Bagged - Key to Low Ride Height

[chevjayfsd]

Hey guys,

I will be bagging my truck soon and need something splained to me. I don't want the truck to lay rockers, I want it low though. More importantly, I want the actual ride height to be low.

Take the below truck (BIG AL's)

I want the truck to ride at this height, not be aired out at this height. Does that make sense? In other words, I don't want the truck to have to ride at a height that doesn't look as good as the below truck does.

Now I have no idea if this is Big Al's aired out height or not. But what would it take to be able to ride at this height? I don't want to go to crazy with the frame mods, and I know I most likely will have to remove the inner fenders. I plan on running 18x8 and 20x12 wheels.

Thanks for all the help!

BTW Great looking truck big al

[chevjayfsd]

Here is the truck as it sits now... No notch no nothing.

[PBFAB.COM]

We make a Mild Dropmember kit that will give you that ride height.... but doesn't lay the frame on the ground when deflated.

You will have to mod the front inner fenders and also raise the bed floor about 4 inches.

If you would like more information, shoot me your number in a PM and I can give you a call to dicuss all the options.

Nate

[lolife99]

Big Al's truck is air'd out in that picture.
The problem is the stock front crossmember.
They are too close to the ground to drive them that way.

Give Porterbuilt a call.
He has exactly what you need to accomplish the ride height you want.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rochlow]

Yes, Nate is the man!! In a month I will being getting a new truck and one of the goals is to be able to drive the truck extremely low. Nate helped me come up with a plan to do that.

[shawno72]

Subscribed.
Posted via Mobile Device

[chevjayfsd]

Damn... Had no idea I would need a dropmember... I thought most of my work would be in the rear, but you're right, my front member right now is about 5 inches off the ground...

Anyone know what Big Al's truck looks like a ride height?

[chevjayfsd]

I've PMed him and requested that he post pics of his ride height here.

[PBFAB.COM]

I could be wrong, but from experience I would say that the pic you posted of Al's truck is setting on the inner wheel wells in the front and then bottomed out on the notch in the rear.

There could be a little more room gained in the front by modifying the inner wheel wells... but you will need to keep an eye on lower control arm to ground clearance.

You could drive the truck 2" higher than that and would probably only rub on occasion with normal driving (normal means like a responsible adult... not sure if that's how everybody defines it).

If you want to drive at that height.... there's a lot of work to do.

Nate

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

I could be wrong, but from experience I would say that the pic you posted of Al's truck is setting on the inner wheel wells in the front and then bottomed out on the notch in the rear.

There could be a little more room gained in the front by modifying the inner wheel wells... but you will need to keep an eye on lower control arm to ground clearance.

You could drive the truck 2" higher than that and would probably only rub on occasion with normal driving (normal means like a responsible adult... not sure if that's how everybody defines it).

If you want to drive at that height.... there's a lot of work to do.

Nate

How much $$ are we talkin to ride that low?? The work part is easy it's the money for me.

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by shawno72

How much $$ are we talkin to ride that low?? The work part is easy it's the money for me.

Story of my life!

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

I could be wrong, but from experience I would say that the pic you posted of Al's truck is setting on the inner wheel wells in the front and then bottomed out on the notch in the rear.

There could be a little more room gained in the front by modifying the inner wheel wells... but you will need to keep an eye on lower control arm to ground clearance.

You could drive the truck 2" higher than that and would probably only rub on occasion with normal driving (normal means like a responsible adult... not sure if that's how everybody defines it).

If you want to drive at that height.... there's a lot of work to do.

Nate

Nate is 100% right ..

In that picture the truck is completely aired out and it is on the bumpstops front and rear. My truck has tubular arms in the front and a small cnoth in the rear. In order to go lower the next step would be a drop member, no inner fenders and a step notch in the rear.

First picture is aired out next two picts are at a safe ride height technically I could go about an inch lower to drive it but as already mentione the front cross member is really low. I hope this helps....

[big_al_71]

In the last picture the front is at it's limits pretty much it has maybe about 1 1/2 travel the back could go lower about 2 inches and still be able to drive it.

[chevjayfsd]

Awesome! Thanks Big Al, beautiful truck.

Big Al's ride height is just right where I want to be.... Although, he has 20's in the front, so i need to figure out how that will affect me...

