Field Repairs

[kccourtney]

Originally Posted by geoffff

I had a guy on an ATV drive come by while I was working on my broken shackle - he told me he'd been an auto mechanic for 35 years and had never seen a broken shackle.



Guess I'm doing something wrong. (Or right.)

I busted one a few years back while wheeling in Utah. Luckily it was pretty much right before I was back on the pavement. Drove it 50 miles to a shop that swapped it in an hour and was back on my way.

[carringb]

Originally Posted by geoffff

Hi carringb, do you run these on the front leafs (if you have them)? Or just the back?

A quick read up on these shows that most people like them for the less jittery ride when their trucks are unloaded. My van is never unloaded, and generally I just don't notice what my rear end is doing -- as it's the front end I'm sitting on.


-- Geoff

I don’t have front leafs. There was one person on here a couple years ago that made an F350 one work on his advanced leaf spring setup.

They definitely benefit unloaded ride the most, but you could just go with the E450-motorhome version, and it should still improve your ride. I wouldn’t own a van without them after them on.

[vandiesel]

Originally Posted by carringb

I don’t have front leafs. There was one person on here a couple years ago that made an F350 one work on his advanced leaf spring setup.

They definitely benefit unloaded ride the most, but you could just go with the E450-motorhome version, and it should still improve your ride. I wouldn’t own a van without them after them on.

I have them front and back and the ride is plush. Shuttlepilot turned me on to them and I think he recently reported a failure so the e450 motorhome versions may be the ticket. Nice plug Brian.

[REDOVAL]

Ah trail side repairs...had a few of those in recent years. Here's a short list of the ones that stick out to me:

Broken rear leaf spring (twice in two different packs)
Broken rear shock (probably about 3 times in 2020 alone...need bigger ones)
Cracked front coil bucket (never ending issue)
Broken rear shock crossmembers (lost count around 5)
Cut tires (several)
Ball joints (more than one for sure)
Bent radius arm mount (my fault for getting too wild)
Bent tie rods
Twisted sector shaft on steering box
exhaust hanger failures (lost count, probably 5)

All of these issues are the reasons we now carry spares for everything! I do also concur that having many available ratchet straps in the vehicle is definitely worthwhile!

Scott Thompson
Vantage Optics

[vandiesel]

Originally Posted by REDOVAL

Ah trail side repairs...had a few of those in recent years. Here's a short list of the ones that stick out to me:

Broken rear leaf spring (twice in two different packs)
Broken rear shock (probably about 3 times in 2020 alone...need bigger ones)
Cracked front coil bucket (never ending issue)
Broken rear shock crossmembers (lost count around 5)
Cut tires (several)
Ball joints (more than one for sure)
Bent radius arm mount (my fault for getting too wild)
Bent tie rods
Twisted sector shaft on steering box
exhaust hanger failures (lost count, probably 5)

All of these issues are the reasons we now carry spares for everything! I do also concur that having many available ratchet straps in the vehicle is definitely worthwhile!

Scott Thompson
Vantage Optics

Scott, You are an animal probably in need of counseling. Maybe you need a unimog.

[REDOVAL]

Originally Posted by vandiesel

Scott, You are an animal probably in need of counseling. Maybe you need a unimog.

Realistically I need to use big boy prerunner/race parts so I can make the thing durable! It has a brand new engine now so there will be some very big changes in the near future that will likely add to this list significantly!

Scott Thompson
Vantage Optics

[unreng]

What about upgrading both the shackle hanger and the shackle??
https://desolatemotorsports.com/shop...shackle-combo/

We installed these on our van and they are waaaaaaay beefier than stock...and I think the ride height was the same???

Other companies make shackles and hangers, but we liked desolate the best.
We tried sulastic shackles in the rear and they were a real pain (PIA) to install (ratchet straps, swearing, hammers, dowels, frustration)
Since we plan to travel off-highway, we did not want to have to deal with a PIA in a PIA situation.

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by unreng

We tried sulastic shackles in the rear and they were a real pain (PIA) to install (ratchet straps, swearing, hammers, dowels, frustration) Since we plan to travel off-highway, we did not want to have to deal with a PIA in a PIA situation.

Uh oh... I just took the plunge on ordering Sulastic shackles. Will see....!

[rescuejg]

Great trail repair. Thanks for sharing.

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by carringb

Nice fix!

Related.... that's one reason I went with Sulastic shackles. Besides taking the harshness out of expansion joints and other small bumps, they're far more robust than the stock shackles.]

How Much do you feel they help on washboard? At this point I’m willing to try about anything to reduce the punishment.