84_Chevy_K10
Banned
Blazr77400 said:
I believe hydro steering to have too many potential points of failure to be safe for road use.
CK5
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Full hydo ?????
- Thread starter BLZN4FN
- Start date
I believe hydro steering to have too many potential points of failure to be safe for road use.
BurbLover
1/2 ton status
Blazr77400 said:
I KNOW that in the Colorado statutes, it specifically says steering MUST be mechanical. Doesn't go into specific, but full hydro does not fit this. To my understanding, crossover w/ hydro-assit is still legal.
This was a big discussion on a local 4x4 board and someone located the Co-specific ruling.
Blazr77400
1/2 ton status
BurbLover said:
I have herd that many times, somebody else has found it, but they dont know where it says it. I still dont believe that full hydro is illegal. I do believe that my full hydro is just as safe as crossover steering. Either way, both steering setups work very good. I had crossover with assist, and prefer full hydro because of the better response, its easier to turn, and its much easier to adapt to different setups, dont have to worry about a draglink hitting the engine crossmember or even the tierod or springs.
BLZN4FN
1/2 ton status
Thanks every one for you input on this
I been talking to alot of people on this. With full hydo at least the setup i'm getting you can still turn the wheels even if the truck does not run.Yes it will be alot harder but you can still turn the wheels. And yes if a line does go bad
you will be in a world of hurt. But just plan ahead carry extra hoses and fluid.
As for DOT approved everyone is right it is not. But just cause some thing is not DOT does that make it illigal? or just not DOT approved. Look at all the people here on CK5 and other boards that run Beadlock wheels and they are not DOT approved. I think if the hydro is done properly you will not have any problems and not cause harm to others on the trail or road way. Another way to look at is. How many trucks are out there with worn out gear boxes cracked frames. And people running 44 swampers on 10 bolts with less than perfect ball joints.I think they are just as as bad as a peson with a half ass
hydro setup. I could be wrong on this just my .02 So I belive that going to full hydro on my truck that see's very little road time at most 100 mile of true pavement a year and the rest it is trailered. Just knowing it's been done right I will cause no danger to my self or others. So I think this is the right adventure for me.
I been talking to alot of people on this. With full hydo at least the setup i'm getting you can still turn the wheels even if the truck does not run.Yes it will be alot harder but you can still turn the wheels. And yes if a line does go bad
you will be in a world of hurt. But just plan ahead carry extra hoses and fluid.
As for DOT approved everyone is right it is not. But just cause some thing is not DOT does that make it illigal? or just not DOT approved. Look at all the people here on CK5 and other boards that run Beadlock wheels and they are not DOT approved. I think if the hydro is done properly you will not have any problems and not cause harm to others on the trail or road way. Another way to look at is. How many trucks are out there with worn out gear boxes cracked frames. And people running 44 swampers on 10 bolts with less than perfect ball joints.I think they are just as as bad as a peson with a half ass
hydro setup. I could be wrong on this just my .02 So I belive that going to full hydro on my truck that see's very little road time at most 100 mile of true pavement a year and the rest it is trailered. Just knowing it's been done right I will cause no danger to my self or others. So I think this is the right adventure for me.
gravdigr
1/2 ton status
Blazr77400 said:Full Hydro is the only way to go on an Offroad rig, even if it sees road use.
I put full hydro on my truck and the steering is great, any hydro setup will be perfectly safe with the correct components.
Most times you hear about a poor working hydro system is with unmatched components. You need to have matching components for a safe hydro system.
As far a if a hydro line failing, my dad has one of the little car lifts that scissor up for doing brakes on small cars. He has had the lift for about 12 years. The hydro line from the cylinder runs about 8 feet to the pump, it rides on the cement, and under a little walk ramp made of diamond plate. The lines is constanlty being walked on, rubbed by the little walk ramp, and having floor jacks pulled over it and what ever else you can think of in a muffler & brake shop. The line still hasnt failed after 12 years of use. That goes to show, if you get good quality lines, there is nothing to worry about. Besides, I feel a draglink end would fail before a hydro line, and what happens then, same thing as loosing a hydro line, but that doesn't make the mechanical steering Illegal, Does it?
Besides, there is not anything saying that full hyrdo is Illegal.
As a backhoe and heavy equipment operator I am here to tell you hydraulic lines can and will fail. I've had 1/2 dozen hydraulic lines fail on my backhoe in the last 8 years. Some were due to friction, others were due to line deterioration. My setting truck has a hydro lift tailgate. When in the travel position there are 2 safety chains that hook to keep the tailgate up should the hydro system fail. On 1 trip when I went to let the tailgate down I found the cylinder failed. Without the cains the tailgate would have dropped down while doing 65 on the highway.
There is always something to worry about, and hydro is no different. The way I figure it with high seer hydro assist you always have a backup sysem If the hydro system fails you still have mechanical. The only weak link would then be the drag link ends.
I will say if I had the parts I would probably go full hydro on my trail rig which gets trailered everywhere.
