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 Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
#744292
08/13/06 05:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 378
OP
Mudrunner
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Would it be possible to remove a rear leaf spring or two and add some air bags to retain a normal ride height? My idea is to be able to drop the rear of the truck a few inches to help when loading a motorcycle into the bed and then raise the rear up with the airbags after the bike is loaded. Has anyone done this? The motorcycle would be the heaviest load I would carry- about 400-600lbs.
Thanks.
97 T100, 32" BFG/AT, Warn hubs, stock height with Bilstein shocks, Optima battery
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: NYT100]
#744293
08/13/06 08:12 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 129
Wheeler
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: Squeezer99]
#744294
08/13/06 09:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 378
OP
Mudrunner
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Yup, last week I bought the first set of ramps on your link. It is a tri-fold ramp and I took it out of the box today to check it out. It seems sturdy and comes with 2 chains to keep it from slipping away during loading. However, it is still a steep incline into the back of the truck.
97 T100, 32" BFG/AT, Warn hubs, stock height with Bilstein shocks, Optima battery
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: NYT100]
#744295
08/14/06 01:09 AM
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 286
Mudrunner
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Having loaded 2 different sportbikes in and out the back of my truck more times than I care to count, and trying different ramps to do it, the best I found was to use a curb, small stairs, a grassy noll (watch out for the gunman) or such in conjunction with a ramp (I had one of the 6.5' arched models. I know it always meant looking for some place to load, but I always found something. And it's free!!
1995 Toyota T100, Rhino Liner, SwayAway Torsion Bars, Bilestien Shocks, Brembo Rotors, Akebono Pads, SS Brakelines, Monroe Steering Stabilizer & TRD/Eaton LSD
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: 95T100]
#744296
08/14/06 06:25 AM
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,160
Toyota Moderator
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Removing leaves would be a very bad thing to do because because the springs would no longer be able to counteract the torque of the axle. IOW, it would make for very bad axle wrap and you'd trash the main leaves in a hurry. If you installed a traction bar or something to control the wrap, it might work though.
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: NYT100]
#744297
08/15/06 12:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,262
Body Damage is Cool
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While it's possible, it will create drivability issues. I've got enough axle wrap stock, I wouldn't want to make it worse by removing leaves.
There are motorized loading ramps, and one system that is a replacement floor for your bed that comes out and drops onto the ground to put the motorcycle on. These systems all are expensive, starting at around $2k.
A very cheap and effective thing is a little tilt bed trailer from Harbor Freight or the like. That's what I use for pulling motorcycles with my truck simply because it's so much easier to load.
'97 T-100 SR5
'86 Toyota's, the variety pack (all gone)
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Re: Remove a few rear leaf springs and put airbags in?
[Re: foxtrapper]
#744298
08/15/06 11:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 378
OP
Mudrunner
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Thanks for the responses. I definitely don't want to deal with more axle wrap or failed spring leaves so removing a leaf is out.
A small trailer would be ideal. I plan to get one when I move and have some space to store a trailer.
I'll have to make do with ramps for now. I may use the tri-fold ramp and see if I need to get a single rail to place halfway up the tri-fold to help reduce the angle.
97 T100, 32" BFG/AT, Warn hubs, stock height with Bilstein shocks, Optima battery
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