Is a Rock Ram my only option?

[KYJ10]

I have no power steering in 4x4. Of course I have a welded front and 36" swampers. Does the ram deal work good? Has anyone done the home brewed hyraulic assist, by tapping into your box and using a cylinder? How do they affect normal driving. Any other options. Smaller tires and an open carrier!!!LOL

[flyboy]

check out west texas offroad. They have tech on the assist. You can do a search on pirate and ge some info also.

[tuck]

rockjeep44 has hydro assist, drop him a pm or email and I'm sure he'll help you out.

[nxcj]

For the money your going to spend on hydro-assist, I'd think you could get a Detroit cheaper. As long as your power steering is working properly, 36's shouldn't be much of a problem....it's the welded front that's causing the problem. Of course, if you plan on bigger meats in the future, you'll eventually need more power.......

my 2 cents smile.gif

[Sambo]

www.westtexasoffroad.com (http://www.westtexasoffroad.com)
they have hyd assis.for half the price of AGR.

[ January 08, 2003, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: Sambo ]

[Agent Orange]

Here's a link for do it yourself. It's easy to do and will save you big bucks.
http://www.members.tripod.com/surfmac/Index.html
Handling will be fine with the hydro assist.

[River Beast]

Agent orange hit the best idea for the money.... I do lose a little steering with the Detroit Locker up front and running 38's but a new PS pump did help quite a bit... I have not done the tip on the link above but may be thinking about it.

[tuck]

i think hydro assist is a better measure to take than getting a detroit. detroits are cool, but I think the real problem is big tires. the detroit might relieve a little bit of the load, but hydro assist should make quicker work for less money.

[scotty]

something to consider with the detroit is that locked in 4wd,it will aclt more or less like the welded diff. its oly going to "unlock" and let steering be alittle easier while in 2wd,if there is enuff traction. most people i know with detroits say they dont ever unlock in the mud :eek:

ill eventually be building a ram assist,since i agree that most of the prollem is the larger tires,and a ram is going to help even with an open diff

ill cast my vote for building your own ram setup smile.gif

[rockjeep44]

I did a short writeup on this the other day. Here's the link.
http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=009193#000000
-Andrew

[KYJ10]

Would it be possible to have the hoses made up with shot off's in-line. That way when I get out to lock hubs, and disco sway bar, I just open valves for my assist. Then close for street driving. Also, do you use a ball joint like end, so that the ram can sway with the suspension? Dennis

[rockjeep44]

I wouldn't go to the trouble of doing that because I drive my Jeep everywhere (don't have a trailer) sometimes spending two hours or more on the freeway at 70mph or so. I can say that the hydro-assist is no trouble at all and if no one told you, then you probably wouldn't even notice it on the road. Offroad is where it shines. You still have the return to center feel as well. Oh and my ram is hooked up with 1in bolts. No heims or johnny joints or anything like that. I just drilled the holes in the brackets a little bigger than 1in so there is a tiny bit of play.
-Andrew

[KYJ10]

Cool. A couple more things. When setting the ram up, do you set the wheels straight, then let pull the ram out 4" and thats where to weld the brackets? Did you weld you brackets on, so that it is exactly the same distance from the tie rod, to both ends of the ram? Like at one end of the ram it is 1" from the tie rod and on the other end of the ram, is it also 1" from the tie rod? Or is there an angle? Does it matter? Does any of that make sense?

[ January 09, 2003, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: KYJ10 ]

[KYJ10]

And where do you tap the two spots in the box at?