M4wd&Fabrications
Projects place => Tech => Topic started by: M on December 23, 2014, 03:34:08 PM
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I love my truck, it has PLENTY of power for what I need it to do, and it rides fantastic.
Only issue I have with it is that it always squats so bad. I had a heavy load over the weekend and I could tell that the bumpstops were hitting the axle when I cross over bumpy bridges. Other than that, the truck was fantastic.
Since I plan on keeping my truck for a long time, I want to put on air bags in the rear axle. Will this help with the leveling issue? does anyone have experience with air suspension?
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Weight distribution hitch?
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It does not have one.
I've also put heavy pallets in the bed too, so I think airbags would be my best solution.
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Bags will prop it up.
for heavy tongue weight a WD hitch will actually improve handling as well though. It's closer to a solution than a bandaid - as long as you are not close to max on the trailer axle since it's going to put more weight back on them.
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WD Hitches work great. I've had great experiences with using them.
The new GM trucks seem to have 0 rake from the factory, how much does it squat with just weight in the bed and no trailer ?
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Thanks, I'll look into a WD setup instead of airbags for better control.
Erik - My truck is leveled, but the squat is so much I can feel it hitting the bumpstops when I go over big bumps (such as expansion joints in older bridges).
With a moderately heavy load in the bed (300-400# or so), it looks like it squats a bit, but thats really mostly because the truck is leveled.
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too much bro not enough tow
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it's just a 1/2 ton, not a towing machine like yours :)
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Yea but with no rake in the suspension it's going to bottom out quick with little load in the bed.
400# is nothing, and in older trucks with more factory rake it wasn't as much of an issue even with similar suspension components.
I'd look into the prices of air bag systems also.
I'd say you could find some leveling kits for under 400 clams.
When you said you were loaded I was expecting much more weight.
I haul more than 400 lbs in nails every day.
just busting balls
http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/59565/ (http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/59565/)
Nice simple kit with remote fill / deflate chuck.
Or upgrade later and add on board compressor.
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A little discussion a while ago
http://bb.m4wdfabrications.com/index.php?topic=1308.msg33826#msg33826
I have the Firestone kit in my truck and like it.
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/24/f6ceb9f30962b50dfaff334ede07d554.jpg)
Wow Gif That's pretty Gangster!
LOL
When did you build that? Pre J truck I assume?
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I put air bags in the chevy with a weight distribution hitch towing 10K. I would have run a road course with that setup. It sat perfect and never swayed. To be honest most of the time I didn't even run the WDH arms. The bags did keep the truck level at 35 psi. and when I forgot after a trip to let air back, I didn't even really notice driving it.
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/24/f6ceb9f30962b50dfaff334ede07d554.jpg)
Wow Gif That's pretty Gangster!
LOL
When did you build that? Pre J truck I assume?
ha, yes pre J truck, post CJ build.
Mazda 2200 extended cab stuffed chevy 350/700r4
channeled 4", firestone 2500 air bags, front / back / side / side ... P I M P !
in this pic you can see the start of the J truck in the garage.
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/jeepgif/lowrider/lowrider018.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/jeepgif/media/lowrider/lowrider018.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/jeepgif/lowrider/lowrider023.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/jeepgif/media/lowrider/lowrider023.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/jeepgif/lowrider/lowrider014.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/jeepgif/media/lowrider/lowrider014.jpg.html)
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Awesome
But what... no flat screen TV in the bed? LOL
Wish I could have seen that truck.
Looks cool
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Awesome
But what... no flat screen TV in the bed? LOL
Wish I could have seen that truck.
Looks cool
that was its second life
was a SPL sound off vehicle before that.
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That is a sweet ride Gif!
I bought the HF weight distributing hitch today with some Christmas cash. $173 with coupon. Not 100% confident I have it dialed in, but it really did make a huge difference in how the truck handled. Had it set so I still had a tiny bit of rake. Sort of a pain to get the second bar hooked up, but worth the hassle for long tows.
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The second bar is a pain? Most of the weight should be off it at that point.
