Snow wheeling. Now I want to re-configure...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,126
Reaction score
7,255
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
That's what I want in the front of my truck also. I am planning on a Detroit locker in the rear and trutrac up front.

Good choices. The Eaton manual for the TruTrac does recommend using regular gear oil as opposed to synthetic. They state that the differential will perform better, but either oil will work.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
The Truetrac just uses gears and not clutches- so it has been much better than the Auburn Gear pro limited slip I had on my old truck. No friction additive, no clutches to wear out. One of the Jeep guys has a detroit locker in the front. He has problems turning it on snow. Sometimes he has to hop out and unlock the front hub (but it into 3 wheel drive) so he can turn sharp.

You must be registered for see images attach
Ok so that 1.5" long twisted gear gets to wind or unwind enough to provide some differentiation? Maybe a few tire rotations? They certainly do not 'lock' the two axle sides. Am I right?
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Ok so that 1.5" long twisted gear gets to wind or unwind enough to provide some differentiation? Maybe a few tire rotations? They certainly do not 'lock' the two axle sides. Am I right?
Oh here we go... I get it. I mean I got it!


"From Eaton:

The Truetrac is a helical gear limited slip differential, not a “locker”. The Truetrac operates by transferring power from the spinning wheel to the wheel with the most traction. If one tire breaks traction, the amount of rotation (or spin) is controlled by transferring the lost traction to the higher traction wheel. The Detroit Truetrac operates on the principle of "torque biasing”: the typical Truetrac aftermarket differential will consistently deliver approximately three-fold the torque of the slipping wheel to the gripping wheel."

Thanks Mike
 
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Posts
38
Reaction score
39
Location
Stonington maine
First Name
Ryan billings
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 suburban
Engine Size
6.2L diesel
Well so far I only have a couple days on my truck just got it back together no real wheeling yet, but I will say this is my second diesel suburban 85 first 87 current and my first ever aftermarket suspension.

buy once cry once. It wasn’t easy and it’s kind of a mental clusterfuck with a million different ppl telling you a million different things. In the end I just went with what I could afford to get it together and I’m super happy.

Tl:dr
I got a 6 inch ord custom spring setup and it is deffinetly the softest comfiest cushiest ride it flex’s good works good. My truck is big and heavy and even though it’s up there it doesn’t feel like it’s gonna roll over whenever I touch the wheel. I once put a 3 inch plastic riser body lift on my old truck and it was like an elephant on stilts.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,948
Reaction score
25,339
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
Well so far I only have a couple days on my truck just got it back together no real wheeling yet, but I will say this is my second diesel suburban 85 first 87 current and my first ever aftermarket suspension.

buy once cry once. It wasn’t easy and it’s kind of a mental clusterfuck with a million different ppl telling you a million different things. In the end I just went with what I could afford to get it together and I’m super happy.

Tl:dr
I got a 6 inch ord custom spring setup and it is deffinetly the softest comfiest cushiest ride it flex’s good works good. My truck is big and heavy and even though it’s up there it doesn’t feel like it’s gonna roll over whenever I touch the wheel. I once put a 3 inch plastic riser body lift on my old truck and it was like an elephant on stilts.

You must be registered for see images attach
I like it!!
 

TubeTruck

I'm from Boston. Deal with it.
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Posts
1,439
Reaction score
2,180
Location
East TN
First Name
Denis
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Suburban K10
Engine Size
LQ9
Well so far I only have a couple days on my truck just got it back together no real wheeling yet, but I will say this is my second diesel suburban 85 first 87 current and my first ever aftermarket suspension.

buy once cry once. It wasn’t easy and it’s kind of a mental clusterfuck with a million different ppl telling you a million different things. In the end I just went with what I could afford to get it together and I’m super happy.

