home made ladder bar

Hello everyone, I have a 1971 cj 5 and do my share of wheeling. I love the jeep and I have alot of work and tons of modifications to make this a great off road truck. I have been doing alot of trail rides lately and have found that I am having trouble with the extremely steep hill climbs. I sit and watch others in far less built trucks make it while my truck stops upward motionmehh. So I analized and decided that my axle hop combined with my extermely short wheelbase are the problems. After watching a ford ranger make a climb that I couldnt make I decided that was enuff of that time to build a ladder bar!
So I am a welder and do not have much cash at the time so decided to try to work with what i have in the garage. so first step was to come up with a plan and try not to spend any money.
I had dead batterys in my camera so used crappy cell phone camera sorry for bad quality pics!

I used 1/2 x 2 flat bar to make the tabs to weld on my rear dana 44 right next to pumpkin


Next I took some old rancho shocks I had and cut off the ends to use for the ladderbar they have bushings and 1/2 bolt holes already structured and they were free!



Next I made a new crossmember out of 2x4x1/4 tubing and made a 1/2x2" shackle to accept the ladder bar. I used the cut shock ends and bushings here as well!
I made the shackle end of the ladder bar "fixed" no adjustment. However I welder 5/8" bolts to the shock ends on the axle side for adjustability. I used 1 1/4 square tubing for the ladder bar frame. I welded ateflon lined nut to the 1 1/4 tubing to accpet the 5/8" threaded shock end. this also alows the axle side to have the spin of the bolt in the nut acts to an extent like a heim joint.

heres the first section in the works!



next I measured out the bottom section and built it. I made the bottom adjustable as well with the 5/8"bolt and nut set up as well.
I welded it up and filled the center of the bar with 1/4" plate and drilled different sized holes for decoration, It needed some style. Next I welded a peice od 1 1/2 x1/4 to the bottom side of the bar for added skid protection!





after that it was a few coats of paint and bolt up!





and I tested it out with jack for flex and works well!I also feel much less hop! I havent had a chance to fully test its improvements off road yet but hopefully I can get up the sides of the mountain much better now

I spent 0 dollars and made no trips to store for this project! I had everything I needed in my garage.
thats all folks!

 

I am guessing it is because of my low gears and pretty old springs.
If I had the wider yj springs I am pretty sure this wouldnt have been an issue.
I plan on puting new 4" springs on soon and thats one of the reasons I made the legnth adjustable on the ladder!

 

Hum you actual set up don't give any flex...the way you fab youre ladder is for on road application only...you should put a rod end and that will allow you to flex while offroading and give you the strengh you need for clinmbing.

 

It flexes just fine.

 

Not totally sure why it hops but it does or did.I havent had as much driving time since i put it on cause I am having a mysterious hesitation problem under hood. I am missing a ride this up coming weekend if I dont figure it out.

 

very nice. i need to redo mine with proper axle mounts because i just welded it to the spring plate. It lasted a while but now its all cracked up. couldnt take the abuse

 

yup I'd like to know how it works too. I get some wheel hop when I'm gettin on it. I have the front end locked

 

Also going to build one of those when I change out my rear axle. I'm runing 2 1/2 Rancho springs and am double shocked with the rear pair (Monroe Magnums) on a pretty good angle and I still get a lot of hop in deep snow.

 

my springs are the 2.5 " ranchos as well.
It is noticeably better! I am Happy with the results.