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Decision for the '87 V30 as a parts hauler

thatK30guy

thatK30guy

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Need to decide what to sacrifice for as far as lift and spring rate goes.

I want to lift the truck 6" but can't decide if I want to use Skyjacker front and rear 6" springs or 6" Rancho Mud Bogger front springs and the 22-617HD springs with the factory tall 5" or 6" (or whatever they measure) rear blocks out of a newer Dodge.

Rear spring info is in the link below:

http://stengelbros.3dcartstores.com/22-617HD_p_1849.html

Now if I use the Skyjackers, I would seriously consider employing airbags for the rear springs but I know nothing about these. Would this be the better and hotter setup to use so to maintain a "softer" ride than the Rancho's and HD rear springs on blocks?

Shed me some light on rear lift springs and airbags. I know most kits are only intended for stock trucks so would I have to fab something to make up for the 6" lift?
 
Softsprings and Airbags !!!


Or better yet find some 60-72 Truck arms and mount them on top of the axle ( about 6" of lift ) and run airbags instead of springs
 
running lifted truck for years and hauling stuff like parts / scrap / gravel and other things all i can say is

i want lower truck than lifted for work duty .

i got 6" total with 4" suspension 2" body with 35" now on my k30 and when i redo it this spring after snow season its going down 2-3" for sure. :woot:

but if you want the lifted then i say big springs and or flip kit then level the rear diffrence with block. i got flip for few years now and no major problems haulin or towin and i still run 9 leaf 1ton springs.

and i have a set of the 22-617-hd springs my self thay are THICKER over stock so be prepared for the ride.
 
This truck won't see a whole lot of towing/hauling. It will be more a mall cruiser, too, since I've always wanted a big dually. No off roading in this thing.

The front springs I've got that are the discontinued 6" Ranchos are a 9 leaf setup with military wrap on the forward eyes. They are stiff so they'd match the rear HD springs I had in mind. Just be an overall beefy and hard riding truck. But at least when the time comes to tow/haul, at least I'd know the suspension will hold up.

I checked for the Firestone air bags just out of curiousity to see what all is in a kit if I were to go with the Skyjackers. My biggest questions are would I have to put a spacer/tubing under the bags to the mounting plate to compensate for the 6" lift of the rear springs? And what makes these springs work as far as a compressor or just a valve to pump air in much like air shocks?
 
yep spacer kit will need to be fabbed up. i seen a kit thay offered 1 time it was junk compared to the item i fabbed up for a lot less cash .

and yes fill up each bag seperate or tee together as 1 . and then its fill as needed or get compressor kit.

those things will not get you much lift over stock and on the 22-617-hd springs not much also.
 
Just to clarify, I'm not looking at the Firestones to gain lift but rather to even out the sag from Skyjackers when a load is put on them.

If I get the HD springs, I won't get the Firestones. Only if I get the Skyjackers then the Firestones get mounted. The whole idea here is to keep the truck looking level when under a load, or close to it, and Skyjackers will not hold up that much of a load as I've had the 4" rears on my '85 squatted down pretty good before.
 
If it were me and the truck is going to be a "driver", I would run 6" skyjacker front springs and either block the rear or use the skyjacker rear springs with air bags. I have my eye on another K30 and I will be doing the 6" fronts and blocks in the back. Being a driver or "show truck" like my old red one I wouldn't see any reason to run the HD springs. Just my 2 cents.
 
As of today, I'm leaning towards the front and rear SJ 6"ers and Firestone 'bags in the rears.
 
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