Powertrax No-Slip Traction System-any comments?

[AlanW]

Anyone on here have any experience or knowledge about this system??

I am thinking of getting one for my 2000 Sierra ext cab 2WD truck which currently has a open differential (one-wheel drive) I often tow a 3,500lb boat.

Price on the Powertrax is not too bad and it can be installed by yourself, as it does not change or mess with the ring/pinion lash setup.

 

My one-wheel drive truck is really a pain driving on wet pavement, and at times when towing-would I like this powertrax system??

[snoman]

Anyone on here have any experience or knowledge about this system??

I am thinking of getting one for my 2000 Sierra ext cab 2WD truck which currently has a open differential (one-wheel drive)  I often tow a 3,500lb boat.

Price on the Powertrax is not too bad and it can be installed by yourself, as it does not change or mess with the ring/pinion lash setup.

 

My one-wheel drive truck is really a pain driving on wet pavement, and at times when towing-would I like this powertrax system??

You actually have 2wd now. A regular differentail balances torque between wheels by design. One wheel may spin on s slick surface but both receive the same amount of torque as spiders gears work that way. A power trak is a very poor choice for towing because it is a 1WD /2WD drive setup. There is no differentail and no ability to power both wheels around a turn at different speeds. It handles turns by shifting to 1wd in a turn when coasting or very light power (it lets faster outside wheel coast in a turn without drive). When towing it may never unlock and squeal tires and have strange handling too at times with a trailer. Get you a True Trac gear drive LSD or a Eaton LSD unit for towing but stay away from a mechanical locker.

[silversport]

I read an article in a muscle car magazine a few years back that was touting this for cars with open differentials...they said it was BETTER than the old lockers in that when you go around corners, it didn't bind like the mechanical lockers can...

Bill

[Rookie]

I would have to disagree with snoman. I use mine and tow like crazy with it. I have seen all the different units out there and the best bang for the buck is the powertrax system.

[snoman]

I would have to disagree with snoman. I use mine and tow like crazy with it. I have seen all the different units out there and the best bang for the buck is the powertrax system.

Not even the manufacture recommands it for towing nor do any of the better outfitter as it is a very poor choice for this. If you are towing heavy weights you are have handleing problem towing that you are just dismissing be cause it is like towing with a spool then because it will rarely unlock. Do not kid yourself or other about this. There is no abilty to power both wheel at different speeds with a power track. It is either both wheel same speed or faster wheel coasting with no drive. No other combination in mechanically possible with that unit as they are no "differental" gear to allow for balance wheel torque in turns.

[AlanW]

More questions...just discussion, not arguing with anyone!!.....snoman is the first to say anything bad (to me) about the Powertrax unit.

 

Snoman, do you actually know somebody who has a Powertrax and has had problems towing with it? or have you just heard this?

 

I have not seen or heard anything about Powertrax not recommending their unit for towing, in fact, their ads say it is a help when towing? Can you tell me where to go to find the company saying their unit is not recommended for towing?

 

Would a 3500-4000lb boat be considered "heavy towing" you refer to?

 

I agree that a regular, open differential (not Limited Slip) does split the torque between both rear wheels when both wheels are hooked up with good traction, etc.... but when one wheel starts slipping, it will "send" the torque to the faster rotating wheel, which would be the one slipping! When my truck loses traction, it just spins one wheel. Having been stuck a few times, I'm sure about that!!

 

As long as the powertrax does kick out of lockup and allows one wheel to differentiate around corners, I don't see how that is much different from what happens when my truck currently goes around a corner-only one wheel is driving

 

Rookie---how heavy is your trailer you tow? and have you experienced any wierdness out of your PT unit?

Thanks!

[Rookie]

I tow a 23' boat. im closing in on 6500 pounds. But I bet somebody else will contadict that a 23' boat and trailer does not weight that. As for richmond Gear stateing they dont recommend. "What ever put down the crack pipe". That is one of the main selling points. This will prolly be contrdicted also. The fact that i also am very good freinds with most of the staff at Powertrax will prolly be contradicted also. Hopefully this help Ps to make sure every body is on the same page I'm talking about the No slip traction system not their Lockright.

[AlanW]

Rookie---Thanks for the reply!......having been around a few boats, I can see how a 23' boat fully outfitted & loaded plus the trailer could weigh 6,500 lbs., in fact I have a friend who has one that size. I would say 6500 lbs qualifies as a "heavy load"!!

 

And you are correct, I am also talking about the PT No-Slip Traction System unit, not the Lockright units.

