Rear wheel drive pickup traction ideas?

C

[email protected]

Guest

• Nov 28, 2005

• #1

Hi; I have a 1994 silverado (k1500) and for the past two years i have
had sand bags in the bed during the winter to improve traction. I have
been doing some reading about the height of the truck and roll
resistance and acceleration. So far the general rule of thumb seems to
be to lower the truck (improve air flow and acceleration) however I was
wondering if it would be beneficial to keep the rear end up an inch so
when accelerating the truck would level itself out? What are the
optimal configurations for the leveling of a pickup? Lower or higher
(i have heard lower for handling and aerodynamics); then also lower in
rear or higher in rear? (i have no good sources of information on this
subject...) thanks!

-Matt

 

F

Flyingmonk

Guest

• Nov 28, 2005

• #2

I don't know about lowering or rasing the rear, but you might wanna
install an limited slip rear or a air locker or somthin' of that nature
back there.

 

T

TheSnoMan

Guest

• Nov 28, 2005

• #3

[email protected] wrote:
> Hi; I have a 1994 silverado (k1500) and for the past two years i have
> had sand bags in the bed during the winter to improve traction. I have
> been doing some reading about the height of the truck and roll
> resistance and acceleration. So far the general rule of thumb seems to
> be to lower the truck (improve air flow and acceleration) however I was
> wondering if it would be beneficial to keep the rear end up an inch so
> when accelerating the truck would level itself out? What are the
> optimal configurations for the leveling of a pickup? Lower or higher
> (i have heard lower for handling and aerodynamics); then also lower in
> rear or higher in rear? (i have no good sources of information on this
> subject...) thanks!
>
> -Matt
>

Check out the link below if you want to get even more techical about
improving traction.


http://snoman.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=63

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M

Mike Romain

Guest

• Nov 28, 2005

• #4

The folks who designed the truck likely set it up the best way....

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

[email protected] wrote:
>
> Hi; I have a 1994 silverado (k1500) and for the past two years i have
> had sand bags in the bed during the winter to improve traction. I have
> been doing some reading about the height of the truck and roll
> resistance and acceleration. So far the general rule of thumb seems to
> be to lower the truck (improve air flow and acceleration) however I was
> wondering if it would be beneficial to keep the rear end up an inch so
> when accelerating the truck would level itself out? What are the
> optimal configurations for the leveling of a pickup? Lower or higher
> (i have heard lower for handling and aerodynamics); then also lower in
> rear or higher in rear? (i have no good sources of information on this
> subject...) thanks!
>
> -Matt

 

T

TheSnoMan

Guest

• Nov 28, 2005

• #5

Not likely at all, they made it the cheapest way possible and the best
possible EPA MPG rating. They do not care at all if it has best possible
traction. You give Detriot far more credit than it deserves.

Mike Romain wrote:
> The folks who designed the truck likely set it up the best way....
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=2120343242
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>>Hi; I have a 1994 silverado (k1500) and for the past two years i have
>>had sand bags in the bed during the winter to improve traction. I have
>>been doing some reading about the height of the truck and roll
>>resistance and acceleration. So far the general rule of thumb seems to
>>be to lower the truck (improve air flow and acceleration) however I was
>>wondering if it would be beneficial to keep the rear end up an inch so
>>when accelerating the truck would level itself out? What are the
>>optimal configurations for the leveling of a pickup? Lower or higher
>>(i have heard lower for handling and aerodynamics); then also lower in
>>rear or higher in rear? (i have no good sources of information on this
>>subject...) thanks!
>>
>>-Matt


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-----------------
www.thesnoman.com

 

B

.boB

Guest

• Nov 29, 2005

• #6

[email protected] wrote:
> Hi; I have a 1994 silverado (k1500) and for the past two years i have
> had sand bags in the bed during the winter to improve traction. I have
> been doing some reading about the height of the truck and roll
> resistance and acceleration. So far the general rule of thumb seems to
> be to lower the truck (improve air flow and acceleration) however I was
> wondering if it would be beneficial to keep the rear end up an inch so
> when accelerating the truck would level itself out? What are the
> optimal configurations for the leveling of a pickup? Lower or higher
> (i have heard lower for handling and aerodynamics); then also lower in
> rear or higher in rear? (i have no good sources of information on this
> subject...) thanks!
>
> -Matt
>
Whatever you do, it won't make much differance on snow and ice. Lowering the
rear to improve weight transfer assumes there's enough power and traction to shift
the CG far enough to make a differance. Not going to happen on a snowy day.
As long as the truck is somewhat level with your average load, leave it alone.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged Stolen 11/26/05 in Denver
1HD1GEL10VY3200010 CO License J5822Z
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

 

S

San1tek

Guest

• Dec 5, 2005

• #7

From a truckers point of view weight in the back will do alott for
traction. I personaly feel changing the CG would not do much for you.

 

T

TheSnoMan

Guest

• Dec 5, 2005

• #8

San1tek wrote:
> From a truckers point of view weight in the back will do alott for
> traction. I personaly feel changing the CG would not do much for you.
>


But when you shift CG more towards or away from rear axle with rear
wheel drive, that is the same as adding or removing weight back there.

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B

bowgus

Guest

• Dec 5, 2005

• #9

So that would be longitudinal CG? Must be tricky in slow/ice with say a rear
wheel drive pickup truck that would have a changing longitudial CG and
therefore handling characteristics depending on the load or lack thereof ...
easy does it would think. If it was me I'd look into positraction (power to
the wheel that's no slipping) which would be good year round, the best
ice/snow tires I could afford, and maybe extra weight over the rear wheels
on snowy days depending on weight distribution.

Out of curiosity, what is the weight distribution front wheels/rear wheels
no load? I would think equal distribution for handling in snow would be the
goal.


"TheSnoMan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> San1tek wrote:
> > From a truckers point of view weight in the back will do alott for
> > traction. I personaly feel changing the CG would not do much for you.
> >
>
>
> But when you shift CG more towards or away from rear axle with rear
> wheel drive, that is the same as adding or removing weight back there.
>
> --
>
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> www.thesnoman.com