- When it comes to your truck
- When it comes to your truck

traction is the name of the game.
traction is the name of the game.

I mean, after all, it is kind of a little bit important
I mean, after all, it is kind of a little bit important

if you're looking to maybe start
if you're looking to maybe start

or stop or turn or, you know,
or stop or turn or, you know,

pretty much just move your vehicle in any given direction
pretty much just move your vehicle in any given direction

in any situation.
in any situation.

Guys up north know just how important the traction is,
Guys up north know just how important the traction is,

because, well, if you don't have the right set
because, well, if you don't have the right set

of wheels and tires when it get snowy and icy,
of wheels and tires when it get snowy and icy,

there's not a lot of movement.
there's not a lot of movement.

But we're not here to talk about snow and ice
But we're not here to talk about snow and ice

and tires and wheels at all today
and tires and wheels at all today

and all of the seasonal depression that comes
and all of the seasonal depression that comes

with winter are we?
with winter are we?

Today we are talking about arguably one of the biggest
Today we are talking about arguably one of the biggest

and best upgrades that you can do
and best upgrades that you can do

for your truck outside of a brand new set
for your truck outside of a brand new set

of wheels and tires from customoffsets.com
of wheels and tires from customoffsets.com

and really finding out are traction bars actually worth it?
and really finding out are traction bars actually worth it?

Let's get it.
Let's get it.

Now, regardless of if you're looking
Now, regardless of if you're looking

for a set of BDS recoil series traction bars,
for a set of BDS recoil series traction bars,

or you want somethin' a little bit prettier and showier
or you want somethin' a little bit prettier and showier

with a set of McGaughy's bars,
with a set of McGaughy's bars,

the good news is you can get both of those
the good news is you can get both of those

at customoffsets.com.
at customoffsets.com.

Seriously, we of carry 'em both. It's awesome.
Seriously, we of carry 'em both. It's awesome.

Additionally to that, we also have over 160,
Additionally to that, we also have over 160,

yes, 1 6 0 thousand different wheels and tires
yes, 1 6 0 thousand different wheels and tires

in our inventory, in the warehouse.
in our inventory, in the warehouse.

It's pretty big. It's actually kinda wild.
It's pretty big. It's actually kinda wild.

So if that's what you're after,
So if that's what you're after,

be sure to check us out the website,
be sure to check us out the website,

maybe pick yourself up a set,
maybe pick yourself up a set,

maybe a new t-shirt while you're there
maybe a new t-shirt while you're there

'cause we've got a bunch of t-shirt's on clearance
'cause we've got a bunch of t-shirt's on clearance

and you can look super cool because summer's comin'
and you can look super cool because summer's comin'

and you need new shirts,
and you need new shirts,

you gotta cut sleeves off your sleeve of shirt.
you gotta cut sleeves off your sleeve of shirt.

I get it, right, it's just the way it goes.
I get it, right, it's just the way it goes.

Alright. Enough about all that.
Alright. Enough about all that.

Let's talk about traction bars.
Let's talk about traction bars.

Traction bars, ladder bars, track bars for short,
Traction bars, ladder bars, track bars for short,

there's a lot of different names for 'em out there,
there's a lot of different names for 'em out there,

but what exactly do they do?
but what exactly do they do?

Well, you see here,
Well, you see here,

contrary to popular belief the suspension
contrary to popular belief the suspension

on your truck doesn't actually stay still
on your truck doesn't actually stay still

while you're driving down the road.
while you're driving down the road.

Most folks like to believe that your rear axle,
Most folks like to believe that your rear axle,

your leaf springs and that stuff,
your leaf springs and that stuff,

only move up and down as you go over bumps,
only move up and down as you go over bumps,

but that's just simply not true,
but that's just simply not true,

and quite honestly couldn't be further from the truth.
and quite honestly couldn't be further from the truth.

When it comes to the rear axle of your pickup truck,
When it comes to the rear axle of your pickup truck,

especially those that have leaf springs in the rear,
especially those that have leaf springs in the rear,

that suspension moves and it moves a lot.
that suspension moves and it moves a lot.

