Anybody ditched their smartbar and hardwired their lockers?

[RAM4ROKS]

Like it says, really thinking about ditching the smartbar and going to a Thuren, Carli, etc and some manual disconnects. I ran manual disconnects on my ZJ and never really found them all that inconvenient, just had to remember to bring some zip-ties to tie the swaybar up out of the way! My smartbar is already acting up and won't disconnect or let me use my lockers, with only just over 40K miles on the truck! (a 2012 that was built in 12/2012 so, only 2 years old!) It caused me to damage the heck outta my truck on a tree (months ago, haven't had a chance to bring it in for the dealer to look at the smartbar yet) since I couldn't get flex or traction so, I slid into the tree! (portion of trail that I have scaled unscathed countless times with lockers and smartbar operational!) I bought an extended warranty so, the smartbar should be covered but, if it is not, or they can't make it work dependably, it's getting the axe!!!! Thoughts?

[06wagon]

I've had my front hardwired for years now...... No issues

[leo72987]

Have had my disconnect coverted with the evo and lockers hardwired for about a year now

[RAM4ROKS]

Have had my disconnect coverted with the evo and lockers hardwired for about a year now

EVO kit? This one for the Rubicons? Or do they make a Power Wagon specific one?
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/p ... O-NOLIMITS

[Graveltravels]

From what I understand, it's the same piece. You just have to live with the light on permanently.


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[Juday]

Hmmm, that piece is interesting from EVO. For only $90, too, it might be worth a shot...

[RAM4ROKS]

From what I understand, it's the same piece. You just have to live with the light on permanently.


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Should be able to program out the light. I know AEV's procal does the trick for the JK guys. I wish AEV would come out with a Procal for our trucks. One of the other tuners should be able to do it though.

[loveracing1988]

From what I understand, it's the same piece. You just have to live with the light on permanently.


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Should be able to program out the light. I know AEV's procal does the trick for the JK guys. I wish AEV would come out with a Procal for our trucks. One of the other tuners should be able to do it though.

When I emailed aev and asked them they said they were going to come out with one, they just have no eta on it.

[RAM4ROKS]

AWESOME!!!! I am glad to hear that, thanks for the heads up! I had an AEV Procal on my JK I sold to buy my Wagon; I am a big fan of the Procal!!!!

[04Ram2500Hemi]

AEV said today that the Ram Procal will be released the same time the suspension is. I'm guessing by February.

[RAM4ROKS]

SWEET! I am going to be getting one in February then, I need to program for my 37s!

The only thing that worries me about AEV is- they haven't said anything about their other product I most want them to make- their fender flares!

[Graveltravels]

I was gonna mention the procal. I love it on the jeep, no more tpms, and able to calibrate for tire size, and shut of the sway bar light. Should be the ticket for the wagon too! As for the fenders, I'm looking forward to these too! And their lift! I've ridden in jeeps with their lift, and man, do they ride nice!


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[04Ram2500Hemi]

I was gonna mention the procal. I love it on the jeep, no more tpms, and able to calibrate for tire size, and shut of the sway bar light. Should be the ticket for the wagon too! As for the fenders, I'm looking forward to these too! And their lift! I've ridden in jeeps with their lift, and man, do they ride nice!


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I've actually ridden in the AEV Ram with 40's so I can tell you all about the ride.i don't know if it's the suspension, the 40" tires, the fact that it was a CTD, or all of that combined, but the ride definitely wasn't as smooth as my Power Wagon. I would say the ride was firm, but it wasn't horrible by any means. It actually reminded my of my 2004 HD Hemi before the Kore Recon Suspension was installed. I will say this though, the view out the windshield of that truck was awesome! If the AEV Suspension could retain the factory ride quality of our Power Wagon I'd say it would be worth the investment.

[RAM4ROKS]

The AEV suspension should retain the Power Wagon's ride, it uses spacers to retain the stock springs, I guess it would just depend on what shock tuning they provide.

Edit: And yeah, I am uber-jealous that you live close enough to AEV to check out their awesome rigs in person! (and ride in them!!!)

[2wagons1driveway]

I'm thinking I'll just unbolt the module and put it above the frame rails somewhre out of the way and run a Thuren fab swaybar


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[Graveltravels]

That, or you could use the evo disconnect. I have it on the jeep, and it is awesome! Make the jeep perform like it should, and I know when it's in or out. Takes two minutes to disconnect, or reconnect.


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[leo72987]

I agree the Power Wagon sway bar is one of engineering marvels that makes the power wagon unique... Maybe calling it a marvel is a stretch I know HAHA. But I beat the hell out of mine with the EVO disconnect and love it... Why not use the money for something else? There is nothing wrong with the Power Wagon sway bar.

[2wagons1driveway]

Ya my swaybar is actually making a lot of noise and in pretty sure it's the disconnect it works really easy to connect and reconnect but I think the splines are facked causing excessive road noise. I DO beat the shit out if my p.wagon when I go offroad and it's all at high speeds so the bar is engaged that's why I was thinking a softer bar that I could get some Benifits from for cornering even offroad in rough terrain and still have the manual disonnect feature the Thuren bar has when I know I'm just gunna be doing a day of wheeling but for now I will be disconnecting the bar and just tying it up out of the way to see how I like the ride


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[jsemm]

Has anyone tried to fix the smartbar under the powertrain warranty I would argue that the lockers are part of the powertrain. You might not be able to argue that the disconnect it though.

[TommyG]

i am on the list for one of myoung's locker bypass kits. Once that is a reality I am either going to go with the EVO mod for the smartbar or talk to Carli about yanking it in favor of a torsion sway bar. The Carli setup reminds me of the Currie Anti-Rock for Jeeps which was a nice setup.

[FirerescuePW]

Has anyone tried to fix the smartbar under the powertrain warranty I would argue that the lockers are part of the powertrain. You might not be able to argue that the disconnect it though.

You may be able to argue that it is the CONTROL for the lockers, therefore it is part of the drivetrain. If it doesn't function properly for the bar, it is obviously compromised in some way and has failed. The 2 circuits can't be isolated.

[Trapper]

I'm interested in this also. New here. Just got a 08 Powerwagon. It's just 12v to turn stuff on or off right?

[adeluca73]

I'm interested in this also. New here. Just got a 08 Powerwagon. It's just 12v to turn stuff on or off right?

Oh that's funnier than you know. I suggest reading up on the sage of the electronic smart bar circuitry, MyYoung84', threads on here regarding the locker by pass projects.

[2wagons1driveway]

Ya I think their a lot more finicky then 12v on or off lol their a pain...


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[adeluca73]

To truly replicate all the functionality of the OEM lockers, w/o having to go through the Smart Bar babysitting circuitry, would consist of some considerable ripping through the truck's core electrical system. MyYoung did an excellent job decoupling locker activation from the smart bar, but he was still not able to tie in the locker sensing switch circuity to his kit because of the way Ram has plumbed the circuits all over the front of the truck using the CAN bus logic circuits. He was able to pull power from the switch directly to the locking solenoid, and use the OEM indicator lights to signal power to the locking mechanism, but not able to actually tell if the lockers are truly locked in and engaged. But you can activate the lockers at any speed ( recommend against that), in any transfer case position, irrespective of the sway bar. A HUGE benefit for the majority of us.