4x4 IFS Swap in Heavy truck

[BeNimble]

The VEMCO V-Drive System – Blue Oval Trucks

(Ford Econoline with VEMCO V-Drive) Developed by Dana in the 1970's, the V-Drive system was originally designed to add 4-wheel drive to Chevy vans, Blazers, and station wagons and to keep the drive height low.

www.blueovaltrucks.com

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Thanks, i've seen a pic of one before, but did not know it was a commercial product. I don't understand why the diffs near the wheel, you'd want it on the other end so less unsprung weight.
More ground clearance than a big diff lower down and just a ring and pinion at the axle, no differential gears. Clearly this would cost a LOT more than a solid axle for an OEM.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Thanks, i've seen a pic of one before, but did not know it was a commercial product. I don't understand why the diffs near the wheel, you'd want it on the other end so less unsprung weight.
More ground clearance than a big diff lower down and just a ring and pinion at the axle, no differential gears. Clearly this would cost a LOT more than a solid axle for an OEM.

The intention was to keep the overall vehicle height low. It's the mechanical evolution behind the reason most 4WD vehicles have offset front diffs in the first place and makes each wheel completely independent. Regular IFS just decouples the suspension side-to-side but not the front drive.

 

[MTVR]

Because it is the truth.

That's not an answer. And I asked Dave, not you.

But why, exactly, do you think that?

Simpler is often better.

Simpler would be leaving a stock IFS in place.

There's no way that I'd hack up our truck to reduce it's capabilities by replacing the stock IFS with a solid axle. It would raise the center of gravity, reduce suspension travel, and make it ride rougher by adding to the unsprung weight. It would also put us over 14 feet tall, so we wouldn't be able to legally drive it on public roads anymore.

 

[MTVR]

Just read about he oshkosh TAK-4 and it looks like the drop-in solution. Kinda think those won't be selling cheap anytime soon, but will investigate thanks!

Our truck has the TAK-4 front and rear, and it works great. It would be kind of overkill for a medium duty truck with a 26,000 pound GVWR- our truck weighs about 30,000 pounds empty, with a GVWR of 62,200 pounds, and has a payload capacity of 30,000 pounds...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There's no way that I'd hack up our truck to reduce it's capabilities by replacing the stock IFS with a solid axle. It would raise the center of gravity, reduce suspension travel, and make it ride rougher by adding to the unsprung weight. It would also put us over 14 feet tall, so we wouldn't be able to legally drive it on public roads anymore.

For those that don't drive around a house it is a fairly common upgrade to do.

 

[quickfarms]

RV’s if properly registered are exempt from carb

Why do you want to convert the truck to IFS?

Since the front suspension is currently a solid axle with leaf springs. A straight powered front axle will not require the frame in the front to be redesigned.

The rear probably will need to be raised to keep the ride height level.

You will also need to add a transfer case.

You will need to source the components from an F700, available as a factory 4x4, or larger vehicle.

If you are set on the IFS start looking at 4x4 fire trucks for the donor parts and it probably will be easier to put this cab on that chassis

 

[BeNimble]

It would not surprise me if a "newbi" were to take a former commercial truck and try to convince CARB that he was in the process of turning an "old relic" into their "new" non-complainant RV, he would get laughed out of the office!!! I had to put Casa through the process, and I got some SERIOUS STINK-EYE... But they ruled for me given that Casa was an RV since the mid-90's.
Personally, I would not put money on that bet!!!

And IFA for a medium heavy duty 4x4??? The guys is SERIOUSLY smoking CRACK!!!

Sounds like a textbook case of Projection. You probably don't know what that is..........a textbook is a rectangle thing filled with paper that have words on them.

Your jealousy of a Ford C700 4x4 camper is showing through, since obviously you don't have a single useful thing to contribute to the topic, but posted to the thread anyway.

 

[javajoe79]

Why would you claim that?

Is that a serious question?

 

[javajoe79]

What is the intention or expectation behind an IFS on that truck?

 

[javajoe79]

That's not an answer. And I asked Dave, not you.

But why, exactly, do you think that?



Simpler would be leaving a stock IFS in place.

There's no way that I'd hack up our truck to reduce it's capabilities by replacing the stock IFS with a solid axle. It would raise the center of gravity, reduce suspension travel, and make it ride rougher by adding to the unsprung weight. It would also put us over 14 feet tall, so we wouldn't be able to legally drive it on public roads anymore.

Clearly you’re not who he was referring to and you know that.

 

[MTVR]

Sounds like a textbook case of Projection. You probably don't know what that is..........a textbook is a rectangle thing filled with paper that have words on them.

Your jealousy of a Ford C700 4x4 camper is showing through, since obviously you don't have a single useful thing to contribute to the topic, but posted to the thread anyway.

Yeah, sounds like Frida's mixing pain pills and tequila again...

 

[quickfarms]

Yeah, sounds like Frida's mixing pain pills and tequila again...

Who’s Frida?

 

[MTVR]

Who’s Frida?

Frida Kahlo. She was an alcoholic junkie that managed to kill herself at the age of 47.

 

[javajoe79]

Frida Kahlo. She was an alcoholic junkie that managed to kill herself at the age of 47.

And your fellow LEOs wonder why people don't like them. Well it's because of people like you. You should probably quit the force. You're obviously jaded and unfit to serve the public. You clearly have no empathy for the people you "serve". Kahlo didn't kill herself. She died of complications from various surgeries. She was in health decline for years with various major issues after being impaled, crushed and nearly killed in a bus crash. Sure she was a drinker but she was also a brilliant artist.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

And your fellow LEOs wonder why people don't like them. Well it's because of people like you. You should probably quit the force. You're obviously jaded and unfit to serve the public. You clearly have no empathy for the people you "serve". Kahlo didn't kill herself. She died of complications from various surgeries. She was in health decline for years with various major issues after being impaled, crushed and nearly killed in a bus crash. Sure she was a drinker but she was also a brilliant artist.

Did you ever consider that people like you are why LEOs are so jaded?