Official Tennessee Thread

I am jealous that you had the balls to hack up your rear bumper. I apparently cannot do this haha. But it looks great!

 

Do it.
You can go through 8 sets of cheaps and still spend less $$ than 1 set of big name lights would cost.

 

I put those in my sisters GMC in August, they work ok. For a flood beam, I thought they had kind of hotspot. Though you could see through the tinted windows at night!

$21 Nilight - NI23C-18W 2PCS 18W Flood LED Work Light Driving Lights Led Light Bar Off Road Led Lights Flush Mount for Jeep Truck Tacoma Bumper ATV UTV,2 Years Warranty

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5AAX5S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I put these under the bumper on the frame of my truck. They work pretty good lighting up the drive at night, but I think they also have a bit of hotspot for flood beams. If I can remember I'll take a picture tonight. We'll see if I knock them off at the AOP this weekend...

Kawell® 2 Pack 48w 60 Degree LED Flood Lights 4.3" Square Tractor Marine Off-road Lighting RV ATV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZIR3QU

 

You cheap fucks

 

who the f*** likes money!!!

 

Yup. Like I said, lots of bad info and recommendations on this website. I figured out the lift shackle issues first hand.

 

I didn't cheap out.




Except for that set i bought off of zachk at the '15 meet.

 

I'll roll in Friday night.

 

Ideal shackle angle is 45° at ride height. A shackle creates a fulcrum point and produces leverage. At 45°, the shackle is creating an equal amount of leverage both up and down and allows it to move freely. The closer the shackle is moved to vertical (droop) the harsher the ride will become because you are effectively changing the leverage point making it more difficult to bring the shackle back to a nuetral position (45°). The closer the shackle is moved to horizontal (bump) the softer the ride will become because you are greatly diminishing the effort it takes to compress it to 0°. Think of holding a straight steel rod in your hands and trying to bend both ends together in the air. Probably pretty hard. Now start with it already bent to 45° and try again. Probably much easier. And then start at 10°. Even easier.

This is the same reason why a shackle flip on a 2nd Gen greatly diminishes the leaf springs load carrying capacity. Flipping the shackle alters its leverge point making it less effective. Yes it gives you more droop but only because you changed the shackles physical position, consequently resulting in less bump travel if you retain the leaf springs optimal operating range.

Bill, your observation is kinda a scientific based fact. The longer the shackle, the more leverage it has the potential to create. Apply that to the same application where all you've done is add a constant greater force on the springs and they will wear out faster and be less effective. There's a reason why leaf springs in general are old technology

 

Damn right.

 

My bad Kurt. I even read that last post where you said you were coming Friday after work still forgot to type your name. Haha you are still special to me though.....

 

So you recommend for 2nd gens not to do the shackle flip? Literally asking for when my 2nd gen buds talk about doing it. So yes asking for a friend ha

 

^^^
I've thought about it...

 

@allmotorrex I was going to tag you in my post but figured you would drop some info in here anyways

 

My problem with making a recommendation is it would be based in opinion. Yes I know opinions can matter but my opinion really only matters to me. So lets take opinion out of it .......

The advantages of a flipped shackle over an inverted shackle are ground clearance, droop travel, softer ride, less moving parts equalling less maintaince, ease of setup and possibly flexibility.

The disadvantages are bump travel, load capacity and possibly less strength.

Bump travel can be compensated for by extending the springs range of motion into negative arch but obviously that will result in diminished spring life and is potentially dangerous.

Load capacity can be compensated by adding more leafs or thicker leafs.

Strength is determined on how robust you build the shackles and mount.

Your shocks will also play a roll in how all this works together but the biggest thing to remember about that is the springs are what hold up the truck, not the shocks. The springs carry the weight, not the shocks. The shocks are only there for dampening purposes so when playing with load capacities, which is the biggest down side to a shackle flip, the shocks valving will have little to do with that.

For what it's worth, if I had a stock length leaf spring pack, used the stock shock mounting location and/or hauled things frequently, I would not do a shackle flip. It just makes no sense.

What's the 1 thing you read the most about why a shackle flip is awesome? Droop. So you're telling me all I gotta do is flip my shackles and I magically gain more travel!? No. You gain more droop, not more travel. Just know the facts before deciding what to do. Ask Everett how his shackle flip has changed his truck and see if my facts seem to match.

 

Too bad you aren't coming to AOP.

 

Thanks for the info, if my friends ask I'll show them this. With them having a RTT, rear bumper and swing out I think load capacity will be a major point. They both will have tunable shocks so that's a plus. But I'll show them this post!

 

Thanks for explaining that. Makes perfect sense.

Now, if we could just get an awesome Gid rant to pair with that ^^ knowledge bomb, that would be great...

 

I'm ready for AOP this time around too. Sliders and skids installed. Really want to check out Black Mountain tho and also Off-road Jamboree

 

Well, I will NOT have my gas tank skid before the AOP. Despite being told that it shipped last Friday. After frustrating series of emails, it did not go out until today. Or at least I was told it was shipped, and I got notified by FedEx that a label was created today. Pelfreybilt refused to expedite the shipment unless I paid the difference for their fuck up!