One of the biggest downfalls
One of the biggest downfalls

of the leaf sprung suspension
of the leaf sprung suspension

is that under load these leaf springs have a tendency
is that under load these leaf springs have a tendency

to bow or bend slightly, typically in sort of an S shape,
to bow or bend slightly, typically in sort of an S shape,

right where the axle tips forward
right where the axle tips forward

and then the spring makes and S there.
and then the spring makes and S there.

Not only does this create a lot of stress
Not only does this create a lot of stress

on the leaf springs themselves,
on the leaf springs themselves,

but it also puts a ton of stress and strain
but it also puts a ton of stress and strain

on the different parts of the rear under the truck, right?
on the different parts of the rear under the truck, right?

The differential, the seals, the U joints, stuff like that,
The differential, the seals, the U joints, stuff like that,

as the differentials actually tipping upwards
as the differentials actually tipping upwards

as those springs turn into an S.
as those springs turn into an S.

All that stuff's getting stressed,
All that stuff's getting stressed,

and if you're chasing horsepower,
and if you're chasing horsepower,

or you tow a lot like I do,
or you tow a lot like I do,

this problem is only going to be made worse
this problem is only going to be made worse

because of the additional load
because of the additional load

that you're putting on those springs from the factory.
that you're putting on those springs from the factory.

Commonly this is referred to
Commonly this is referred to

as a thing called axle wrap, right?
as a thing called axle wrap, right?

But how do you solve axle wrap?
But how do you solve axle wrap?

Enter stage left. That's my left, your right. The traction.
Enter stage left. That's my left, your right. The traction.

The 1950s were a wild and beautiful time
The 1950s were a wild and beautiful time

in American history for a lot of reasons,
in American history for a lot of reasons,

but perhaps one of the biggest was the rise
but perhaps one of the biggest was the rise

of the American hot rod scene.
of the American hot rod scene.

A quick thumb through any historical book
A quick thumb through any historical book

or magazine will let you know that the rage
or magazine will let you know that the rage

of the 1950s was souping up your car.
of the 1950s was souping up your car.

Making big power, or so they thought at the time,
Making big power, or so they thought at the time,

250 horsepower.
250 horsepower.

And one of the biggest challenges they faced
And one of the biggest challenges they faced

at the time was putting the power down to the ground.
at the time was putting the power down to the ground.

Skinny little tires and leaf sprung suspensions
Skinny little tires and leaf sprung suspensions

all the way around were the perfect storm for axle wrap
all the way around were the perfect storm for axle wrap

and it left guys puzzled
and it left guys puzzled

as to how to put their power down effectively.
as to how to put their power down effectively.

In an effort to combat axle wrap
In an effort to combat axle wrap

a company outta California devised a way
a company outta California devised a way

to brace the rear axle to the frame of the vehicle,
to brace the rear axle to the frame of the vehicle,

and thus the traction bar was born.
and thus the traction bar was born.

Now, a traction bar works
Now, a traction bar works

by essentially creating a third mounting point
by essentially creating a third mounting point

for the rear axle.
for the rear axle.

Now, typically speaking this traction bar
Now, typically speaking this traction bar

is gonna mount to the rear axle,
is gonna mount to the rear axle,

usually under the U bolts right where the leaf spring
usually under the U bolts right where the leaf spring

and the block sits on top of the axle,
and the block sits on top of the axle,

and then it mounts underneath.
and then it mounts underneath.

And then it's gonna run on an angle
And then it's gonna run on an angle

up to the frame of the vehicle.
up to the frame of the vehicle.

This creates a triangle and essentially braces that axle
This creates a triangle and essentially braces that axle

against the frame under load,
against the frame under load,

keeping it from tipping forward.
keeping it from tipping forward.

Well, all of that is pretty fancy
Well, all of that is pretty fancy

and it sounds so super cool.
and it sounds so super cool.

What really matters here is
What really matters here is

that it's gonna keep your rear axle planted
that it's gonna keep your rear axle planted

where it needs to be
where it needs to be

and keep it from movin' around so that it doesn't kick up
and keep it from movin' around so that it doesn't kick up

or slide around when you're like
or slide around when you're like

"Baby, do you wanna four wheel drive boosted launch?"
"Baby, do you wanna four wheel drive boosted launch?"

in your Duramax because full send, am I right?
in your Duramax because full send, am I right?

