Leaf Spring/Ride Questions...

ujoint

Supporting Sponsor
How long are the springs eye to eye? If you don't want to change the mounts then new springs custom made to the actual weight of the rig may help.
 

java

Expedition Leader
About 44" for the fronts. But I did another 400miles in the last two days. It might the rear more... Kinda hard to tell.
 

Railvan

Adventurer
A friend in NorCal had his van converted by S-K about the time I bought my SMB, six years ago. Another friend who has ridden in this S-K van quite a bit, but had not ridden in mine (with 4x4 done by SMB) asked if mine rode rough. I said it was OK most of the time but rough on washboard. His description of the S-K ride was that it was very stiff and rough. Seems to be a pattern here.

And another yes vote for a van get together in the Northwest!
 

java

Expedition Leader
A friend in NorCal had his van converted by S-K about the time I bought my SMB, six years ago. Another friend who has ridden in this S-K van quite a bit, but had not ridden in mine (with 4x4 done by SMB) asked if mine rode rough. I said it was OK most of the time but rough on washboard. His description of the S-K ride was that it was very stiff and rough. Seems to be a pattern here.

And another yes vote for a van get together in the Northwest!


Yeah seems like it.

Any chance you were at Baker today? I saw a nice tan SMB, hard to see the tiny avatar on my phone, but looks similar.
 

Railvan

Adventurer
"Any chance you were at Baker today? I saw a nice tan SMB, hard to see the tiny avatar on my phone, but looks similar."

Nope, not me. I was at work. :^( Van has been way too stationary the last couple of months! Next time you are passing through Bellingham on the way to or from Baker, stop at Hardware Sales and ask for Brian R. If it's around when I get off work (4:30), I can show you my van and I'd love to check out yours.
 

java

Expedition Leader
"Any chance you were at Baker today? I saw a nice tan SMB, hard to see the tiny avatar on my phone, but looks similar."

Nope, not me. I was at work. :^( Van has been way too stationary the last couple of months! Next time you are passing through Bellingham on the way to or from Baker, stop at Hardware Sales and ask for Brian R. If it's around when I get off work (4:30), I can show you my van and I'd love to check out yours.

Will do! It had been a years since I was up there though. But good snow was calling.
 

ujoint

Supporting Sponsor
About 44" for the fronts. But I did another 400miles in the last two days. It might the rear more... Kinda hard to tell.

Ouch, really short! I thunk thats an early GM spring. Longer will help but you'll have to change the mounts along with a few other parts. Small investment but worth it in the long run if you plan to keep it.
 

java

Expedition Leader
Ouch, really short! I thunk thats an early GM spring. Longer will help but you'll have to change the mounts along with a few other parts. Small investment but worth it in the long run if you plan to keep it.

Exactly what I thought when I measured it. Forgive my ignorance, But can longer springs be fitted with only moving the rear hangers?
 

bknudtsen

Expedition Leader
Exactly what I thought when I measured it. Forgive my ignorance, But can longer springs be fitted with only moving the rear hangers?

My concern with just moving the rear hanger back, is finding leafs that center the axle properly. You would have to do a ton of searching junkyards or order custom springs, but by the time you do all the work, you might as well have swapped the shackles to the rear.
 

McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
FWIW We have a 2009 Ford E350 2WD shuttle bus with stock suspension, blistering shocks and rear air bags.
Rig weighs about 10,500 lbs. It helped a lot to soften the ride by lowering the tire pressure.
Front 65 lbs, Rear 55 lbs.
 

java

Expedition Leader
Yeah I thought about lowering the, but they already look low to me at the factory pressures.
 

java

Expedition Leader
Bumping this back up, any SK owners do anything? Or just live with it? I was half thinking of dumping some leaves and adding air bags, but not really sure if that would help.... Maybe in the rear anyway.

After talking with Chris from U Joint, my axle wont work with his suspension. So that option is kinda out.

Any spring builders in the PNW that are any good?
 
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cjken

Explorer
Touch base with Ramsey from Agile off-road.
I bet he could help you out. National spring is right near his shop and he could probably spec out some some custom springs and fox shocks that would go a long way toward improving your ride.
The only problem is that his time is in short supply so there may be a significant wait..
He us s really great and knowledgable guy. So it would probably be worth the wait.
 

java

Expedition Leader
Touch base with Ramsey from Agile off-road.
I bet he could help you out. National spring is right near his shop and he could probably spec out some some custom springs and fox shocks that would go a long way toward improving your ride.
The only problem is that his time is in short supply so there may be a significant wait..
He us s really great and knowledgable guy. So it would probably be worth the wait.

Thanks, I sent him an email. I can wait if I can find the right help!
 

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