Tl:dr
I got a 6 inch ord custom spring setup and it is deffinetly the softest comfiest cushiest ride it flex’s good works good. My truck is big and heavy and even though it’s up there it doesn’t feel like it’s gonna roll over whenever I touch the wheel. I once put a 3 inch plastic riser body lift on my old truck and it was like an elephant on stilts.

You must be registered for see images attach

What steps are those?
 
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Posts
38
Reaction score
39
Location
Stonington maine
First Name
Ryan billings
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 suburban
Engine Size
6.2L diesel
Jegs build your own 78 inches I like them but I wish I got the ones for a yota they are a little longer and have a kickout also mine aren’t mounted ideal for rock sliders but for now whatever they work.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Almost this time again @77 K20! looking forward to your snow wheeling pics :)

So am I.... I've spent most of the year traveling and just finally got home. Arizona, Minnesota, back to Arizona, then 2.5 hours south of my house for Thanksgiving week.

There isn't much snow around here yet... needs to start snowing!

Today I finally got enough time to get my CO2 bottle filled up so I can air my tires back up with it. And while I was there I bought a 5lb fire extinguisher for the truck. The old one I had said it lost its charge.
 

Turbo Dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 25, 2016
Posts
85
Reaction score
91
Location
Laramie, WYO
First Name
Dwight
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V30
Engine Size
388 TBI Stroker
I couldn't read all 5 pages but your pics were great. From my off roading experience, the shocks make the most difference. Most of my off roading is high speed stuff, but bouncing is a result of not enough control by the shocks. Mine get hot even with remote reservoirs. Nice big diameter modern King multi bypass shocks rock...but they are out of my price range. I still have triple Fox shocks in the rear with singe stage adjustable compression and rebound with one of them being a positioner. Adding multi stage compression and rebound takes it to another level.

Best wishes for your wheeling adventures this year!
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Well- I was all excited about 3 weeks ago- met the offroad guys to head up to the top of some mountains to find snow. Got to a small field where we air down the tires and I found out my 4wd was no longer working.

While driving down the highway a large clunk/bang was heard and my NP203 shift lever jumped at the same time. Guess this was the event that took out my 4wd. I lost 4 low and 4 hi. Looked into getting an Atlas transfer case, but they are backordered about 3 months, and I don't want to spend that much right now.

I'm currently in Seattle for some doctor appointments with my daughter- so haven't had time to look at it. I'll take it to a local shop that is off road custom friendly and see what they think. I did buy a ORD twin stick kit for it as I've always had issues with it getting into 4 low, or popping out of low range.

Hopefully they will get it fixed by the 23rd- as that is the next trail ride. I want to try out my new 37" tires!
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Can't find or buy a new chain for a NP203. They seem to be backordered months and then want several hundred for a new chain. So gave up on that. Found a full time NP203 in a junk yard and had the shop put that in.

Twin stick is kinda nice- easy to shift. But the right shifter linkage (I'm guessing) hits the transmission tunnel when going over bumps. When I move the right shifter forward to put it into low it no longer makes a clunking/knocking sound.

You must be registered for see images attach


So I made it to the trail ride on the 23rd. But this time was with a different group of off road guys. Two more or less stock Jeeps came along and the snow was that dry sugar snow. Very hard to walk in, shifts around, pretty much no traction. Stock guys and a Grand Cherokee on 33s got stuck a lot before we even made up up to a ridge top. So it was decided to turn around and head back down. I went up to near the ridge just to be able to turn around. Tried to get out to take some pics but snow was almost to my waist. Hard to get back in the truck.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Went back up the same road- but without the almost stock vehicles. Made it up and over the mountains. Tough ride. Some parts still had sugar snow on the north facing slopes. Then the sun came out and it warmed up. Had some nice wet snow and a few downed trees.

Right off the bat the snowbank that all of us had to climb off the "main" road was much higher. I wasn't able to get any momentum and got high centered. Gotta love the long wheelbase when everyone else had 2 door Jeeps. :(

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,162
Posts
950,639
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top