I'm curious to see if anyone knows how close the axle compresses to the frame?

I don't have a means to flex my truck at home, so I'll have to wait till this wkend to measure my own rig but the axle can only go so close, regardless of your suspension setups.

I'm trying to figure out the placement of the wheel/tire under full compression ... sketching out a design for my new bed.

Has anyone ever measured?

 

As close as your bumpstops.

 

It is different on every rig, so there isn't any real world numbers that will help you. I would stick with Brians suggestion and measure from the bump stops to the axle.

 

And the rear bump stop is about 2" thick, not that you could compress the stop to 0 thickness though.

 

We have a crusher here that can get pretty darn close

 

lol

but I think the point is that the stops are about 2" thick and unless you hit them with sudden force or the weight of the truck on the springs is ungodly, you're not going to compress the stops more than maybe 1/4-1/2", no?

 

That, indeed, is correct. Even if hit with the full weight of the truck, thsoe solid rubber stops are not moving very far.

 

pshhh... who needs bump stops anyway... rip em off and get more travel

 

heh, i don't have any bump stops. I'll get under there and measure tomorrow.

Gotta also take into account how the wheel angles when it's compressing..... I guess just figure out how high the outer lip of the tire would actually go. It'd be an arc, just figure out where it becomes the highest and make the fender well an inch above that maybe.

hmm

 

My sidewalls rub on my frame rails its agitating.. definitely take that into account.

You buildin a flatbed or what?

 

Yeah, a flatbed of sorts. More of a off-road utility bed. It'll house a second battery, a 20# CO2 tank, a fullsize spare and some custom toolboxes with room for hauling whatever.

Basically I plan on having the same capacity and capabilities of the stock bed but without the potential for body damage... and will have a rollbar/cage of sorts. I'm undecided if I want to do a cage over the cab yet or not. I'm leaning towards it tho...

 

I had a thread from eons ago with some old drawings i had done up.. ideas.

Concept #1


Concept #2





Concept #3


Concept #4



All Pro's Design:

 

I think this one is the closest to what I'm envisioning.

 

Sounds good. I would go ahead and cage the cab even though its a good bit of work

 

Then two of these mounted, like in the last photo..



except instead of a full length box on that last truck, these would be separate boxes. Then on the opposite side, behind the driver. A taller box that fits down lower than the frame and extends above. it so tall and skinny... to house the co2 and 2nd battery with a swing out door. I haven't been able to find any pre-made boxes that would work for that yet, but im still lookn.

 

This is my buddy rob's




You could pm him i'm sure he'd give ya any info on it if you want his username is plumbrbob

 

i guess i could just turn that box on it's side, even tho they are underbed boxes... its still just a chest with a door

 

Man, that looks like fun! lol He's using a typical truck box tho. My plan is to sell my toolbox and the bed and cover most of the expense of building my new one.

Plus, it's gotta be usuable as a typical truck. It's my DD and I plan on keeping it that way for now. So his rig in there is fine for offroadin n stuff and it's probably just a weekend wheeln rig which is fine. Most peoples rigs are like that, likes your Alex.

I'm goin for the, daily driver comfort, which mine is now. Combined with weekend wheeln trip, or that camping trip, pack the rig full of gear and firewood. Or if need be, go to the hardware store and pick up 20 bags of cement (like I did a week ago ha). Or bring home that 4x8 sheet of plywood or load of lumber.

I don't plan on shortening the bed much further than stock. like bobbing it to get better angle. It'll be slightly shorter/closer to the shackle mounts but not much. Just plan on beefing up end of it so the ass can drag if it has to.

Right now, I hardly encounter much where my butt drags anyway.

 

I want to put the co2tank and 2nd battery where he has his gas tank.



Thats the number one area I find most flat beds never utilize. It's free protected storage area imo

 

Yeah i hear ya, thats why i have two. I'm interested to see what happens.

Oh and he has since relocated his spare so he has the bed space