So i only drive the ranger part time now. And for the on road driving it is pretty squirrely. Most likely because there is no front or rear sway bar. I don't want to have to bother with the hassle of figuring out a sway bar for the front of the truck so I figured I would just get one for the rear as it is pretty stock just 6 inch leaf springs.

What I am wondering is if James Duff long link traction bars, or any brand really would provide the same any of the stability of a rear sway bar?

 

All the traction bars are gonna do is help with axle wrap, they will not help the body roll you are experiencing.

I'd put longer front sway bars on. Since a rear sway bar is not gonna control body roll that much anyway, and its standard practice to put one on the front axle before you put on on the rear.

 

I have a 97 Splash 4X4 with front and rear sway bars. I had ordered MY Duff stuff and included the Long Link Traction bars when I ordered. I will have to remove the rear sway bar to install the Traction bars. The plus ot the Rear Traction bar is it can be used to limit wheel travel on the rear axel if running over sized tires.So it will do more then just control body roll.

 

You definitely want to go with a front sway bar before anything. As said, the traction bars aren't going to do anything for your handling. If you just put a rear in, you'll end up with major oversteer.

 

x2 TO this post^^^^

Do NOT add a rear sway bar if you don't have one in the front! If you think it's squirrelly now that will only make it worse. If you are running both front and rear the rear should always be smaller diameter than the front.