I need some help, opinions and decisions...
#26
05-26-2006
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#27
05-26-2006
Ah, I see. Well, it sounds like good skid/underbody protection should be a top priority. I'd leave glass and stuff for if you need it. If you're taking the body lift off and running 35's, then the glass would help clearance. You'll still have rub on the frame area on turns though without a suspension lift -- and likely have some on the frame at flex still without more backspacing or a wider front axle setup (SAS in you future?...)
#28
05-26-2006
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#29
05-26-2006
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Which crossmember is it? The huge plate that acts as a spare tire carrier? Transmission? engine? The one above the gastank? Theres a whole bunch of them.
Personally speaking.. This is *my* opinion..
Everyone wants some huge tires and all sorts of lift. Theres only so much ground-clearence to be had with a differential hanging down there..
The beds on our trucks act in some fashion as a nice stabalizing piece for the whole rear frame structure. Putting in a bunch of fat rubber washers ) a/k/a ' body lift ' ) just weakens the **** out of it.
Ditch the body lift, grind more clearence out of the fenders. Keeps things stiffer.
Personally speaking.. This is *my* opinion..
Everyone wants some huge tires and all sorts of lift. Theres only so much ground-clearence to be had with a differential hanging down there..
The beds on our trucks act in some fashion as a nice stabalizing piece for the whole rear frame structure. Putting in a bunch of fat rubber washers ) a/k/a ' body lift ' ) just weakens the **** out of it.
Ditch the body lift, grind more clearence out of the fenders. Keeps things stiffer.
#30
05-26-2006
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Your truck isn't a Pre-Runner, so I think the tiny flimsy looking prerunner bumpers on your truck would look horribly out of place. I PS'd Gumbo's home-made bumper to something that I think would look much better on a beefier truck like yours. and honestly I htink you could go even thicker with the tubing but this basic idea
#31
05-26-2006
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Originally Posted by KARPE
Your truck isn't a Pre-Runner, so I think the tiny flimsy looking prerunner bumpers on your truck would look horribly out of place.
For the BL - I can't say, but D. brought up an interesting point with the stability issue. Since you're keepin the 35's, and you're still unsure about glass, then I guess it really comes down to how much rubbin you're willin to deal with while flexing.
#32
05-26-2006
Originally Posted by D.
Which crossmember is it? The huge plate that acts as a spare tire carrier? Transmission? engine? The one above the gastank? Theres a whole bunch of them.
Personally speaking.. This is *my* opinion..
Everyone wants some huge tires and all sorts of lift. Theres only so much ground-clearence to be had with a differential hanging down there..
The beds on our trucks act in some fashion as a nice stabalizing piece for the whole rear frame structure. Putting in a bunch of fat rubber washers ) a/k/a ' body lift ' ) just weakens the **** out of it.
Ditch the body lift, grind more clearence out of the fenders. Keeps things stiffer.
Personally speaking.. This is *my* opinion..
Everyone wants some huge tires and all sorts of lift. Theres only so much ground-clearence to be had with a differential hanging down there..
The beds on our trucks act in some fashion as a nice stabalizing piece for the whole rear frame structure. Putting in a bunch of fat rubber washers ) a/k/a ' body lift ' ) just weakens the **** out of it.
Ditch the body lift, grind more clearence out of the fenders. Keeps things stiffer.
its the very front crossmember that holds the front bumper.
i know what you are saying about the body lift.
Originally Posted by n3elz
Ah, I see. Well, it sounds like good skid/underbody protection should be a top priority. I'd leave glass and stuff for if you need it. If you're taking the body lift off and running 35's, then the glass would help clearance. You'll still have rub on the frame area on turns though without a suspension lift -- and likely have some on the frame at flex still without more backspacing or a wider front axle setup (SAS in you future?...)
SFA is comeing someday, just not now as a DD
Originally Posted by HarryTasker
Zach is money not an issue?
If so I would suggest losing the BL and getting new fenders to fit the tires.
Are there any 4x4 or fabrication shops in your area? If so it may be cheaper to just have one built for you.
If so I would suggest losing the BL and getting new fenders to fit the tires.
Are there any 4x4 or fabrication shops in your area? If so it may be cheaper to just have one built for you.
money is an issue. but right now i jsut want it fixed. im leaning toward removing the BL more and more.
#33
05-26-2006
well if it was my truck, i'd prob roll with the bumper you have right now untill you fix everthing..save up some money and make a solid bumper for the front and back.
Make the front something like this with shackels and everything in it. I've been thinking about taking off my waag and doing something like this exp when i get the winch.
Make the front something like this with shackels and everything in it. I've been thinking about taking off my waag and doing something like this exp when i get the winch.
#37
05-26-2006
#38
05-26-2006
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#39
05-26-2006
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#40
05-26-2006
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My opinion
Return your truck the the original appearance.
Fab some braces for the front crossmember(similar to a winch mount).That will "beefen" up the front.
Leave the BL on, it didn't hurt anything.
Install a travel limiter(chain) on you rear springs, I am surprised you didn't rip the shocks off before that spring bent...
Your springs worked the way they should've. The are designed to resist weight straight down, not up and back.
Return your truck the the original appearance.
Fab some braces for the front crossmember(similar to a winch mount).That will "beefen" up the front.
Leave the BL on, it didn't hurt anything.
Install a travel limiter(chain) on you rear springs, I am surprised you didn't rip the shocks off before that spring bent...
Your springs worked the way they should've. The are designed to resist weight straight down, not up and back.
#42
05-26-2006
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honestly, just return it to the way it was before. because if you dump a crapload of money into it and the frame is still tweaked you will not want to keep the vehicle anylonger. i say take it to a body shop and put it on a frame machine, but alot of times once a frame is misaligned the truck will ride like crap if not properly re-aligned.
#44
05-26-2006
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#45
05-26-2006
#47
05-27-2006
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Originally Posted by Chucks05EDGE
My opinion
Leave the BL on, it didn't hurt anything..
Leave the BL on, it didn't hurt anything..
I presently have 2, 2.5x2.5inch steel beams over my rear axle tie-ing the frame together..
.. to try and eliminate ' flex '. Rigidity is compromised when that body lift goes on.. your taking out metal ( the base of the flareside bed is steel ) and putting in.. rubber?!?!
IMO, these frames have TOO MUCH flex to begin with and allow for a ' sling shot ' event to occure sometimes. It doesn't take much to bend a rangers frame ( I don't think I need to explain how I know :) ). Once its bent, and re-aligned, 'flexing ' on a weaker material isn't good.
Without weight being too much of a consideration, I think ZachB should Box the bloody **** out of his frame and ' X ' brace the center section. He would loose ' Flex ', but it would force the suspension to do its job more.
#48
05-27-2006
I dunno if you're just making a mistake D. but the lift pucks are definately not rubber. You might jus be saying that to make them sound weak but its not true. It'd be a lot easier to imagine it like putting your truck up on 4 lift stands. Sure, they hold up the weight just fine, but if you pushed your truck hard enough all 4 stands would topple over.
Those bodylift pucks are incredibly hard. They are definately not rubber.
Aaron
Those bodylift pucks are incredibly hard. They are definately not rubber.
Aaron
#49
05-28-2006
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I believe they are actually Nylon. I had a body lift on my red truck when it go slammed into an embankment at 45+ and it bent all the bolts and i think 1 of the actual mounts. None of the blocks were busted or cracked. I understand what D. is saying though. Taking off that body lift would also lower COG but that's not really a concern since zach doesn't do stuff like rock crawling where the low COG is needed.
#50
05-28-2006
