convince her! Bags over static drop

[brans72]

Almost ready to take frame apart (67 SWB with 83 Front cross member)Help me convince wife that bags are better,rider is smother can adjust for her taste or mine, and price is much for valve system which can be added to later. Looking at Porter Built stage one front and rear but which Nate would release a complete package for guy's like me. Static is nice look but non adjustable. If I would go static it would be 5/7 using springs,spindles, and blocks. So what do I do here? I want a low look,she want's a slightly lowered look and both wanna use it to haul mulch to motors. So help me out figure out ways to go and price to help me show her comparison guy's!!!!!!!

[kev2809]

she can get the slightly lower look, when shes in it.

when you get in, you can slam it to the ground

proven fact, air ride can ride smoother than stock if set up right, ive had dropped trucks and the ride was very rough...

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Get another truck hahah
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[brans72]

That is not going to happen! I have a car,she has a car then we each have our projects in my garage 67 C10 SWB and 72 Chevelle aka Outkasted. So no more rides for me for couple of yrs and a bigger shop!

[VA72C10]

Nate makes top notch products...but if you're worried about the budget, you can shop around and find the deals out there..

budget way to go would be 4 bags
4 shocks
shock relocators
bag plates and cups

I purchased all of this off ebay for 380 shipped to my door...took about 2 months of looking/ebay searches off and on...

IMHO you also need
adj trac bar for the rear
c-notch for the rear
add about 150 for the pair of those...

that's 530 total for everything you need not counting the spindles and I'd personally get blocks for the rear still so you can run more air in the bags when riding low for a better ride quality...
if you want to go lower in the front you can cup the lower control arms...but at that point you're going to lose or have to modify your inner fenders...

[ooimpalaoo]

i just swaped over to bags all around the ride is great....bag it you will both be happy

[502ms]

I have 2 pros:, well 3:

1: it will ride as smooth as an S Class if you desire
2: if you are too low on static drop on an incline/decline somewhere you are in trouble...even if it's just speed bumps
3: Porterbuilt equipment is tried and truer, plus bagging has been going on for decades....even buses, tractor trailers and ambulances use them.
Bonus: cool factor...you can roll in primer longer, because you will get much love from the locals...they know you are going to paint it...eventually...they are just mesmerized by the fact your big truck sits lower than their Honda Civic or Corvette
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[andrewmp6]

Sounds like you want to keep the bed look at Porterbuilt stage kits they will get you low enough.

[brans72]

Bump come on guys need more input and post to get her understand it will be money well spent.

[brans72]

already got KYB shocks and a adjustable Trac Arm.

[Indycar1]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but I am facing the same dilemma. Im leaning towards bags, but what do u guys mean about "cupping" the arms? Also, are the bags kinda a "universal" fit-as long as they're the same diameter as the coil springs?
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[RINC]

STATIC !

Learn to drive a lowered vehicle

[Pro Performance]

I think bags are the way to go, and offers the adjustability of low or really low... increases the resale value also, along with what the other members mentioned.

You can go with the Porterbuilt Stage 1 front and rear kits, their c-notch, Mcgaughy's spindles and our 1/4" air management system we have on sale this month. All mentioned would be $1,660...

Edit: Since you have the shocks, it will actually be a little cheaper.

[RINC]

Air bag set-up = Mo money

Static = Skilled at avoiding road hazards

Man to wife in air bagged truck ....
"Hang on hun .... I gotta flip this switch to get over this bump"

Air ride is your "Easy Button"

Learn to drive

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by RINC

Air bag set-up = Mo money

Static = Skilled at avoiding road hazards

Man to wife in air bagged truck ....
"Hang on hun .... I gotta flip this switch to get over this bump"

Air ride is your "Easy Button"

Learn to drive

I've been in some parking lots where the speedbumps are too big for a static vehicle and if you try to avoid them they have them on the other routes around as well....

man to wife in a static dropped truck....hang on hun...I have to back out of the parking lot because I can't get over the speedbumps...you don't mind walking 2 blocks in the rain to the restaurant do you???

just kidding...but if I want to get into my driveway with a lowered truck I have to have bags....my honda van scrapes unless I go in super slow sideways....lowered vehicles can't make it w/out scraping....

as far as $$$...as I mentioned...you can get 4 airbags for 200shipped if you find deals...the same drop on bags can be done for around 100 more than a static drop....and it will ride smoother and have adjustability when needed...of course you need to spend a little more for a tank and valves but with a 5 gal tank you can raise up once or twice if you fill up before you go out...even w/out comps....

[502ms]

Originally Posted by RINC

Air bag set-up = Mo money

Static = Skilled at avoiding road hazards

Man to wife in air bagged truck ....
"Hang on hun .... I gotta flip this switch to get over this bump"

Air ride is your "Easy Button"

Learn to drive

I am going to make this simple. As a United States Marine Corps vet, I spent a lot of time on the road. Traveling between base and home, and future duty stations. Or even during war..those environments..a whole mother story.
ALL of my cars are lowered.
I have been driving lowered cars and trucks since I was 16, and I am 37 now.
That includes driving said lowered cars and trucks from Georgia to New York, New Jersey and Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, California and Texas. Trust me, I know how to drive static. I drive just as I would ride a motorcycle...head on swivel, always looking far enough ahead for road debris (tires, dead deer, broken washing machine, mattresses, etc). They are out there.

