Advice on bagging a truck

[NisAznMonk]

Man there is alot of great information in here!!

Hopefully someone can educate me on what to do. I'm looking into 87 or older single cab short beds and I'm wanting to lay frame. Would it be best to purchase drop spindles up front, and then do the necessary bag work to make it lay frame? Or could I just fore-go the spindles and just do all bag work? Not looking for the cheapest method, but more the most reliable method since it would be my daily driver. I'm just asking because it seems redundant to have drop spindles AND bag work, but I'm also ignorant .

I also understand that the rear of the truck is a blank slate, and I could just go with a complete bag setup right? No need for extra hardware like the front?

Lastly....how do you figure out what size rims and offsets you'll need for this type of project. I'm wheel/tire illiterate, and I don't really understand the math behind choosing the right offset and wheel/tire combination. I want to push the biggest wheel/tire combo I can (24's maybe?), but for daily driving I'd like the equivalent wheel/tire combo with an 16"-18" with FAT tires. Equivalent in wheel height, width, etc. I found a link that can help me with that but is that really do-able?

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

Any help would be great.

[hardluck]

If you wanna lay frame up front, you're gonna need either aftermarket control arms, or drop spindles. Granted the 'bags get you low, but the spindles bring the whole show 2" lower, as well as help control camber. Control arms do that too, but in some cases you need to trim your frame a little up front to get them to lay properly. If you want to look into control arms, Barely Legal fabrication may be able to help you out, or check into Air Ride technologies, because I know they make arms for that year truck. Good luck!

[F4MOU$]

Air Ride Technologies all the way.

They have the Cool Ride (front):
Bolt on upper and lower control arms with the bags, shock is mounted outside like normal.

They have the Shockwave (front):
Which bolts on and replaces your coils and it can come with upper and lower control arms if asked for. You get better turning radius with the Shockwaves compaired to the Coolride because the shock is elminated and runs through the center of the Shockwave, preferred way to bag the front for bigger wheel and tire combos.

They have the AirBar (rear):
It is a Bolt on 4-Link, BOLT ON. No cutting or anything. , you dont lay frame, but it lowers your truck as much as possible without cutting unless you want to...

They have Parallel 4-links and Triangulated 4-links (rear):
Depending on how the gas tank is set up on your truck and where you need clearance and what not depends on which one you need, UNLESS the AirBar is not available for your application...

The have the S-10 Road Grater (rear):
The only kit on the market where you can bolt it on, with minor cutting, and lay frame with up to 28" tires. It comes with everything you need possible for the rear, built in c-notches, when i say everything, I mean E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

And last but not least, Air Management:
They have the brand new AirPod which cuts down install 15-20 hrs.
Or the LevelPro which has preset ride heights and a few other Air Management Systems. Check out there website for more info.

www.ridetech.com

IF ANY ONE WANTS MORE INFORMATION ON ANYTHING FOR AIR RIDE TECHNOLOGIES, I SELL THIS AT WORK, AND FOR YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, I WORK AT STYLIN TRUCKS. CALL ME FOR MORE INFO/PRICING AND I CAN HOOK YOU UP.

-DREW

[F4MOU$]

oh yes, and to lay frame, just buy spindles from belltech or something. 2" will do.

[circleacustoms]

Diaz, laying frame with a 73-87 is not as easy as it seems, The lower control arms are going to hit the ground way before anything else. Even on a static drop the crossmember is so low that the lower carms are hitting the road at every bump. I have stripped the entire front of one of these and built an entire new suspension for it up there and that got the job done, that also took me about 350 hours of fab work. I just ran across a product by a company calledPorterbuilt Street Rods, the product is called dropmember, it is a replacement crossmember that essentialy does everything That I did in 350 hours in about 40. partner the crossmember with a KP six link in the rear and your truck will be as low as you want it.... Til you decide that it has to be bodydropped.

[Jon@AirRideTech]

Originally Posted by abrich

Air Ride Technologies all the way.

They have the Cool Ride (front):
Bolt on upper and lower control arms with the bags, shock is mounted outside like normal.

They have the Shockwave (front):
Which bolts on and replaces your coils and it can come with upper and lower control arms if asked for. You get better turning radius with the Shockwaves compaired to the Coolride because the shock is elminated and runs through the center of the Shockwave, preferred way to bag the front for bigger wheel and tire combos.

They have the AirBar (rear):
It is a Bolt on 4-Link, BOLT ON. No cutting or anything. , you dont lay frame, but it lowers your truck as much as possible without cutting unless you want to...

They have Parallel 4-links and Triangulated 4-links (rear):
Depending on how the gas tank is set up on your truck and where you need clearance and what not depends on which one you need, UNLESS the AirBar is not available for your application...

The have the S-10 Road Grater (rear):
The only kit on the market where you can bolt it on, with minor cutting, and lay frame with up to 28" tires. It comes with everything you need possible for the rear, built in c-notches, when i say everything, I mean E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

And last but not least, Air Management:
They have the brand new AirPod which cuts down install 15-20 hrs.
Or the LevelPro which has preset ride heights and a few other Air Management Systems. Check out there website for more info.

www.ridetech.com

IF ANY ONE WANTS MORE INFORMATION ON ANYTHING FOR AIR RIDE TECHNOLOGIES, I SELL THIS AT WORK, AND FOR YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, I WORK AT STYLIN TRUCKS. CALL ME FOR MORE INFO/PRICING AND I CAN HOOK YOU UP.

