Does a rear end flip kit make a work horse less of a truck.

[8T3GMC]

HI Guys

I have missed you all. forgive me for not being around. College is rough and hard to find anythime to do anything.

But anyway
I have to change all my ball joints and tie rods. My question is i am wanting to go ahead and spend the money and get the 3 in drop spindels and a 5 in drop flip kit for the rear. I use the truck for very little but would use it to heal a decent load everynow and then would a flip kit change the suspenstion so much that i couldn't use the truck as a truck. The spindels and flip kit are djm.
Please give me your all's opinions and more.

[85_GMC_Man]

I have a djm 5" flip kit on my 85 GMC and I have helped my brother move a few times. I have also pulled a car trailer with no problems or bottoming out. I haven't loaded my truck with a full bed of gravel or anything but so far no problems.

I have been happy with my flip kit.

Just out of curiosity, are you running stock wheels and tires?

[BIG V]

nope your not changing the leifs yourt just changing the position of the axle. fyi im building my second crew cab with the flip in the rear im putting a set of the small airbags on the rear so the axle doesnt hit the c notch.

[68 TT]

You are putting the load on the U-bolts instead of directly from the springs to the axle but as long as the U-bolts are the right size it shouldn't matter.

You would probably bottom out on the bump stops before you overloaded the U-bolts.

[LiveAnimals]

I have a western chassis flip kit on my 77 and haul a cord of wood every winter, and I helped the step dad move all his S&*T into moms house, he had a lot of stuff. I use it just as I did before I lowered it, no problems here. The only thing I dont like is I didnt do the C-notch so when the bed is loaded the rearend is on the snubbers makes for a bumpy ride.

[87Bob]

I noticed everyone focused on the axle bolts for the flip which is cool. Additionally I wonder how things would be affected if you did both a flip and a "C" notch. My concern is two fold. With the flip without the notch you have removed the amount of vertical travel the axle now can travel before is hits the frame. If you add a "C" notch I would be concerned that the rear section of the frame would not be as strong in the event of towing a car or truck on a trailer or in the event of a rear impact accident. Has anyone got input on this aspect of the flip and "C" notch? On one of the TV shows involving "Trucks" they did a rear shackle mod that allowed a air bag to move the rear shackle to be extended in length when towing raising the rear of the truck when loaded by adding air to the bag. As I recalled this was done on a one ton Blue Oval where they guy did a lot of hauling. The reason given for doing this is that it return the truck to the correct ride height with out stiffing the ride. This idea would be great for our trucks. We could drop the rear when unloaded and raise it when hauling a load. Have your cake and eat it too. Did anyone see this show? I'd love to contact the manufacture but I don't remember the name. Thanks if you can help.

[flamingbig10]

most c-notches are as thick as the frame or thicker but you could always box in the frame at the c-notch and make it stronger

[old Rusty C10]

it all depends on what youre hauling... ive put gravel and dirt in my truck so that the 3/4 ton springs were so low the bumper was two inches off the ground. If youre hauling run of the mill stuff and nothing near the load capacity of the truck you should be ok.. if youre doing landscaping or construction then trying to use a lowered truck is rediculous

[454HO]

My '86 short bed has the DJM flip kit, and I have hauled many heavy loads. I posted a thread about a year ago about hauling some flooring. And have since hauled many loads of lumber, furniture, concrete blocks, etc. Yes mine does bottom out, you can feel when the frame hits the axle tube. A C-notch would give a bit more travel, but I bet it would still bottom out on a big bump in the road. Oh yeah, I have air shocks that I pump up to 80psi when I expect to haul anything heavy.

So for occasional use, it's acceptable as is. But if my truck was a dedicated heavy hauler, then I would have to make some changes.

[nlped]

NOPE!!! I tugged a '78 LWB on a rather heavy 20' utility trailer home yesterday. A total of about 40 miles and didn't have any issues.

A picture to prove

[slugish]

Has anyone put a small airbag ( like firestone load levelers I think they are called) on their trucks between the frame & axle . Ihave considered doing this > Im down about 6.5 in's in rear with no c notch .Removed the bump stop & the bracket . Havent had a heavy enough load yet to bottom out but afraid I will some day . Why would this not work ? Frame gets so low & air bag would prevent frame from hitting axle.

Any experience or ideas with this set up

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by nlped

NOPE!!! I tugged a '78 LWB on a rather heavy 20' utility trailer home yesterday. A total of about 40 miles and didn't have any issues.

A picture to prove

mine looks that low in the back with out a load/


how many leafs are you guys running too?

[Driveway Dreams]

I have hauled a little with mine since I dropped it (flip and shackles). I had a SBC in a crate in it. That didn't create any issues. With my notch as it is though, my diff hits the bed floor before the axle hits frame. We went a little overboard.

[DubDubU]

about 500 lbs is all my c10 swb will take with a flip kit.

[8T3GMC]

Thanks guys. I wasn't sure about it and wanted to ask. I aint going to be pulling a bug trailer or a load of gravel or anything like that. Mainly a couple boxes of frames and some boxes of glass. maybe a peice of furniture or two. But its mainly a driver that i show with too and have fun with.
No i am not running stock wheels i am running 15 by 8's american racing tourk thrust 2's with bfgoodrich radial t/a's 255/70/15.

[Driveway Dreams]

The truck looks nice. I don't think you will be dissapointed with a flip for what you are looking for.

[85_GMC_Man]

I agree with Driveway Dreams, thats a nice looking truck. Only reason I asked about the wheels and tires is when I did my flip kit, my tires rubbed against the inner fender. Since yours are 255's yours should clear with no problem at all. My tires are 305's so I ended up tubbing my truck so the tires wouldn't rub. Plus I think the offset I got for my wheels was off a little (OOPS) LOL. Be sure to post some pics with the drop kit installed.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

Flip kit and a C notch will put you further ahead.... dont even think about a 3/4 with no C-notch.

[rotgg]

no