safety of laying "rocker"

[joehalford01]

I've been thinking some things through, which is what normally happens when i take too long to dig into something like z'ing the frame on my truck. I really want to lay rocker when i air it out. But how safe is it? On a show car that is only driven on weekends etc, probably not a big deal. But i would like to drive this truck quite a bit, including camping and a route 66 trip sometime in the next two years after it is done. The thought of blowing a bag out at 60mph and dragging the body all the over the asphalt dosn't sound too appealing. I'm not too concerned about possible damage to the truck but more the loss of control if it were to happen. What do you guys think? I have three options the way I see it:

1.Lay Rocker, body hits the ground if bags are aired all the way out.
2.Lay frame, basically don't do the 1" body drop portion.
3.Leave about an 1" distance at fully aired out.

Would laying frame and not body be safer? Or is it pretty much the same in this situation? Would i have any control if the body or frame was dragging on the asphalt?

I've also been wondering, could i set it up to lay rocker, and have a set of bolt in steel blocks that wouldn't allow it to lay frame? I'm thinking 2-3" thick blocks that i could easily un-install for around town to lay it all the way down if need be. Then re-install for long trips in case of a bag blow out. I don't know if that would help or not. Just sharing some thoughts guys- let me know. thanks.

 

[FlatBroke]

For the sake of safety,
It might be a better idea to have about 1in. left under there when completely aired out. If you want to put on a show going down the Blvd. then call suicide doors and get some of there 2-3in. blocks to bolt to the frame.

I read on the truck website that it is not a good thing to have a bag blow on the freeway, needless to say, I think the guy got new "Draws" in the glove box now.....

 

[BinderRod]

Sounds like you spend to much time thinking. LOL

 

[joehalford01]

Sounds like you spend to much time thinking. LOL

i've got nothing else to do at work

 

[shizzy]

I would put the body the same level as the bottom of the frame and still leave an inch with the bags aired all the way out. as cool as it might be being able to drag the frame while driving, it dosent seem all that smart to me.

cool is one thing, but make it safe.

 

[35Mastr]

Build your frame with 2 inches above the ground with bags dumped.Dont channel the cab.My cousin blew a right rear bag on the freeway towing a waverunner.It destroyed the tire and the inner well also destroyed the roll pan.Not to mention you wont find a wrecker service that will want to go through all the trouble of trying to get it loaded on a ramp truck without it really costing you a bunch of change.He was lucky to know someone in the area tha had a car trailer to get it home.Like mentioned above it looks cool but you arent going to want to live it if it should happen.

 

[gassersgarage]

Friend of mine's Merc use to lay frame until he lost a bag on the freeway. It required a 100 mile flat tow home, expensive. He installed rubber suspension snubbers so the frame won't lay on the ground. The rubber gives some, so he can drive home slowly if need be.

If you take the truck camping, think about the abuse the suspension will get going through ruts and potholes......especially sharp rocks.

 

[Willowbilly3]

i've got nothing else to do at work

Are they hiring?

 

[joehalford01]

Are they hiring?

I know...i'm a putz....

thanks for the replies guys, it gives me something to think about.

 

[Willowbilly3]

So tell me, what's the point of doing this? I see it all the time but don't understand why do it. Well I do like the sparks when you lay frame but just to have your car lay on the ground serves what purpose?

 

[joehalford01]

So tell me, what's the point of doing this? I see it all the time but don't understand why do it. Well I do like the sparks when you lay frame but just to have your car lay on the ground serves what purpose?

It looks cool when you park it.......not really interested in throwing sparks down the road with my frame.

 

[pablo]

a frame that is dragging the ground is the same as a locked up tire, you have no control over a locked tire, think of what it is like when you lock the front on ice, or hydroplane on water, if you lock up your right rear tire the right rear end of the car will try to pass the front of the car due to a lack of control (spin out) the guys who drag thier frames to throw sparks allow the rear end of the frame to just touch, and they also allow the frame to hit equally so that the rear of the vehicle stays in line with the rest of the car. If you have a failure and one air bag goes the car will spin. It is very unsafe, and would not risk it at all.

 

[shizzy]

It looks cool when you park it.......not really interested in throwing sparks down the road with my frame.

I really dont think it would look any less cool if it was 1-2 inches off the ground.

 

[joehalford01]

I see what you guys are saying and I think your right. I'll probably like it an 1" off the ground just as well. I ordered my bags for the front and will get some drop spindles next. I'm going to put it all together and see how low it goes. Someone mentioned using adj. bumpstops on another forum. This would allow me to lay it out for a show or cruise night etc. but give me an inch or so comfort zone for the rest of the time. What do you guys think? I can't even really picture how i would go about something like that, arn't bump-stops the pieces of rubber that keep the suspension from bottoming out? how would you make it adj?

 

[shizzy]

snazzy idea if ya ask me. just dont be tempted to leave them adjusted to the low setting

 

[FlatBroke]

Joe,
You would use the bumpstops much like you would use a throttle stop in a car you didn't want to go over a certain speed. (Like maybe the wifes car)
You can make bump stops out of rubber or poly, A hole down the center to insert a bolt, and a nut on the backside. The only time it would need to be adjustable is on instalation. That is when you set "Final Ride Height" aired out. The response you got from the truck forum was suggesting you do this in order to maintain the truck in the event of a bag failure, much like Pablo was describing.

Clear as mudd, RIGHT !!!!!!!!

 

[rustybeercan]

Low!

Joe,
I definitely wouldn't make it any lower than you'd feel safe driving it home that way. I've seen air systems go out & then where are you, STUCK!?

Beercan

 

[Willowbilly3]

It looks cool when you park it.......not really interested in throwing sparks down the road with my frame.

So how much does this looking cool cost? More or less than..say turbo install? Or a brake upgrade?

 

[FlatBroke]

Willowbilly3 makes a very good point.

 

[Abomb]

Okay, throw this into the mix, what if you blow a bag and a tire? Sure really low cars look awesome, but you're doulbling up on things that can go wrong. My car is not too low, and I'm already concerned with the scrub line, which is basically, what hits the ground when you have a flat ? If it's just the rim, your fine, if it's anything else on the car that doesn't roll, you are suddenly out of control.