Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-02-2021, 12:52 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Field Repairs

I had some field repair fun this weekend when I somehow managed to break a rear spring shackle while out on the trail. I used a bottle jack to push the axle down, and then bolted in an old tow strap of mine to replace the shackle. Got me home! The old shackle pieces showed some corrosion in the cracked area, so I suspect it had been cracked for a long time, just waiting to fail on me somewhere inconvenient.



__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 12:54 PM   #2
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Nice MacGyver-ing.

Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 02:17 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Twoxentrix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,347
Garage
geoffff, wasn't it you who also used a tow strap and ratchet strap on the FE leaf pack a couple years ago?
In any case, that account prompted me to carry a couple as well - scenario made prefect sense when it was explained back then, & they are very versatile. Hope I never need them, but instills confidence seeing how you rigged your solution. Well done.
__________________
TwoXentrix
"AWOL"
Twoxentrix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 03:05 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twoxentrix View Post
geoffff, wasn't it you who also used a tow strap and ratchet strap on the FE leaf pack a couple years ago?
In any case, that account prompted me to carry a couple as well - scenario made prefect sense when it was explained back then, & they are very versatile. Hope I never need them, but instills confidence seeing how you rigged your solution. Well done.
Yep I've used ratchet straps to "fix" my front leaf spring pack ...



... and also to hold my slipping tie rod together

__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 03:46 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
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.

__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2021, 08:54 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
pjpvi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,288
Nice work! I also thought it was you that broke a rear shackle in Canyonlands(?) a few years ago (must have been someone else). After reading that post I had Deaver replace mine when I had them give the rear spring pack they had built for me years ago some love. I also carry a cheap Dorman shackle in the van basement. Shackles are also on my list of items to give a visual to every now and then.

I like learning from others. Glad you were able to make it out OK.
__________________
Phil

- 2005 EB50 6.0PSD - SMB 4x4
pjpvi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2021, 08:59 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: at the beach in So. Cal
Posts: 399
OH SNAP!!!!
Skillzz
blair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2021, 10:23 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
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.)
__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2021, 10:31 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Quote:
Originally Posted by carringb View Post
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.
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
__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2021, 10:33 AM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 66
Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffff View Post
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 think it's a sign of old age when you just don't notice what your rear end is doing.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.
jamesc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

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 On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.