| Author | Message | ||
     Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 314 Registered: 05-2003 |
I have a new problem. My truck needs a tush lift. When I am carrying almost full load of gear, my rear end is almost touching the wheels just sitting at a straight and level stop. For now, I am being very careful and taking elevation changes as gently as possible. I already have OME lift with heavy duty shocks and springs. What do I need to do next to solve this new problem? If it makes any difference in finding a solution, I am running BFG 265/75/R16 Mud Radials. Any ideas?? I will be more than happy to look in the archives if I know what "subject(s) to search. Thanks in advance, Jamie | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 323 Registered: 04-2003 |
Jamie, it's time to take some things out.  Seriously, though... Spacers? | ||
| Rick Neff (Lostinboston) Member Username: Lostinboston Post Number: 91 Registered: 06-2003 |
Get an airlift suspension. http://www.airliftcompany.com/ Atlantic British sells them also. They are just airbags that go inside the springs and level the load. Much like SLS but easier. -Rick | ||
| Wes Legaspi (Wes) Member Username: Wes Post Number: 192 Registered: 02-2002 |
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/spacers/ | ||
| Barry Schmelzenbach (Boulderbear) New Member Username: Boulderbear Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie......if you really need that much "stuff" in the back of your truck go with the airlift . If you throw something back there that is non-adjustable, when you take that much weight out you'll be sporting the street rod look....... | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 315 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks for your input. I will investigate your suggestions and research the archives! Jamie | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1492 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, Don't waste your time with the air lift stuff. Rethink your gear. Consider lighter options of the same items you already have. Look at aluminum products vs. steel. Try to redistribute the load towards the front. Talk to John Lee about what springs you have vs. what rear springs are available. I would try everything else possible before I messed with the expense and trouble of putting air bags on my truck. Most everyone that has them is trying to get rid of them. Requires an air source. Just a big pain in the rear if you ask me. gp | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1493 Registered: 04-2002 |
Oh yes, also in my opinion if you have so much weight in there that you are compressing the existing springs that far, spacers are not the safe answer. You need a firmer spring, not a taller version of the same. If you just increase the height with a spacer, with the amount of weight you apparently have, you will not have good control of the truck when you put it off camber. Again, just my opinion, but I think you need to reconsider the gear choices and check on higher spring rates. | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 155 Registered: 08-2003 |
Jamie, Greg is right, just rising wouldnt cut it.. You can think of 1" body lift to clear wheel wells, but then it wont help your springs/suspension to deal with load. Best way is to (IMHO) contact one of places that can get you stronger springs (northwestparts.com - Andy can probably get you pretty cool custom springs with serious load resistance) and review your gear spreading across all four wheels. How the heck you managing to compress HD down anyway - i thought it can go to nearly 800lb without fully compressing OME HD springs (800/2 , they are rated somewhere around 400 , right?) | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 766 Registered: 02-2002 |
Heavy duty springs are pretty strong and... uhm, well, heavy duty . I have OME HDs on my D1 and on a recent cross country trip, I was loaded to the gills with tools, camping and cooking gear for four people, clothes, 2 spare tires on heavy steel rims, and various recovery gear and spare parts and fluids. I did see my 2.5 yr old, 28K miles OME HD springs sag a bit on the butt but still not as bad as you described your sag. Either you have defective springs or I think you carry way too much on a daily basis. If you indeed need to carry all that stuff, look into distributing them evenly as Greg and Sergei stated above or invest on the extra HD springs. I know OME has them for the D1, dunno about the D2. Either way, good luck! Glenn | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1495 Registered: 04-2002 |
Yeah, I drove down here from Philly with a uhaul trailer loaded to the gills, my roof rack loaded and the entire inside of the truck loaded except the drivers seat, and I don't think my rear sagged as much as you mention. LOL Granted, I could feel all that weight, and my front tires got a little light feeling, but it still didn't sink until the tires were about to rub. I carried my high lift and bicycle on the front bumper though, but that wouldn't make a whole lot of off set. Check with John at EE about higher rate springs. | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 480 Registered: 01-2003 |