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I'm happy with my wd hitch. I couldn't decide which method to go with either and mike had one so went with that. The ride quality is way better and I thought it was fine before I used it. Never had bags to compare tho.
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Not sure why the second bar is a pain. It's been the driver's side both times I've done it. Not sure what would cause that unless maybe my trailer is tweaked a little.
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That's strange.
Like Eric said should be easier.
Could be just different steel characteristics from one bar to the other?
Hey as long as it works right.
I ended up making a longer pry bar for mine to make it easier.
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Yea but with no rake in the suspension it's going to bottom out quick with little load in the bed.
400# is nothing, and in older trucks with more factory rake it wasn't as much of an issue even with similar suspension components.
I'd look into the prices of air bag systems also.
I'd say you could find some leveling kits for under 400 clams.
When you said you were loaded I was expecting much more weight.
I haul more than 400 lbs in nails every day.
just busting balls
http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/59565/ (http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/59565/)
Nice simple kit with remote fill / deflate chuck.
Or upgrade later and add on board compressor.
You are right. I was way off with 400# estimate
Here's a pic of my truck with 160 bags of Rubberific mulch when I did my house landscaping (that's maybe 1,250# in the bed). It wasn't so bad squat-wise considering it is leveled.
I am thinking I was really overloaded with the trailer at the tongue. Oh well.
Trailer had 2x canon imagerunner 7095, 150 lcds, 50 printers, 50 desktop scanners, 125 phones, cables from everything so it had a lot of weight... the 7095 units were sitting in the very front of the trailer.
10mpg towing from VA Beach to GA at approx 65mph. Love my truck. Probably will go for a WD hitch.
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Do you love the rubber mulch as much as the truck?
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before:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/q86/p526x395/10470949_10152386085867913_9168602360789915014_o.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1002626_10152386085872913_9040026067176599957_n.jpg?oh=3c0004cb5c6a3f5917f63c058768e715&oe=55371B20)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10388576_10204369268985835_4983771820273229829_n.jpg?oh=7f5e670fdcb97048c563054352aeef7c&oe=5538DBCA&__gda__=1428706485_dbe22fe7108e4dced45a5e022608bef2)
after:
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10342796_10204369270425871_7534495455635038632_n.jpg?oh=0ca7e81303ec45bdb8037aeb5e9223fb&oe=55392C73)
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/q85/p526x395/1534938_10204369270585875_4297393958242076965_o.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10646780_10204369271585900_7643705133996570683_n.jpg?oh=917d66c752229cfa22d25736fa718533&oe=54FE869F)
closeup:
(https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/q85/p180x540/1598529_10204262632719995_5815591351105693516_o.jpg)
Yes, I love it. Should last us for a LONG TIME. I dont want to do yardwork a lot, would rather just cut grass.
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I've never seen that product around here.
I'd do it. As long as it's non toxic for the pups.
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Looks great BTW
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I'm sure its carcinogenic.. I mean it is rubber....
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erik, its the sunshine that makes it look good.....
would look that much worse here :(
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I used some in a small space under part of my kids swingset at the old house. It was expensive. HomeDepot has it about $7 per .8cu foot bag http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-8-cu-ft-Rubber-Mulch-in-Cedar-Red-HDVCRMN8CB/203714941
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our dogs would eat it
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I used some in a small space under part of my kids swingset at the old house. It was expensive. HomeDepot has it about $7 per .8cu foot bag http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-8-cu-ft-Rubber-Mulch-in-Cedar-Red-HDVCRMN8CB/203714941
Yours is chunky shredded. I looked at it and didn't like it for my house. For a playground, it'd be perfect.
the ones I bought are $10 a bag and they look like real shredded mulch. I didnt pay $10 a bag though! I found a 10% off lowes coupon code online, plus another 50 off 200 deal, plus another discount - dont remember it now. It came to about $8 a bag
http://www.lowes.com/pd_326448-25888-LRM8RD_0__?productId=3199903&Ntt=rubberific+red&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Drubberific%2Bred&facetInfo=
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Looks great BTW
thank you.