I'm about to go on a pretty hardcore wheeling trip ( link ) and want to minimize my chances of breakage.

The truck, as it will be on the trip is:
3"BL
1.5" PML
32" BFG MT tires on 3.5"BS rockcrawler steelies
DUAL air lockers
stock steering except for IAB and HD tierod adjusters
tons of armor

This will be my first wheeling with the front locker installed and, though I've got tons of steering spares and a spare half shaft, I'd rather not need any of them.

The question is this: Would leaving the front swaybar on (and the subsequent decrease in wheel travel) decrease my chances of breakage?

Since I'm fully locked I really don't care a whole lot about keeping tires on the ground...

Or is the benefit of no sway worth taking it off?

I haven't had my rear sway on for years... but I usually leave the front on.

Undo the front sways when you get on the trail. Only thing you've gotta remember is not to goose it at full droop with the wheel turned.(KERPLOW!!) You'll more than likely not need your front locker anyway, the back should push you through most of what's ahead..
PS- Have a great time!!

Personnally, I'd leave it on if its breakage you are worried about.

You could also do a diff drop kit, and relieve the droop angles related stress.

You would get a small increase in front travel disco'd, but I'm not sure it would be worth the effort.

If you DO disco the front, the advice to lay off the go go juice when drooped, especially when the wheel is turned, is golden.

Sorry to hi-jack...but while on topic. My Fronty has a rear sway bar and I have read over and over that it limits wheel travel and articulation. If I remove it will I feel (negative) any difference while driving on the highway?

No, lose it. One thing though, is if you haul in the truckbed, the swaybar does provide a little stability over the road. If you don't carry loads in the truckbed however, ditch it.

I haven't even been able to install my front bar for some time now. No CV issues off-road, yet anyway. However, I don't think that there's enough flex gained to really make it worth the chance. Leave it on would be my advice.

A couple weeks ago I called SLR with credit card in hand ready to buy the diff drop kit (I bought a front diff with an ARB in it (from a guy that just SAS'ed) that we'll be installing when we get there... so it'll be out anyway) - but the SLR guy flat out told me that if I didn't have a real 3" suspension lift (which I don't) it was a waste of money. I think he was wrong and that I'd still get some benefit - but screw it. I'll save the cash in case I need it to buy another half shaft

Thanks for the advice everybody!

DBAX,

I carry an ATV from time to time when I go riding, but nothing much in the bed regularly. Is a SB so I really cant carry much even if I wanted to. What do you think?

Not sure if SB is SwayBar, or ShortBed.. But really, just take it off and try it out. I don't see the ATV causing any issues while being hauled. Just don't drive like an ass.

Exactly..Just remember when carrying your bike in the back to take corners a little slower.Fuck the cars behind ya they can wait..I've also had mine off for a long time now and love it..But when I'm loaded up to the gils then I can a little bit..

Some people who have put the rear sway bars back on after having them off for awhile say they can feel a difference when you put it back on... I couldn't.

You can really tell it when you take both off though. When you go around a corner the body just rolls waaaaay over to the side. I drove home from western Colorado this way - it was a little weird, but not a big deal. I put the front back on when I got home, though (they're REALLY easy to remove and replace).

What's a sway bar?

Troy

DBAX, SB=Short Bed. Anyway, I really dont hot-rod my truck, much less with my bike on it (not that I can anyway VG33 + 32" tires = S...L...O...W). I agree, fuck the people behind me they can wait, I just dont want to hinder perf. when I am driving on the streets, since it is driven there most of the time. The only time I get a little crazy on road is on the freeway reaching speeds of...(ready for this) 80-85MPH if that.

So what do you think?

OFF with the SB or not?

I disagree... I noticed a very large amount of flex in the front after removing mine. I've got the poly upper bumpstop replacement, the slr stage 1-4 UCA's and I haven't noticed anything binding up at full droop. I'd suggest just jacking the X up off the ground, let the tires droop as much as possible and try putting it in 4wd and see if anything binds.

The rear, yes.

If you want to have your life flash before your eyes drive around with the front off all the time... I am very leary of riding in Troys X anymore. :p

But ditch the rear sway bar.

Yes... off with the Short Bed :p

...done!...with the sway bar that is, not the short bed.

You, scared?


Troy

With stock UCA's, I don't think you'll have a problem with it off. Aftermarket UCA's allow a bit more droop, and that's when binding can become an issue. You'll be wheeling with plenty of guys who have done trail fixes on steering MANY MANY times.