I would look into your springs. It has been know for OME springs to be defective. Problem is to check them you need to pull them and measure them on level ground unloaded and unattached. Check with EE, the web site has the lengths of the springs, or what they should be. The springs will sag over time, but yours sounds excessive. Look at your load your carrying. One day load your truck to the point where you feel you have everything you need for a trip or at the point you tushy is running low, then unload it all over your driveway/garage/yard and see how much you really have. Deside if you really need this stuff or not. Ask yourself if you could live without a particular item or replace it with something that could be used for multiple different things. You have a winch on the front end, it should take more to drop your rear that low then without a winch on the front. My bet is you have bad springs or carry too much stuff. If you need that much stuff and your springs are good, call EE, get some new extra HD springs. You could easily sell those existing springs here on dweb. Air bag thingys sound like a headache waiting to happen, do it right and get spacers and springs. What would happen if your out in BFE and one bag fails? You'd be low riding home mauling your rear bumper. | ||
| Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 92 Registered: 12-2002 |
You know, I'm wondering if when your springs were installed if what was suppose to go on the front actually got put on the rear and vice versa. I know it sounds like an incompetent thing to have happen but still, it could happen. Just a thought. | ||
| Jamil Abbasy (Jamooche) Member Username: Jamooche Post Number: 129 Registered: 05-2003 |
How much stuff do you actually have back there? How about a photo or a list...It could be a spring error or just way too much cargo. | ||
| John Davies (200tdi) New Member Username: 200tdi Post Number: 6 Registered: 07-2003 |
Jamie, This is the way to go. Internal air bags. Pump them up at the gas station to suit the load, then let them down when empty. John D  | ||
| Rick Neff (Lostinboston) Member Username: Lostinboston Post Number: 97 Registered: 06-2003 |
John, What type of airbags are they? I currently have sls and am looking to put spring in with airbags inside them. Basically an airlift set up hooked up to my sls system, but i have not yet found airbags for a 3" lift. Would they work off of a powertank? -Rick | ||
| Jamil Abbasy (Jamooche) Member Username: Jamooche Post Number: 130 Registered: 05-2003 |
You can't put springs around SLS bags. I just removed the SLS system from my disco II and replaced them with Rovertym springs. I don't recommend air bags...If they pop you are screwed. Springs don't fail, they can just unseat. | ||
| Greg Tearne (Gooddoggomez) Member Username: Gooddoggomez Post Number: 64 Registered: 02-2003 |
Jamil What John was suggesting is a supplimentry airbag system that can be initiated when required eg: extra heavy load. The bags sit inside the spring, they don't need a compressor hooked up all the time, you can fill and empty as you please. Its a very cost effective way of strengthening the spring rating without major mods. Nice one John, good ol Aussie engineering gtt | ||
| Mahn England (One_iota) New Member Username: One_iota Post Number: 15 Registered: 02-2003 |
G'day John and Greg. I have what John has: Polyairs (http://www.polyair.com.au/). They are usually run at 5-7 PSI when unloaded to prevent pinching. Prior to loading up the truck you inflate to 30 PSI and after loading you let the pressure down until you have a level stance. You need to know your ride heights and it helps if you have a hand to help measure as you deflate. They work really well when you tow trailers etc. I'm not sure about a 3" lift as I run with 2". Citroen managed a self levelling suspension in 1956. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 769 Registered: 08-2002 |
I would think it would be really good to weigh all that stuff in the back too. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 318 Registered: 05-2003 |
I have OME 762 Heavy (759) springs on the back and N108 Rear Firm (Disco II (shocks?). I don't think that the front and rear were reversed at install, but I will check on that. I know where all the weight is coming from. I have a pretty big frig back there (it takes up half of the cargo area) and it was loaded with fluids. I also had several gallon jugs of drinking water back there + lots of very heavy tools. I kind of weighed it down on purpose to practice driving on the highway for a few short practice trips. Prior to my "practice drives" with heaviest loads, I was feeling skittish and tentative especially when semi drafts would come along. I was fighting the urge to pull out and away from the wake turbulance they produced. I think I've conquered that now, so I'll lighten up the load. Once again, I am considering removing the rear seats for a spring-time project. Storage space + dog beds on top of that. I keep thinking that would be the perfect place to carry water/fluids onboard for long trips. My gosh, a heavy load sure turns the gas mileage numbers upside down!! However, we had some heavy and high winds yesterday and my truck stayed steady as a rock with all that weight in it! Thanks again, Jamie |
