revor
Explorer
So I figured I'd give it a try..
Using standard Firestone 8.5" travel bags I figured I could shim my way to about a 1200# load balancing system without suffering the swaying problems I would have if I used the Boge Self leveling mounting points.
It works quite well. Sitting unloaded the truck is .5" taller in the rear, it has a nice ride and handles as good as a box on wheels ought to.
Putting 35PSI to the air bags raised the truck a good 2 inches! I figure this should easily compensate for most any load I put in the truck. It was a balance of what I figure full compression will be as to what I needed for airbag compression, so with it contacting the lower bump sitting lever I gave it 6" up travel.
The biggest trouble I had was trying to build it into a spring retainer system as well. The thing with springs is that they are a spiral right? That makes it hard to mount the airbag to the lower retainer and keep it parallel to the lower bump..
Anyway it get's a little crooked and does not line up as well as I'd like to so It's time to add an alignment sleeve, I didn't want to use another fitted piece to the puzzle but I am afraid I will need to.. But that will keep things straight.
Here's a few pic's of the initial installation.
Nearly there...
Using standard Firestone 8.5" travel bags I figured I could shim my way to about a 1200# load balancing system without suffering the swaying problems I would have if I used the Boge Self leveling mounting points.
It works quite well. Sitting unloaded the truck is .5" taller in the rear, it has a nice ride and handles as good as a box on wheels ought to.
Putting 35PSI to the air bags raised the truck a good 2 inches! I figure this should easily compensate for most any load I put in the truck. It was a balance of what I figure full compression will be as to what I needed for airbag compression, so with it contacting the lower bump sitting lever I gave it 6" up travel.
The biggest trouble I had was trying to build it into a spring retainer system as well. The thing with springs is that they are a spiral right? That makes it hard to mount the airbag to the lower retainer and keep it parallel to the lower bump..
Anyway it get's a little crooked and does not line up as well as I'd like to so It's time to add an alignment sleeve, I didn't want to use another fitted piece to the puzzle but I am afraid I will need to.. But that will keep things straight.
Here's a few pic's of the initial installation.
Nearly there...