Shackle flip again > 54” springs to 56”

[DirtyLarry]

So I am in need of more load carrying capabilities as a friend and I are headed on a 9 day off-roading trip around the Grand Canyon, all over Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. That said, the truck will be loaded heavy with supplies as well as pulling a supply trailer and we will on dirt the entire time once we get into St. George, UT.

The other day I snagged a nice set of 56” springs at the local boneyard from a 1978 ¾ long bed then swapped my existing ORD rear shackle flip brackets from side to side and bolted it all together. All is well except for the angle the shackle is currently sitting at seems rather drastic to me.

Aside from moving the flip brackets backwards towards the back of the truck, what have you all done to squeeze 56” springs in a short bed? Moving the bracket is not possible on this truck as the rear winch bumper brackets wrap around the frame pretty far.

I have a set of ORD 6” HD shackles on order, which the longer shackles should decrease the angle of the shackle as well as provide a tad bit more lift according to ORD so we’ll see what happens when they show up.

I will tell you this though…the rear suspension is very flexy. I can lift the truck up with the bumper jack until the topper hits the garage ceiling while the tires barely come off the ground.

How you are you all bolting in 56” rear springs in a short bed?

From this with the shorter springs…..


To this with the 56" springs...