Dave's Four Wheel Camper Flatbed Project: Zephyrus

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TangoBlue said:
Good luck - I hope they can help you out. I suspect a solution for you would have far-reaching benefits for many other drivers.

Plus, I've never been a big fan of air bags with your type of application... they're just not durable enough for your potential use. Example... three years ago at Expo West recall Kowboy Holt and his Maroon extended-cab 2007 Ford F250 7.3L with FWC similar camper that was on display next to us under the trees. Air bags failed him repeatedly, and he went back to custom ALCAN leaf packs... since then he never looked back and he has taken that rig ALL OVER the place; even black trails in Moab.
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That dude was one of the most interesting genuine personalities at OVX.
 
TangoBlue said:
Good luck - I hope they can help you out. I suspect a solution for you would have far-reaching benefits for many other drivers.

Plus, I've never been a big fan of air bags with your type of application... they're just not durable enough for your potential use. Example... three years ago at Expo West recall Kowboy Holt and his Maroon extended-cab 2007 Ford F250 7.3L with FWC similar camper that was on display next to us under the trees. Air bags failed him repeatedly, and he went back to custom ALCAN leaf packs... since then he never looked back and he has taken that rig ALL OVER the place; even black trails in Moab.
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Talked to Eibach today. A "custom" coil would cost thousands. That said, there may be an off the shelf solution (coil length, rating etc) that may work but that requires taking the spring off the truck and taking it in and some other pain.
 
I am assuming you have already looked at the springs from Carli Suspension

Rear 3 inch progressive coils http://www.carlisuspension.com/dodge-ram/components_2014/rearcoils.html

Front progressive coils in 2.5 or 3 inch lift http://www.carlisuspension.com/dodge-ram/components_2014/frontcoils.html

or the rear soft rate springs from Thuren Engineering https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...-ride-coils-with-rear-sway-bar-end-links.html

The Carli springs retain the factory weight capacity, the Thuren springs would need supplemental airbags with the camper. Even if the Carli springs drop a bit with the load, having the 3" higher starting point would help with the additional clearance and you would still be able to use the air bags you currently have if needed.
 
Dave said:
Talked to Eibach today. A "custom" coil would cost thousands. That said, there may be an off the shelf solution (coil length, rating etc) that may work but that requires taking the spring off the truck and taking it in and some other pain.
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You know the deal... it's never "easy" making these modifications and plowing new ground, so don't get discouraged.

Hmm... I look at Facebook and the number of trucks with FWC and similar manufacturers products and I think a more robust spring application, in lieu of the air bag option, might be a highly desirable product line to offer in that community segment. From a reliability/durability/maintenance perspective a steel spring beats air bags. Period. [go to any tactical vehicle motor park on CPCA and tell me what you see] Especially for heavy trucks destined to leave paved roads.

That said, it is probably easier to perform your search for a solution now in SOCAL than in the Midwest. Eibach is the leader in coil spring manufacturing and their inventory and depth in the number and type of vehicles they support is probably superior to other makers in North America. Essentially, better to sacrifice some down time before you PCS in January 2017. But even if Eibach isn't the answer there must be another spring manufacturer (and certainly in California) that can attempt to provide you, and the community a better solution.
 
Cody at CJC says the Carli 3 inch springs have less capacity.

He's a staunch advocate of the Firestone airbags in this application and says they run them on lots of Offroad trucks with no issue.
 
TangoBlue said:
That said, it is probably easier to perform your search for a solution now in SOCAL than in the Midwest. Eibach is the leader in coil spring manufacturing and their inventory and depth in the number and type of vehicles they support is probably superior to other makers in North America. Essentially, better to sacrifice some down time before you PCS in January 2017. But even if Eibach isn't the answer there must be another spring manufacturer (and certainly in California) that can attempt to provide you, and the community a better solution.
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Eaton Detroit Springs are in Michigan.
 
Dave said:
Cody at CJC says the Carli 3 inch springs have less capacity.

He's a staunch advocate of the Firestone airbags in this application and says they run them on lots of Offroad trucks with no issue.
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Of course he says there are lots of offroad trucks that use them without issues. Yet we see lots of offroad trucks that use them with failures.. Go figure.
 
I'm not suggesting don't use air bags but I am suggesting that using air bags introduces another dimension of potential failure. I like to reduce that potential through simplifying the suspension as one of the desired characteristics of a project.
 
TangoBlue said:
I'm not suggesting don't use air bags but I am suggesting that using air bags introduces another dimension of potential failure. I like to reduce that potential through simplifying the suspension as one of the desired characteristics of a project.
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I agree. And I'll also state that as part of my own "learning curve" on this truck that I may end up trying it all before I find what I want. That way I can speak to each option. I know the rear end on the Tacoma was the hardest part to dial in and it actually ended up being more than just springs. Bumpstops, shocks and springs all required dialing in.

Everyone else here gets to benefit from my flailing :lol
 
The Carli site states that the springs will retain the capacity of the truck. Being a progressive spring, they will sag until you hit the stiffer part of the spring. It may be worth giving them a call with the weight information on your setup and see what they would expect the ride height to be. They have been very responsive when I have contacted them for advice in the past.
 
Dave said:
I agree. And I'll also state that as part of my own "learning curve" on this truck that I may end up trying it all before I find what I want. That way I can speak to each option. I know the rear end on the Tacoma was the hardest part to dial in and it actually ended up being more than just springs. Bumpstops, shocks and springs all required dialing in.

Everyone else here gets to benefit from my flailing :lol
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That's why we follow you. It's fun to watch the failing.
 
I've had air bags on both of my full size rigs and hate them. I tore the ones on my Titan. The ones on my Dodge don't attach at the base so off-roading doesn't really stretch them. I will be replacing them with custom Deavers in the future but thankfully, I've got leaves.
 
What about AEV's Ram suspension? Were they thinking of payload when they designed it, or just fitting larger tires?
 
That said, the 2 inch spacers they use might not be a bad thing with the correct length Icon shocks. Potentially better than nothing!
 
RoamingRobertsons said:
I've had air bags on both of my full size rigs and hate them. I tore the ones on my Titan. The ones on my Dodge don't attach at the base so off-roading doesn't really stretch them. I will be replacing them with custom Deavers in the future but thankfully, I've got leaves.
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This is why I didn't put them on my LandCruiser. Horror stories of blow bags, broken fittings, tangled airlines, etc were the factors. And I had them on a work truck and they were effective, but a PiTA to manage without central inflation. (Which I added later).

Bonus is the ability to trim "level" side to side or front to back by dumping air where you need it. Did this on my chaser a couple of weeks ago and the Schrader core jammed up. [facepalm]. Luckily had one in the tire repair kit.

For this, my Hundy runs a mix of springs and Timbren that are suited to the job.
 
Dave said:
Luckily, Icon Vehicle Dynamics is taking pity on my plight and their engineers are going to give this a look.
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Probably In their best interest, since you're running their logo - I'd want the suspension perfect if I were them.

Didn't AT have a solution on this? Or was it airbags?
 
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