suspension tires of just drag?

[80' 427]

I built my 84 k-10 lwb before I was lucky enough to find this site. So it was built wrong but I can't change that now. It is lifted 2.5", 33s Truxs, 10 bolts front and rear 4.11s, rear detroit new axles, front trutrac. So because of the axles I am a bit tire limited, plus I use my truck as a dd and to farm with so I use the box all the time. The problem is it will go up about anything but my angles esp at the back suck. If I can drag my rear bumper through it I can go up it. I am going to pull the rear bumper, hitch and remove the tailpipes to help and build a piece of c channel to just fit inside the space between the box sides and below the tailgate. How much can I drag my ass before the tailgate stops working? Will it go ok if I smooth it enough to allow it to drag easier? Got stuck this weekend and had to dig my bumper out to find the hook to get pulled out. It may get bobed some day but for now it is too clean to cut. Any other ideas to help my angles?

 

[vortec]

taller lift is the easiest way to go. i run 33s at stock height on my k5 and my angles are never a problem, offroad. i'm not sure how much extra overhang you have compared to mine, but 6" of lift would be a big help. body lift with bumper relocation brackets might help some, too, if the bumper is dragging.

 

[80' 427]

The bumper drags a LOT. I tear up more ground with my bumper than my tires. The only thing about more lift is now I can reach the bottom of my tool box and almost to the bottom of my bed so fixing fence and such are easier. I think I am just going to cut the bumper and mounts off and build a bumper inbetween the boxsides right at the frame end.

 

[Mudstud]

Might consider welding some tube or something out to the edges of the truck or your nice clean truck thats too nice to cut right now will develop some wrinkles back there that you don't want- dragging the exposed sheet metal around.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I built my 84 k-10 lwb before I was lucky enough to find this site. So it was built wrong but I can't change that now. It is lifted 2.5", 33s Truxs, 10 bolts front and rear 4.11s, rear detroit new axles, front trutrac.

I don't think you built it wrong at all, sounds like a good setup

Any other ideas to help my angles?

Sounds like you are primarily having trouble with your departure angle. The thing that will help the most will be to get rid of the hitch.

If you change/cut the exhaust make sure it isn't exiting near the fuel tank.

If you hit the tailgate you run a pretty large risk of messing it up.

Pictures will help as always

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

taller lift is the easiest way to go. i run 33s at stock height on my k5 and my angles are never a problem, offroad. i'm not sure how much extra overhang you have compared to mine, but 6" of lift would be a big help. body lift with bumper relocation brackets might help some, too, if the bumper is dragging.

Whether or not you have trouble with approach/departure angles depends on what you're doing.

I have ~70-80 degree approach and departure angles and hit them all the time.

 

[80' 427]

I can send you some moab pictures but still not smart enough to post plus I still need to join. Going to run 3" pipe off the turbo and a dynomax flowmaster copy and a turn down. Then since it will be on lpg it will have no lower fuel tanks only one in the box. See my other post if lpg and turbo coments are confussing.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Join http://photobucket.com/ (free), then go to "my album" and upload your pictures.

As you look through your album, under each picture there will be four lines that say "email & IM", "IMG code", etc..

Click on the box that says "IMG code" and a small box should pop up that says "copied".

Come back to ck5 and in the reply to thread box hit ctrl v and it will past the IMG code here and your pictures should work

 

[80' 427]

thanks I will try it when I get home. Hope they aren't too big.

 

[80' 427]

here goes

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Do you need the hitch?

 

[TC4x4]

Its a really nice looking truck i think that you did good building it up!

 

[80' 427]

ya I need the hitch but I think I am going to build one that sits right below the tailgate so it is high. It is a bit more scratched now than it was in those pictures.

 

[big dan]

one thing I did to my truck to increase departure angle and keep the hitch was ditch the rear bumper and put the hitch inside the frame rails. I dont know if your hitch is like mine or not but my brackets were bolted on so I removed them and the hitch fit perfectly between the frame rails. now I dont have the protection of a rear bumper and I have to use a 12" drop hitch on a 6" lifted truck but it works ok and I dont pull large loads with it anyways.

adding a few more inches of lift and maybe even some 35s, which will work on those axles if you dont thrash it, would help dramatically but then you prolly wouldnt be able to reach the bottom of the bed or tool box.

and to protect the overhang on the sides from wrinkling, cut it off. j/k though I do like the look of good clean cuts.

anyways, nice truck and I think you've done a fine job with it.

 

[blazinzuk]

I would say move up to 35s when you can and then build a new rear bumper with the reciever in the bumper. Other than that only drastic measures will work such as bobbing the bed, something I think is cool. I will suggest this but I don't like body lifts, you could put a 2" body lift on it and then build your bumper a 1" body lift would be better, less crap to have to worry about.

BTW nice looking ride you did a good job, but I fear the sickness will infect you ( you exhibit symptoms already) soon you will be hacking the fenders looking for one tons etc etc etc

 

[80' 427]

It has infected me. But so has drag racing and atvs so I will upgrade if I break a 10 but for now it does pretty good. 35s would rub (33s do sometimes) but when I wear this set out I could cut them to fit a set of 35s

 

[80' 427]

Going to cut off the bumper and hitch and put some shackels in the frame ends when I go to tuttle off road area this weekend. Try and get some long box flexin pictures. One hitch is for the second time (first time in moab) I am haveing my tranny rebuilt. I manage a gm service department but having my buddie at the local independent shop rebuild it tough so I don't have any more problems. In case anyone else has problems I can tell you who NOT to work on your truck in moab and where not to get a rebuilt tranny (messed up one of the clutch packs). I would have done it my self but who wants to put in a tranny in the camp ground when your buddies are wheeling.