OPPINIONS

[OVERKILL ENG]

Looking at coverage of the American comps I have noticed that a lot of the buggies run there winch cable to the front diff. Having discussed this with Ballsac we came to the conclusion it was to restrict front travel when climing to stop the suspension springing the buggy over backwards. Just curious what other readers thought were.

[Strange Rover]

Yea Ive noticed that too. I dont know that it would stop the front sus from throwing the rig go over backwards in a momentum fashion cause the shocks should stop that(I think that having really good shocks is very important in rockcrawling).

The biggest benefit (this has been discussed on pirate) is that it stops the front suspension from unloading on steep climbs. What this means is that when the rig is pointed steep up hill there is a lot less weight on the front springs. Now since there is less weight, the front springs extend (unload) and the front sits much heigher (we would be talking inches here depending on what spring rate you are running. The softer the springs the worse it happens). So essencially the front sits higher raising the COG which flips you over backwards (even when crawling really slow). This is what they are trying to stop with the cable.

Sam

[AussieCJ7]

I have NFI but think Ruff is on the right track but also could be to pull the axle forward a little to conteract the wheel be pushed back from the rock this should help with traction

Thinking along the same lines as the shackle in front or rear of front springs argument


The above could just be a brain fart but thinking out aloud and throwing the idea in for discussion

[AussieCJ7]

Looks like this discuusion should be moved to TECH as it wont get lost in the padders posts in chit chat

[big red]

another point is that by pulling down on the cable it is effectively lowering the angle the truck is sitting on and getting more weight on the front tyres which increases traction to the front tyres.
Probably not a great deal but at those angles every bit counts and the winch can be used to change the angle.

[RUFF]

I have NFI but think Ruff is on the right track but also could be to pull the axle forward a little to conteract the wheel be pushed back from the rock this should help with traction

Thinking along the same lines as the shackle in front or rear of front springs argument


The above could just be a brain fart but thinking out aloud and throwing the idea in for discussion

Hu what did i say that sounded right

[AussieCJ7]

I have NFI but think Ruff is on the right track but also could be to pull the axle forward a little to conteract the wheel be pushed back from the rock this should help with traction

Thinking along the same lines as the shackle in front or rear of front springs argument


The above could just be a brain fart but thinking out aloud and throwing the idea in for discussion

Hu what did i say that sounded right

"NOTHING" that makes it right

to be honest i mixed you and strange rover up

[bogged]

did we work out what it was in the end?

[bad_religion_au]

did we work out what it was in the end?

nah, they decided it was too hard and all built zooks on airbags that could overcome gravity

[Bentzook]

Actually I was thinking the same sort of thing, If I lower the pressure on the front bags and increase it it the rear , so the rig [body weight] is heavier on the front, the chassis actually sits flat, angled into the hill face, reducing the chances of cartwheeling backwards.

[RUFF]

Actually I was thinking the same sort of thing, If I lower the pressure on the front bags and increase it it the rear , so the rig [body weight] is heavier on the front, the chassis actually sits flat, angled into the hill face, reducing the chances of cartwheeling backwards.

I think you just might be on to something Marcus. Get some pictures or video when you try this out. Should be interesting to watch.

[redzook]

Actually I was thinking the same sort of thing, If I lower the pressure on the front bags and increase it it the rear , so the rig [body weight] is heavier on the front, the chassis actually sits flat, angled into the hill face, reducing the chances of cartwheeling backwards.

throw all ur link geometry off

should be good watching it try to bounce its way up a hill

[GRIMACE]

i think its just for safety incase your links break you can winch in hards and continue to drive... thats all.

[pongo]

I read ages ago. that it was to stop the front unloading, helps to stop wheel hopping, etc

Over all it is supposed to help aid it climb. If your front springs are very soft, It will help put pressure on them forcing the front wheels downward giving more traction.