just curious of the advantages and draw backs to each. and a few questions to verify some questions. i know the full hydraulic isn't DOT legal. and the rock ram is. my questions are about the reliability of each. and is there any advantage of one over the other? which would be best for a 90 to 95% offroad rig, mainly trailered. the majority of road it will see is between trails. how hard is a full hydraulic system to install. and is there anywhere that sells full kits?... i know blue torch fabs has components. what all components are needed, ie pump, hyd. ram, hoses...

thank you, all help is appreciated.
Jared

BillaVista has done a write up on hydro steering in the Tech section. "Station" is the guy to talk to. 90% offroad, go full-hydro, if you can afford it. Definately want an orbital valve.

Search, this has been well covered.

He's in Iraq and in the Marines, probably not much time to surf PBB.

For your application I'd definitely say full hydro is the way to go. My buddy made his off a forklift and it worked out great. Otherwise a number of vendors are doing it locally.

I have crossover steering and hydro assist and if I had it all over again, I would have gone full hydro as my rig is trailered now as well.

Hindsight is 20/20 though.

Full hydro will have more power and potentially be faster as well.

Avoid AGR like the plague. If you're going to do hydro assist, visit www.westtexasoffroad.com otherwise do a search.

yes definately still stuck here in iraq with the marine corp air wing... sorry i didn't thoroughly search. but between 12 hour shifts at work, 1 hour each way getting to work, and 30 minutes to an hour wait to get on a computer for 30 minutes at a time... kind of hard to get a lot of time searching, i try my best to. i'm trying to find and buy my parts so they'll be sitting at home when i arrive. that way i can start into my next project asap upon arrival.

i'll take a look into that search real quick. all information is greatly appreciated!! if there's more places that sell kits and parts let me know!

Thank You,
Jared

If you want full hydro, check with Scott at Rockstomper.com

He sells a nice system. I am very happy with my rockstomper system.

i have a question, where exactly does it say that full hydro isnt dot legal? i keep hearing it like the beadlock legality, and i dont see anywhere where it says full hyrdo steering is illegal..

i know of alot of jeeps arond my area (missouri) running full hyd steering and they are licensed and everything. i was told by a very respectable shop that they are legal, or certain trucks (large i presume) wouldnt be able to run on the highway. he has never seen this rule, and neither have i. if you have it in black and white, please show. make sure everyone can look it up, i dont want anyone word, i want it from a motor vehicles regulations book or something that the state trooper / dot / and any other gov agency would use.

As far as I know you have to have a mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the knuckles, so if your "power assist" system fails, you will be able to control the vehicle. I think that is why people say they are illegal.....

Ryan

[i dont want anyones word, i want it from a motor vehicles regulations book or something that the state trooper / dot / and any other gov agency would use.]

read this part, i could careless if you are the headmaster freaking D.O.T. guru, i want to see this in black and white, straight from a regulations book!

[i dont want anyones word, i want it from a motor vehicles regulations book or something that the state trooper / dot / and any other gov agency would use.]

read this part, i could careless if you are the headmaster freaking D.O.T. guru, i want to see this in black and white, straight from a regulations book!

if you had any talent at all, you'd search your own state DOT information and find out yourself.

I run WTOR hydro assist and love it...no problems with 38.5's. Great on trail and on road feel. Rockstomper would likely be my choice for full hydro parts.

My suggestion: if you are the "only" person who drives your rig, particularly on the street, then seriously consider full hydro. If you occasionally allow others (wife, gf, etc) to drive, and they may take it on the street, then stick to assist. I've driven a few friends rigs on the street with full hydro and it's not something you want an inexperienced person trying to do...

