Hydro assist

[JTPatriot]

Pros and cons of a daily driver that gets wheeled 2 or 3 times a year? I am going back and forth on if I need it or just want it. Diffently could have used it last time at Moab. After a few hard maneuvers I had to recenter my steering wheel. 2020 Rubicon with 38" Patagonia M/T's . Looking at the Redneck Ram.

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[Gvsukids]

Pros and cons of a daily driver that gets wheeled 2 or 3 times a year? I am going back and forth on if I need it or just want it. Diffently could have used it last time at Moab. After a few hard maneuvers I had to recenter my steering wheel. 2020 Rubicon with 38" Patagonia M/T's . Looking at the Redneck Ram.

What's this have to go with hydro assist?

 

[sharpsicle]

Only you can answer if you really need it or not. If you feel it's way too hard to turn your steering wheel, sure. But adding hydro assist modifies your gearbox fairly heavily, so if you're looking for reliability and only wheel a couple times a year, I'd say there's more risk than reward here. To me it doesn't sound like it would be a functional improvement for you, just more of a "look what I have" thing. I get that, in the right setups, adding hydro assist can alleviate stresses on other components, but I don't think yours is built or used in that way based on your description.

 

[JTPatriot]

Only you can answer if you really need it or not. If you feel it's way too hard to turn your steering wheel, sure. But adding hydro assist modifies your gearbox fairly heavily, so if you're looking for reliability and only wheel a couple times a year, I'd say there's more risk than reward here. To me it doesn't sound like it would be a functional improvement for you, just more of a "look what I have" thing. I get that, in the right setups, adding hydro assist can alleviate stresses on other components, but I don't think yours is built or used in that way based on your description.

Yeah, that is what I am trying to avoid is the look what I have parts list, lol. Just looking to see if anybody that has a similar setup and is used as a daily driver, weekend wheeler has to say and feel about it too. Thanks for your input though, appreciate it always more helpful than sarcasm.

 

[Kindafearless]

I installed hydro assist recently as part of supporting mods for running 40s. It’s been off-road twice this month so far and I can confidently say hydro assist is awesome! … but far from essential.

One important lesson is learning when not to use it. Sometimes it’s better to back up and reposition rather than forcing your tire to turn. Your steering gives great feedback and you don’t want to be the person who breaks their stuff because they tried to turn into a rock. I bent the heck out of a bracket and needed to reinforce with welds after some large ledge climbs last weekend :/

I have a friend with Redneck Ram, another with PSC, and I went PSC. The two of us that did custom jobs, due to existing mods, have had to re think and do further improvements to prevent the ram from breaking things. The other person has trouble with the hydro assist stalling out their engine at full lock. So tuning is required all around.

If you are a casual off-roader, not comfortable doing fab work, or want to keep a drama free daily driver: stick with the stock pump.

Also, if you are having to recenter your steering wheel, you might need to think about replacing your drag link and tie rod. Big aluminum steering components are great, because they give when run into things instead of permanently bending.

 

[JTPatriot]

Thank you Kindafearless, exactly the info I was looking for. Yes, the 1.5 or even the 2.5 ton aluminum steering is another item I am looking at. As for fabing and custom work. I am no stranger to it. been doing it my whole adult life. I can not leave anything alone. That just may be the route I take, upgrade my steering links and then if I feel the necessity to do the ram, do it then.

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