Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Reload this Page

Notices


» Log in
User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
» Online Users: 147
91 members and 56 guests
10Extreme , 70deuce , airbornebandsman , AN/ARC186 , armytruckdriverddsso , atankersdad , Autocar , Barney-the-Duece , Biggles , blckdblnckl , Blythewoodjoe , bubba_got_you , bugei , BugEyeBear , CanonNinja , chaplain , charlietango , Crackerjax , ctmustang , DanMartin , DaNZaVaR , DDoyle , derby , DieselBob , djh , DoubleH , dragman , dtcohen , duffman1993 , DUG , FireFighterHill , FrankUSMC , G-Force , GHOSTOFAGREATMAN , govt , graham , GreenBull , greenwood14 , Happyland1410 , Hay Man , HILBLYDLX , ironwolf85 , ivbeenrokd , jackpey , Jake0147 , jegerkommando , jimbob1111 , Josh , kassim503 , KI4GSN , KsM715 , landry1 , ldj1002 , m16 half-track , m16ty , M215 , marchplumber , MIG23UB , mikes47jeep , mrhp , mutt_kahuna , N1265 , neilhendrix , Nonotagain , om617 , phil2968 , randyman , recon , rlwm211 , rnr82 , rockman , rumplecat , sangamon , Sevensteps , Sgt Hulka , Snarky , Squirt-Truck , Srjeeper , The Gimlis , timntrucks , todds112 , Tres , Trooperwing5153 , tx399999 , Varyag , wascomatw74 , westfolk , willey10 , woodwalker , wreckerman893 , wsmIVokc
Most users ever online was 492, 10-08-2009 at 12:24.
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools

Old 03-25-2009, 02:52
4 Star General
 
maddawg308's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Front Royal, VA
Posts: 6,007
maddawg308 is on a distinguished road
Default Air ride suspension on a deuce

Wondering if anyone has ever gone to the trouble to install a big truck air ride suspension on their deuce. This would be the black balloon-looking air bags that are used on big rigs above the main springpacks to soften the ride.

Mike
maddawg308

2009 M200A1 trailer w/MEP-003A Onan 10KW genset
2003 Dodge Durango SLT 4.7L V-8
1972 AM General M35A2 w/w, NA diesel engine
1971 Barnes US36ACG 350-gpm trailer-mounted pump
1970 AM General M35A2 wo/w, D-turbo "Smokey"
1970 Kaiser-Jeep M35A2 wo/w, D-turbo "Jayne"

avatar: Capt. Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly: "BWAH!"
maddawg308 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 09:59
Colonel
 
Angus1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Freeland,Pa
Posts: 364
Angus1
Default

Ive been toying with the idea. I am in the middle of putting an air ride seat in from a big truck. I'll let you know what I dig up.
Angus1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 21:00
Colonel
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 267
yeager1
Default

Here's a factory 5 ton air suspension.
M932A2 new owner
yeager1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 21:59
Private
 
Mbsk01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 24
Mbsk01 is on a distinguished road
Default

While I am no authority, I do have a fair amount of experience w/air ride and air spring suspensions.

It seems to me that going to an aftermarket air-ride system on a deuce would severely limit the articulation of the rear axles. Keep in mind that air-ride systems use leveling valves to determine the amount of air pressure that is applied to each axle (though it is typically 1 valve per tandem). You could, in theory, install 1 leveling valve for each airbag, but then you would have to have a baseline for them to somehow know whether to inflate or deflate.

I'm not saying it's impossible, or even unreasonable, just that unless you want to sacrifice 6X6 action for a smooth highway ride, it may not be worth it.

BTW- I've been working for >5yrs in an 18-wheeler trailer repair facility.
Mbsk01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 22:35
4 Star General
 
m16ty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dickson,TN
Posts: 2,288
m16ty is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mbsk01 View Post
While I am no authority, I do have a fair amount of experience w/air ride and air spring suspensions.

It seems to me that going to an aftermarket air-ride system on a deuce would severely limit the articulation of the rear axles. Keep in mind that air-ride systems use leveling valves to determine the amount of air pressure that is applied to each axle (though it is typically 1 valve per tandem). You could, in theory, install 1 leveling valve for each airbag, but then you would have to have a baseline for them to somehow know whether to inflate or deflate.