I've driven a few friends rigs on the street with full hydro and it's not something you want an inexperienced person trying to do...

im a hydro noob, can you elaborate?

if you had any talent at all, you'd search your own state DOT information and find out yourself.

well, i have talent, and have searched and i see nothing...although you could search for months, and it be in a little nook and cranny and never find it.

i am the only driver of my jeep, and i am going full hydro, cause i cannot find where it is illegal, but i heard everyone say oh, beadlocks are illegal, then i did a bunch of research and found nothing stating it. this is the same issue, only diff topic.

there are lots of options for full hydro setups, I haven't tested them all, but...

drove a friends TJ with full hydro....his steering wheel was not centered ever... you don't "correct" back to center, rather just release the pressure to that side...it was kinda like opening/closing the valve...any pressure to one side and it opened, regardless of how much you spun the wheel...you steered right to straighten out, very odd feeling. I do NOT know if all full hydros are like that, and they've likely improved since then, but it would be well worth your time to test drive someone's rig who does run it and see what you think.

I got used to it, but he specifically told me to drive it prior to modifying my rig, and asked me about my wife on the road...I decided it wasn't something I wanted her to worry about, she DOES take the rig occasionally on runs into town when we are camping. (course, she rolls it on the trails too, so perhaps I shouldn't be worried...lol)


I did a quick search of the MoDOT information and found a few checklists as part of the inspection process. IMO, it would be worth your time to search down the actual vehicle requirements and ensure your rig meets streetability, at least to your comfort level. I was pulled over in my rig in August and received a warning for no outside drivers side mirror....my Hobbyist plates allowed me to get away with the 14.5" tires being 60% out of the rear fenders and having zero front fenders, and lots of other things that would be illegal on a "normal" truck....I'm basically registered as a 4wd street rod :D

BTW: party cove rocks ;)

i love party cove too.

the setup i am looking to run is a dual cylinder setup.

a good friend of the jeep club i am in has a wicked jeep. he owns a offroad shop. he wants me to set mine up like his. he claims that with the dual cylinders, they work with each other and against each other. he claims it will drive better down the highway than my escalade.

he states that the cylinders work against each other so it stays stable. he doesnt have real quick steering either.

i am still searching for this in balck and white through MoDot, but i cannot find anythign reguarding full hydro steering. my thinking is this: if a concrete truck can run around here with full hydro and some other trucks, and they are manufactured this way, then full hydro is legal.

i will look into seeing if MO has a hobbyist tags type setup, then i wouldnt have to worry about anything.

im not too worried, my wife works for the county sheriffs dept. but they can help me either. they dont have it as a violation or a code to place with it.

im going to run it and see what happens

Wisconsin's Hobbyist plate is for 25-years old and greater...but one payment for life of like $150. Not bad.

Running two separate cylinders seems like a lot of extra plumbing and connetion work to do wrong....that's the beauty of the double-end setup like rockstomper and others.

I'll wager the concrete truck regulations and professional license/inspection requirements offer them many different laws than a daily driver-type license. Bet a call to the local DOT office will get you either a quick online link or a paper copy to breeze thru. Wisc's is pretty comprehensive ( and confusing at times too ). It does specifically state mechanical steering linkages tho, and believe it even bans heim joints in steering (problem is, all these laws are setup for idiots who never inspect their own vehicles for issues, and are sue-happy when it goes wrong....)

One other consideration is out of state wheelin....I was in Moab, Clayton/Poteau, and Attica in 2004, and am very unsure as to the regs in those states. 2005 includes Katemcy, Attica, Gilbert, and others....best to not push your luck, IMO.

i agree with alot of the points, and missouri has a hobbyist style plate, but i cannot qualify for it. i am however trying to get my jeep to qualify for the buggy regs, and they are pretty simple. there isnt many regs for it.

i bought an extra steering box to drill and tap, however john (john's 4x4 and more) keeps telling me not to waste my time or money on a hyd assist.

here is a pic of his ride:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=167041&stc=1


i would have to look at his setup closely to explain it, but it isnt that complicated, and he says it is easy to set up.

I love my hydro-assist, and it only cost me $100. however if you're starting from scratch with your steering, and you're willing to spend close to $1000, go full hydro! my understanding is that with the right orbital it will behave just like a normal steering system in regards to return to center.

$100 double ended ram from Surplus center
$325 for orbital from Baileynet.com
$200 in hoses/fittings
stock pump/res for now

Drives pretty good down the street at 45 with 39.5 IROKS.