[snoman]

I tow a 23' boat. im closing in on 6500 pounds. But I bet somebody else will contadict that a 23' boat and trailer does not weight that. As for richmond Gear stateing they dont recommend. "What ever put down the crack pipe". That is one of the main selling points. This will prolly be contrdicted also. The fact that i also am very good freinds with most of the staff at Powertrax will prolly be contradicted also. Hopefully this help Ps to make sure every body is on the same page I'm talking about the No slip traction system not their Lockright.

You need to back off here because you are selling this guy down the wrong road. There is NO POWERED DIFFERENTTATION OF WHEEL SPEEDS. READ MY LIPS!!! with a power tracks. It is just a smoother version of a lock rite and a poor choice for towing and anyone that claims otherwise is really clueless. For smooth towing and handling you need a true diff not a 1wd/ 2wd locker. Step on the gas hard and start around a corner pulling and listen to tires squeal. It is not because it is such a great unit but because it cannot run two wheels at different speeds under power by design! It locks then together.

[Rookie]

Ya your right. That is the first thing on my list of things to do. Im going to be towing something cut the wheel hard left and put it to the floor. You make me laugh and puke all at once.

[03 GMC]

"Towing your boat, RV, or trailer is no problem with the POWERTRAX® TRACTION SYSTEM installed. Never get stuck on the boat ramp again. It's also ideal for vehicles with plows or that operate in construction areas."

Above is quoted from the website. I don't know anything about the system but I do know that it will be hard to make up your mind by reading posts from two guys contradicting each other. I suggest sending an email to the manufacturer and getting information direct from the source. Let us know what you decide.

Powertrax

[carguru]

Ok, I'll chime in here. I have first hand experience with the Powertrax. I recommended it to a good friend of mine with a RCSB 4.8L 2wd. I helped him put it in. He has been very happy with it. His truck came with the standard 3.42 rear end. He tows his jetskis to the lake and the beach. On a couple of boat ramps, he had a hard time pulling out. We had some discussions and he was considering getting a used axle with a G80 locker. Instead, I talked him into the Powertrax. This is a pretty good unit IMHO. And contrary to what one of the previous posters said, the unit does allow for differential action of the wheels in a turn. However, unlike the G80, the unit does not unlock at speed. If you overpower the wheels, the tail will slide out. But it will do this to a certain extent with any limited slip or locking diff. It just takes a little common sense.

 

My friend's truck is now capable of pulling up most boat ramps as long as he can get traction with his rear wheels. He has also taken it on some trails behind his house where he dared not venture before.

[Black02Silverado]

One other thing to consider. I did some research a while back when I was looking at putting it in my 65 Impala but opted for the Eaton. I called various places, Drive Train Direct, Drive Train Specialties, and National Drive Train. They all explained to me that it was a good unit, but there is a major flaw, not in the Power Trax but in your open carrier. It isn't designed to handle a lot of torque and the carrier snaps. They all had run across one coming into the shop with that problem. Makes sence to me. If your not putting a large amount of torque to the wheels then you should be fine. But if you are going to do a lot of heavy useage you might want to go another route. I didn't want to take a chance. Plus I did the Eaton install myself as a learning experience, not a hard thing, just carefull measurements and take your time. Plus I got the Eaton off Ebay for 100 bucks cheaper than Summit or Jeg's. Brand new with warranty.

 

So it is all in what you want to do. There are others out that have been using it with great results. I just didn't want to take a chance with the big block torgue locking up the drag slicks on my weekend fun days.

[snoman]

One other thing to consider. I did some research a while back when I was looking at putting it in my 65 Impala but opted for the Eaton. I called various places, Drive Train Direct, Drive Train Specialties, and National Drive Train. They all explained to me that it was a good unit, but there is a major flaw, not in the Power Trax but in your open carrier. It isn't designed to handle a lot of torque and the carrier snaps. They all had run across one coming into the shop with that problem. Makes sence to me. If your not putting a large amount of torque to the wheels then you should be fine. But if you are going to do a lot of heavy useage you might want to go another route. I didn't want to take a chance. Plus I did the Eaton install myself as a learning experience, not a hard thing, just carefull measurements and take your time. Plus I got the Eaton off Ebay for 100 bucks cheaper than Summit or Jeg's. Brand new with warranty.

 

So it is all in what you want to do. There are others out that have been using it with great results. I just didn't want to take a chance with the big block torgue locking up the drag slicks on my weekend fun days.

It depends on the carrier too and the weakest link in most of them is the cross pin the holds the spiders is place and drives a spider gear replacement locker. GM 9.5 carriers are pretty stout and the carrier in the 10.50 is about bulletproof and even the detroit locker for that axle only replaces the spider gears and not the carrier and it the only light truck axle I am aware of the allows this.