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by chevjayfsd

Awesome! Thanks Big Al, beautiful truck.

Big Al's ride height is just right where I want to be.... Although, he has 20's in the front, so i need to figure out how that will affect me...

Thank you!!!!

I can take more pictures for you if you need me to...

[brandy hickman]

Big Al. Where is your tank and air compressors located? I do not want to place them behind my rear seat. Kinda tight on room? Any pics or advice would be appreciated! I am nervous about finally writing a check for all the parts
Posted via Mobile Device

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by brandy hickman

Big Al. Where is your tank and air compressors located? I do not want to place them behind my rear seat. Kinda tight on room? Any pics or advice would be appreciated! I am nervous about finally writing a check for all the parts
Posted via Mobile Device

My valves/tank & compressor are under the bed in front of the right rear tire...

Checkout this picture it kind of gives you an idea.

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by chevjayfsd

Another question... What advantages are gained when using tubular arms vs. stock arms? I ask this because, if my wheel wells are the limiting factor, and I want to be right at where Big Al is aired out and at ride height, why would I spend the coin on the tubular arms, when they aren't the limiting factor?

You're right...but if you want to drive at Al's aired out height, you're going to have to lose your wells and go with the dm/tubulars for the added drop and still keep some suspension travel. (look at 67Cheby's Slosh Tubz for a bolt in fix for the wells).

Originally Posted by big_al_71

My valves/tank & compressor are under the bed in front of the right rear tire...

Checkout this picture it kind of gives you an idea.

Unfortunately, this won't work with the blazer since it has the rocker boxes in that location. I've been trying to think of something too to get the tank out from behind my seat, but coming up short. My only plan that's somewhat feasable right now is getting 2 3 gallon tanks and mounting them on the sides of the gas tank under the rear, but they may show from the side due to the body coming back up towards the bumper.

[chevjayfsd]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

You're right...but if you want to drive at Al's aired out height, you're going to have to lose your wells and go with the dm/tubulars for the added drop and still keep some suspension travel. (look at 67Cheby's Slosh Tubz for a bolt in fix for the wells).



Unfortunately, this won't work with the blazer since it has the rocker boxes in that location. I've been trying to think of something too to get the tank out from behind my seat, but coming up short. My only plan that's somewhat feasable right now is getting 2 3 gallon tanks and mounting them on the sides of the gas tank under the rear, but they may show from the side due to the body coming back up towards the bumper.

Well that's the thing... In hearing how much $$ it's going to take to ride at Al's aired out height, I'm just going to mimick his height. So to get a ride height like Al's RIDE HEIGHT, the tubulars aren't required? Correct? Sure they are a nice addition, and I will get them one day, but for now, if I can, I will just stick with the stock A arms. That way it'll give me an excuse to work on it later!

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by chevjayfsd

Well that's the thing... In hearing how much $$ it's going to take to ride at Al's aired out height, I'm just going to mimick his height. So to get a ride height like Al's RIDE HEIGHT, the tubulars aren't required? Correct? Sure they are a nice addition, and I will get them one day, but for now, if I can, I will just stick with the stock A arms. That way it'll give me an excuse to work on it later!

With air bags you can ride at any height you want, correct...BUT there's a sweet spot where the bag is at a spring rate for a nice ride which I think is when the bag is between 7-9 inches tall (psi I do not know). The problem with not doing something like the dm/tubulars and trying to ride this low all the time is that your spring rate may be lower than ideal and not provide good ride quality because the bag may not be inflated to the 7-9 inch range.

[chevjayfsd]

Another question... What advantages are gained when using tubular arms vs. stock arms? I ask this because, if my wheel wells are the limiting factor, and I want to be right at where Big Al is aired out and at ride height, why would I spend the coin on the tubular arms, when they aren't the limiting factor?

[big_al_71]

I bought them because of several reasons:

Better looking, lighter and I beleive stronger...

[jimmydean]

You can use the dropmember with your stock arms to get lower than Al's. That is a great looking truck, Al.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

You can use the dropmember with your stock arms to get lower than Al's. That is a great looking truck, Al.

Stock 67-87 upper arms.
The lowers have to be 73-87 a-arms.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Stock 67-87 upper arms.
The lowers have to be 73-87 a-arms.

Oops, my bad. Forgot that part. My arms are '75s.