-DREW

Thanks Drew for Giving these guys the info... I'm on here now also so if any of you guys have any questions shoot them my way.....
BTW we sell the 2.5" drop spindels as well

[XLR8N]

How's it going,
The only knowledge I have on bagging a truck is what i read and building images in my mind.
I have an 88 chevy with a 98 front clip on it. 5.7 single cab fleet side. standard.
I plan on totally redoing this whole truck.
Opinions on if i should do the suspension first?
After searching, reading, and gathering knowledge and information I am leaning towards purchasing this:
KP 6 link (bolt on kit with cantilever setup & watts kit)
10 monster notch.
2 inch drop spindle
and a set of art strong arms.I know this is a pricey setup.
but thats okay im not in a rush.
now i want to know if anyone can tell me how many tanks or how big of a tank you can fit under your bed.
i have heard use 2500's in front and 2600's out back. can someone help me out with the tank. i plan on going with a fuel cell in the bed so i am going to take all the junk out from under my bed for room. i plan on running 1/2 inch lines and valves. but should i go with DOT or stainless?

And i also Plan on doing a stock floor BD on it as well.
20/22 or 18/22 combo.
roller motor.
I appreciate any info givin.
thanks.

[hardluck]

Hey, how's it goin'? As far as air tanks go, you can fit 3 5 gallon tanks under your bed behind the axle...Or you can run 1 12 gallon tank in your bed and put your fuel cell behind the axle under the bed...If you run your valves off of your tank, everything's in a central location - which is good for maintenance...Just a suggestion. For my gas tank, I used a gas tank and tank module from an '88 S10 Blazer and used the factory wiring...but I also have the 4.3... For your bags, I'd run Slam RE-7's up front, and RE-8's in the back. They're both 2600's, pretty tough, and offer better lift at a lower psi - which means a better ride. For airline, DOT stuff does the job nicely.

[bigpimpin47]

how much clearance do you need between the front spring pockets and the airbag how much trimming has to be done

[hardluck]

if you check out my truck's progress thread i have a couple decent pictures of how i trimmed my spring pockets out. that may give you an idea.

[Jamesngin]

is the kp 6 link kit all that i will need for the rear?

[XLR8N]

Originally Posted by hardluck

Hey, how's it goin'? As far as air tanks go, you can fit 3 5 gallon tanks under your bed behind the axle...Or you can run 1 12 gallon tank in your bed and put your fuel cell behind the axle under the bed...If you run your valves off of your tank, everything's in a central location - which is good for maintenance...Just a suggestion. For my gas tank, I used a gas tank and tank module from an '88 S10 Blazer and used the factory wiring...but I also have the 4.3... For your bags, I'd run Slam RE-7's up front, and RE-8's in the back. They're both 2600's, pretty tough, and offer better lift at a lower psi - which means a better ride. For airline, DOT stuff does the job nicely.

thanks for the suggestions, and do you have the link to your build?

[hardluck]

Yeah, no problem. My build's under the street section titled "Cheap and Dirty is getting layed". Should still be somewhere up front.

[XLR8N]

thanks!

[USMC_Chevy]

Okay I spent a while reading all of this and I still have some questions. I have a 91 that I want to lay on the ground. I was looking into the Air Ride Air Bar kit but realized it wont lay it on the ground. So what Am I left with. I dont want to spend a million bucks on parts but dont want to go cheap either. If possible I would like a bolt on. I am looking at the StrongArms- for CoolRide Front (Upper & Lower)from ridetech.com and am gonna run RE-7's in front and RE-8's out back. Gonna get the VIAIR 380 STARTER KIT 1/2 from suicidedoors.com. Any further help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance - Wayne

[sparks82]

do anyone know exactly what i would need to order from suicide doors for doing a 89 longbed? i really need to know what is good as for the rear link parts.

[DJTricky]

any help on bagging a 1996 K1500? i want to keep my 4wd.

[hardluck]

There's a section on here about dropping 4x4's. At the top of the street forum.

[codylange279]

hey. im rollin a 03 silverado shortbed. gonna bag it but want to do the front first but dont have shocks yet. is it gonna ride like total ****? i got baggs and cup kit already. only thing lacking is 4link set up. n e good setups that are cheap that would work? perfer to mount baggs on lower bars. any advice would help tons. thanks

[ZachTullier2]

Hey, im fairly new to this stuff. i have been around bagged vehicle for a while now and i have finally decided to bag my truck.

I have a 1998 GMC Sierra Ext. cab
right now it has a 2/4 drop with spindles, shackles, and hangers. My truck sits on 22's and i play on laying frame front and back.

I am planning to get all my stuff from airbagit.com and fbirides.com im not really sure if those are some good places to get my parts but im on a tight bugget. All i want if Front and Back bags not FBSS. Would 7 gallon tank with a DC 7000 compressor be alright??

I have more question but im goin to get these questions answered first.