If you are shopping for traction bars,
If you are shopping for traction bars,

there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

The first thing first
The first thing first

is that not all traction bars are going
is that not all traction bars are going

to be created equally.
to be created equally.

When you shop for track bars, or traction bars,
When you shop for track bars, or traction bars,

or ladder bars, or whatever you wanna call 'em,
or ladder bars, or whatever you wanna call 'em,

you're gonna find that they range in price
you're gonna find that they range in price

from just a few hundred bucks for a DIY kit,
from just a few hundred bucks for a DIY kit,

all the way up to sometimes as much as 2000 buckaroos.
all the way up to sometimes as much as 2000 buckaroos.

And while fundamentally most traction bars
And while fundamentally most traction bars

are essentially doing the same thing,
are essentially doing the same thing,

the cost difference comes in a few key areas.
the cost difference comes in a few key areas.

First and foremost, if you're after looks
First and foremost, if you're after looks

then there are some great looking traction bars
then there are some great looking traction bars

on the market.
on the market.

Typically these are gonna be more
Typically these are gonna be more

of your ladder bar style bars, right?
of your ladder bar style bars, right?

Like the McGaughy's traction bars for example.
Like the McGaughy's traction bars for example.

On the other side of this spectrum though,
On the other side of this spectrum though,

are the traction bars like the BDS Recoil system,
are the traction bars like the BDS Recoil system,

which is more of a simplistic, less flashy,
which is more of a simplistic, less flashy,

and just tube style design
and just tube style design

that's gonna run between the frame and the axle
that's gonna run between the frame and the axle

and ultimately just keep it planted.
and ultimately just keep it planted.

It's really a no bells, no whistles,
It's really a no bells, no whistles,

and just all work type setup.
and just all work type setup.

Perhaps more importantly than that though,
Perhaps more importantly than that though,

is that some traction bars are gonna be fixed
is that some traction bars are gonna be fixed

and some float, right?
and some float, right?

Fixed traction bars mean that they have no movement,
Fixed traction bars mean that they have no movement,

they have no give when you're driving down the road.
they have no give when you're driving down the road.

This is a solid mount between the frame and the axle,
This is a solid mount between the frame and the axle,

and it's gonna be best for putting down a lot of power
and it's gonna be best for putting down a lot of power

as they don't move.
as they don't move.

However, this also means
However, this also means

that your rear suspension is gonna be limited
that your rear suspension is gonna be limited

in some movement,
in some movement,

which is ultimately just gonna stiffen the ride
which is ultimately just gonna stiffen the ride

of your truck up at least a little bit.
of your truck up at least a little bit.

On the other hand, you have
On the other hand, you have

what's pretty typically referred to
what's pretty typically referred to

as a floating traction bar,
as a floating traction bar,

again, like the McGaughy's bars we talked about before
again, like the McGaughy's bars we talked about before

that we put on my Duramax.
that we put on my Duramax.

These are kinda the best of both world if you would, right?
These are kinda the best of both world if you would, right?

They have a floating mount design
They have a floating mount design

that only really contacts the frame
that only really contacts the frame

when it's under a lot of load and the axle
when it's under a lot of load and the axle

is starting to swing forward.
is starting to swing forward.

So you don't get quite as much rigidity,
So you don't get quite as much rigidity,

however it also rides a little bit smoother.
however it also rides a little bit smoother.

Regardless though, whether you want a fixed
Regardless though, whether you want a fixed

or a floating traction bar, one thing is for sure;
or a floating traction bar, one thing is for sure;

traction bars are a great form and function mod.
traction bars are a great form and function mod.

They look cool, they help you put power down to the ground,
They look cool, they help you put power down to the ground,

and they're just freakin' awesome.
and they're just freakin' awesome.

Are you running traction bars? Which brand?
Are you running traction bars? Which brand?

Let us know down in the comment section below,
Let us know down in the comment section below,

and as always, be sure to subscribe to the channel
and as always, be sure to subscribe to the channel

if you haven't already.
if you haven't already.

With that, my name is Dustin,
With that, my name is Dustin,

and I'll see you on the next one.
and I'll see you on the next one.

Peace.
Peace.

(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)