But as Jonathon politely stated, there are places where crab walking over the speed bump will not work simply because there are concrete or other devices in place to keep the car ram-rod straight, and you have that wonderful scrubbing of the center of the vehicle because there is no physical way to ease over it...or, there are the driveways that have an extreme (75-90 degree) drop, in which either the nose or the mid section is going to get damaged or scrubbed. The ease of lifting up in those situations is beyond a blessing.
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[lolife99]

My '69 is static dropped 5.5/7.5.
I love the stance,... but the a-arms are only 2.5" off the ground.

The problem area is just the front a-arms.
If you could raise the front suspension in the frame,... you could drive these trucks anywhere all day long.
(the exhaust would have to be tucked up also, via shorty headers and holes in the trailing arm crossmember)
The Porterbuilt "mild" Dropmember with coilovers would be the perfect answer for a static dropped truck.

I like bagged trucks for the adjustability.
(not just driving, but for actually working on them)

Either way,... do your home work.
Set your truck up correctly the first time.
It's not cheap.

I suggest a low static drop with drop shocks, shock relocator, adjustable track bar, c-notch, drop spindles, and drop spring,... first.
Then when the money becomes available,... swap the springs for bags, and a GOOD air management system. (like Accuair)

[brans72]

You have to have bags at my work owner put speeds bumps in that you basically can bottom out a Prius or worn out 01 Camry. My buddy's vette scrapes going over speeds bumps at works and it is not lowered. Can anyone help figure out decent/reliable air management system thought using the nice manual valve's a board member makes/sells then viair compressor etc not 100% sure. Drop spindles will have to come later as no budget for them at this time.

[Pro Performance]

We do have an air management system that uses the VIAIR 380C, that is a 200 PSI system, that would be ideal for your application and needs. Just an option, and we have on special this month for $529.

1/4" Air Management System

[RINC]

Originally Posted by 502ms

I am going to make this simple. As a United States Marine Corps vet, I spent a lot of time on the road. Traveling between base and home, and future duty stations. Or even during war..those environments..a whole mother story.
ALL of my cars are lowered.
I have been driving lowered cars and trucks since I was 16, and I am 37 now.
That includes driving said lowered cars and trucks from Georgia to New York, New Jersey and Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, California and Texas. Trust me, I know how to drive static. I drive just as I would ride a motorcycle...head on swivel, always looking far enough ahead for road debris (tires, dead deer, broken washing machine, mattresses, etc). They are out there.

But as Jonathon politely stated, there are places where crab walking over the speed bump will not work simply because there are concrete or other devices in place to keep the car ram-rod straight, and you have that wonderful scrubbing of the center of the vehicle because there is no physical way to ease over it...or, there are the driveways that have an extreme (75-90 degree) drop, in which either the nose or the mid section is going to get damaged or scrubbed. The ease of lifting up in those situations is beyond a blessing.
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Did I single you out ? Thank you for your service to our country.

I myself am working on my 3rd million accident free miles as a truck driver. 20 years of driving lowered VW's an I aint ever high centered or found a place I could not get out of.

Air Ride = Easy Button.

Improvise adapt overcome an learn how to drive.

[VA72C10]

Congrats on your 3mil miles! That's a great accomplishment. No sarcasm intended...but why not use the easy button? If a guy with 4 million accident free miles had a truck on air would you think he needed to "learn how to drive"?

Remember, the guy is looking for reasons TO bag....not to static

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Indycar1

Not to hi-jack the thread, but I am facing the same dilemma. Im leaning towards bags, but what do u guys mean about "cupping" the arms? Also, are the bags kinda a "universal" fit-as long as they're the same diameter as the coil springs?
Posted via Mobile Device

cupping the arms is cutting out the spring pocket area for a larger "cup" or plate for the airbag to sit on that gets welded in. Gets you about 2-3" lower than you can get without doing it...basically makes it like you have tubular a-arms...(although tubular arms have other advantages built in as well....)

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I suggest a low static drop withe drop shocks, shock relocator, adjustable track bar, c-notch, drop spindles, and drop spring,... first.
Then when the money becomes available,... swap the springs for bags, and a GOOD air management system. (like Accuair)

I think this is the best advise yet. No real money wasted here since it'd be really easy to sell the springs later and all the other stuff is required with a bag set up.

I think with a significant other (don't have a wife) driving the vehicle, reliability and ease of use is crucial...so a really good air management system is in order...one that is leak free as can be along with properly installed so the chance of failure is slim to none. I don't think I'd like her having to fill a schreader valve to get at ride height.

[RINC]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Congrats on your 3mil miles! That's a great accomplishment. No sarcasm intended...but why not use the easy button? If a guy with 4 million accident free miles had a truck on air would you think he needed to "learn how to drive"?

Remember, the guy is looking for reasons TO bag....not to static

He was looking for reasons to convince his wife. I think air is the easy way out. MHO is if your gonna drop it, why not leave it ?

BTW, my 7 of 9 axles that are air bagged are not to get me over an obsticle then park an let the bags drop ...... too look cool ?

[andrewmp6]

Air ride isn't cheap but if you do it right the first time it can be nice to have,It will ride smoother and having adjustable ride height can come in handy when you haul.You can pump up the rear to level the truck out and drop the truck making loading something big easier.