I'm not saying it's impossible, or even unreasonable, just that unless you want to sacrifice 6X6 action for a smooth highway ride, it may not be worth it.

BTW- I've been working for >5yrs in an 18-wheeler trailer repair facility.



Air ride is great for on road but it doesn't work good off road. I'd still like to see somebody do it though .

My experience is it will help the ride some but not as much as you think. We had a '83 Frieghtliner with Rayco spring suspension on it that was very rough ridding. We aquired a air ride cut-off and installed it hoping it would give us a smooth ride. It does ride some better but it didn't help as much as you would think. Don't know if it helped enough to go through the trouble if I had it to do over. Most modern trucks have air ride cabs and I think that helps more than anything with the ride.

As I was typing this it got me to thinking . How about a air ride cab? I think that would be easier to fab up and you wouldn't loose off road capability.
m16ty is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 23:50
Colonel
 
Angus1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Freeland,Pa
Posts: 364
Angus1
Default

there is a lot more to air ride than jamming it under a truck. there is a lot of geometry to go along with it. I also dot think it will limit a truck with a live steering axle as much as a over the road truck. I have a lot of measuring to do yet.
Angus1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 00:03
2 Star General
 
tm america's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: merrillville in
Posts: 768
tm america is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

you could do an air bag suspension to work off road but it wouldnt have much load capacity since you would need to mount the bag in a way that it would work on a lever with the right ratio to keep from over extending the bag while still giving you full travel of the suspension .like how the rear susension is on a dirt bike
tm america is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 10:39
3 Star General
 
bigelk50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Corvallis, Or
Posts: 872
bigelk50
Send a message via AIM to bigelk50 Send a message via MSN to bigelk50
Default

I have thought about this too, but everyone is right about off road... So I was thinking of just putting the air ride cab unit on the cab of my 5 ton. The last guy I worked for had a off road dump truck with the air ride cab unit on it. It actually worked quite well.

Reuben "Reub" Davidson

1986 M35A2 w/w, Bobbed, Whistler, Heater, Winch
1970 M818 w/w, Deuce C Bed, Heater, Winch, 53"s Soon
19?? M105 Trailer
1984 D&S M200A1 Trailer with M105 bed on it.
1941 White Half Track (SOLD)
1972 AM General M35A2 Whistler, Heater, (SOLD)

bigelk50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 23:27
4 Star General
 
m16ty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dickson,TN
Posts: 2,288
m16ty is on a distinguished road
Default

The easiest way to add a air ride is to find a cut-off from a wrecked truck and replace the axles with your deuce axles. Hendrickson does make a air ride that works similar to the deuce suspension. They are mostly found on dumptrucks but are somewhat complicated and pricey. I still think a air ride cab would be the best.
m16ty is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 23:43
3 Star General
 
bigelk50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Corvallis, Or
Posts: 872
bigelk50
Send a message via AIM to bigelk50 Send a message via MSN to bigelk50
Default

Today on my M818 I took the rear hard mounted rubber block off and put on a spring set up like the M35 has.

Reuben "Reub" Davidson

1986 M35A2 w/w, Bobbed, Whistler, Heater, Winch
1970 M818 w/w, Deuce C Bed, Heater, Winch, 53"s Soon
19?? M105 Trailer
1984 D&S M200A1 Trailer with M105 bed on it.
1941 White Half Track (SOLD)
1972 AM General M35A2 Whistler, Heater, (SOLD)

bigelk50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Deuce air horn Oldgrunt The Deuce 4 03-19-2008 01:15
Air filter for the Deuce Oldgrunt The Deuce 3 02-21-2008 17:50
Glandhand coupler for Deuce air hose accessory Polverone The Deuce 7 04-26-2007 23:01
air ride seat jollygreen6x6 5-ton and up 3 05-08-2005 01:15
Brake debate!!! Full air or retrofit stock system? Trango The Deuce 12 11-13-2004 05:18

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.0.1

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 20:51.
style developed @ GFXstyles
Advertisement System V2.6 By   Branden
Copyright 1999-2009 SteelSoldiers.Com No information or photos to be used without permission. Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.