OK, I am only confusing the issue more...suspension decision

[Roothawg]

I have drug home the next victim for the Roothawg resto show.

The frame build is for the Fly's "towtruck".

I have a 36 Ford pickup that I have had for most of my life and want it back on the street.

Now I plan on towing the Fly on a small old styled trailer, lightweight single axle. Here's the dillema....

I want a reliable soft ride with the ability to adjust for trailer tongue weight. I also have to keep $$ in mind....

So would it be wiser to ..(A) build a conventional leaf styled setup with airshocks? or (B) design and fab my own triangulated air bag setup?

If I build the latter of the 2 it would be all fabbed here except for the bags themselves.This would be a lowbuck no frills bag setup, no valves, no onboard compressors or resevoirs. Just 2 bags..some line a gauge and and a schrader valve.

I am looking for reliablity first and drivability second.
I want a good ride but I have a crappy ride now so any improvement would be welcome.

Your input is always valued.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[sawzall]

root

airbag it!

use 67 - 72 chevy truck trailing arms and 2500 lb air springs. a panhard bar and your choice of rear axle.

you'll need to build a little crossmember for the trailing arms to attach to

AIRbags can be had relatively cheap. Get a compressor from a mid 80's caddy at the u pullit for under 10 bucks. and have a setup identical to whats under my 40 sedan..

[Roothawg]

I am leaning that way. I will build a smaller version of the trailing arm setup. I will probably copy the airide design or at least use it for inspiration.

The problem is that with pickup fenders, I can only lower it a little anyway....so I won't get the "slammed" look anyway. I am really after a kinda "dago" look.

[Greezy]

Hey Root if you go the bag route go to your local heavy truck parts dealer. They have a variety of air bags to fit your needs and be a lot less than the street rod stuff.

[Roothawg]

Yeah, there was a lurker that told me the same thing a while back. I think he said he does it for a living.

[Roothawg]

Do you hafta run shocks with bags?

[SamIyam]

I'd go leaf springs with an air bag to help with the added weight.

That way you have a decent ride and the hauling capacity you need when you need it.

Sam!

[Rocky]

No air shox....they have a teeny little attachment point at the shock mount. A loaded truck with a trailer is toooooooo much weight to ask an air shock to support. I think Sam has a good idear..leaves with bags.

[socal_wrench]

Hey Root if'n it will be a tow truck wouldn't you want Parrallel leafs with H/D Shocks like a real truck that way you get proper load on the trailer? Just a thought..

[SKR8PN]

I second what Sam said.......Leaves with air bags used as a helper when you need it. Cheap,durable and did I mention Cheap? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[roadstar]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you hafta run shocks with bags?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you need shocks with whatever setup you decide to use.

[Roothawg]

I had thought about the helper bags. Airride shows that setup as the most economical/entry setup but it kinda looks like an afetrthought when you look at the bracketry.

I want it to all be under the frame instead of parallel to the frame. With the pickups, the running boards and rear fenders limit the location on a lot of stuff.

If I have to buy leaves then bags as well the cost factor seems to be going up. Sorry if I sound indecisive...but I just want the most bang for my buck.

[Digger_Dave]

[ QUOTE ]
I had thought about the helper bags. Airride shows that setup as the most economical/entry setup but it kinda looks like an afetrthought when you look at the bracketry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Root, I had the same problem your dealing with. Using the Airride bags and fabricating some simple brackets, say off the axle and the frame, you could make the setup look a little less like a "bolt on."

[ QUOTE ]
I want it to all be under the frame instead of parallel to the frame. With the pickups, the running boards and rear fenders limit the location on a lot of stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

I mounted my air bags inboard of the frame. The guys at the spring shop came up with some very compact bags and the hardware. I didn't go for the compressor and the controls; they we more expensive than the airbags. Each bag has it's own air line running out to the rear bumper (one on either side of the licence plate) so I can "level" the back of the truck. (front to back or side to side)

[ QUOTE ]
If I have to buy leaves then bags as well the cost factor seems to be going up. Sorry if I sound indecisive...but I just want the most bang for my buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Using the leaf springs (parallel in my case) keeps the axle in position, so I didn't need any "trick" arms. ($$$$) and a good set of shocks controls the rebound.