SET OF MEATY TIRES WILL DO THE TRICK. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SUSPENSION THAT NASCAR USES TODAY. AS FAR AS A SLAMMED TRUCK.... I REALLY DON'T KNOW. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOUR ADDING TO THE EQUASION?? JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

04-20-2010, 07:33 PM	#21
Fitz Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 2,183	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Tires are good. Gears are good. On my truck they both needed a little help so I put four recessed padeyes in the bed so I could clip this to them. 400 pounds of water right over the rear axle! Or 200, or 100. all depends on how much you put in the bag. www.shurtrax.com Attached Images

04-20-2010, 07:55 PM	#22
tommys69/454 1969 short box Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: waterloo,newyork Posts: 146	Re: How do you guys keep traction? I have the same problem with traction. I am running 3.08 and a posi unit. I might go to a 3.73 set up but was going to look at some softer than stock springs. I have been looking at a compression rate of around 100lbs or slightly less. I think this will help load the axle upon launching from a stop. I am then going to look at weight placement and distribution. __________________ tommy morehouse

04-20-2010, 08:37 PM	#23
handsomerob Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Wawa, Ontario Posts: 106	Re: How do you guys keep traction? Throw a couple engine blocks back there, works with our plow truck. Actually though I've seen guys pull the box off and actually a weld 1/2" steel plate to the top of the frame rails then reinstall the box, adds like 400Lbs above the rear axle.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.