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.

[Slmd92DIME]

I dont think you need to worry about bags blowing out unless they arent installed correctly... keep them away from sharp edges of metal and dont run too much pressure in them.. As for draggin people do it everyday... In my s-10 it kinda feels like skiing across the pavement but you still have good control.. I have only done like 70 down the interstate a couple times and never really felt too bad. Now wet roads are a different story though.. Draggin is actually a lot of fun.. LOL

[Spray-Bomb]

I vote 2+3

Drop the body & keep the frame 1" off the ground

[smashingchuck]

I think your best option, since you're concerned about it, would be to run adjustable bump stops when you go on long trips. Or just have them, and when you want to lay out, take them out.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

I think your best option, since you're concerned about it, would be to run adjustable bump stops when you go on long trips. Or just have them, and when you want to lay out, take them out.

Great idea, I'd think this plan would be the best bet...

[68K20 x Drill]

Set it up where the rocker just touches the ground. If something goes wrong, it will not take long at all for 1/32 of an inch to grind off the bottom of your rocker panels.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Slmd92DIME

I dont think you need to worry about bags blowing out unless they aren't installed correctly...

Please don't assume this myth to be true. My system was installed correctly and it still failed. A weld on my catalytic converter broke causing the open exhaust to divert hot air on the airlines. They got hot enough to blow the main line causing the system to dump.

Stuff happens that you might never anticipate.

[see ten]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Please don't assume this myth to be true. My system was installed correctly and it still failed. A weld on my catalytic converter broke causing the open exhaust to divert hot air on the airlines. They got hot enough to blow the main line causing the system to dump.

Stuff happens that you might never anticipate.

I think this is why Rockrln ran metal lines for lobuck. Either way, you are correct. No matter how many precautions we take a system can always fail.

[Slmd92DIME]

I bagged my s-10 4 years ago when I was 16 and have blown 1 airline.
That was the first day I took it out the line was rubbing the driveshaft... So if its installed correctly you have a pretty good chance of not sittin along the road... Not 100% but pretty close...

[joehalford01]

has anyone here built adj. bump-stops for their truck? How would you go about doing that?

[bedsled71]

theyy have some bump stops that screw into place... at auto zone just drill a hole and screw them into the height you want. if you dont set it up to lay like you would REALLY want it to then you WILL regret it.. and you can always install a bumpstop for those trips like someone else was saying for saftey..

[Shane]

Originally Posted by Slmd92DIME

I bagged my s-10 4 years ago when I was 16 and have blown 1 airline.
That was the first day I took it out the line was rubbing the driveshaft... So if its installed correctly you have a pretty good chance of not sittin along the road... Not 100% but pretty close...

consider yourself lucky

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by 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.

What do you need the body drop for, your rorcker will be about 1/4 off the ground. This is my truck without any body drop, just moving everything underneath up out of the way. The pinch weld and the frame lay down at the same time.

[Painter D]

i put 64000 miles on my s-10 that was bagged ,and bodydropped. the only problem i ever had was a shock bolt broke. i wouldnt worry too much about having control, if it does blow you should still have good control. oh yeah i daily drove that truck all the way until i painted it and it finally got in some mags.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Slmd92DIME

...... So if its installed correctly you have a pretty good chance of not sittin along the road... Not 100% but pretty close...

Very true. I just wanted to point out that you never know what can cause a failure.

Flying pigs could punch a hole in your airbag...

[Slmd92DIME]

Maybe but your truck shouldnt be that high off of the ground for a pig to get under it.... AHAH that was good N2TRUX

[camaro__thunder]

does anybody remember the guy who had a hole in his bag from a porcupine on here ??

[joehalford01]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

does anybody remember the guy who had a hole in his bag from a porcupine on here ??

that would be my luck

i wasn't sure if i needed the body drop or not, i'm going to order the drop spindles and bags first and see how low it goes, then go from there. I may not do the body drop. that looks pretty good rob,thanks.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

does anybody remember the guy who had a hole in his bag from a porcupine on here ??

A porcupine? No, I missed that one.

See what I mean Slmd92DIME

[Slmd92DIME]

LOL I guarantee it....

[camaro__thunder]

Heres the post: PORCUPINE AIR RIDE