How would you do it? (Air bag ?'s)

O.k. I, like alot of older minitruckers, don't have the cash to just go out and buy an air bag kit all at once, and have the work done all at one time either. So

How would you do it?
On a budget, list what you'd buy 1st-10th (or more ). Brands would help me too.
When it comes to modifying the frame, etc. where would you start?

What I want:

I really don't like bags for the reason 1st and foremost of losing my hauling ability. I would be inclined to want to raise the original bed floor and still be able to haul, say a lawn tractor if needed .

I careless about body dropping, I just want to be able to set the truck frame on the ground, and some scraping wouldn't be a BAD thing

I don't care about "hopping" so the fastest "up/down" is not that important to me.

I'll probably never go above a 17" wheel size.

I want to do it inexpensively, but not at the expense of safety/reliability.

I basically have to buy it bit by bit, get everything ready, and then try to have it all done in a week or 2 while still driving it as much as possible. (though I could use a company truck some).

Father in law is a good welder so I'd recruit him, and have to teach him what I want to do. There are no shops here for this...used to be one, but it's no more. Heck I wanna weld things myself so a welder is in my future as well.



O.k. I think that's the info I need to share, so I now look forward to you with experience sharing with me your tips.

Thanks!

"Simply Contemplating"



P.S. I like my AC, but could live with out it for a sweet ride

You could bodydrop the bed enough so that it still has the full bedfloor, then space it back up like that other guy did before he bodydropped the cab.

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking. I've seen it done in pics on here before. He only had like 6" of depth or so though

OK.. is what i would do is use the SuicideDoors behind below axel brackets and the link setup of your choice. Be it a 3 link, or traingulated 4 link. Sleeve bags work better in the application of behind below brackets, however i wouldn't use them along w/ towing. You would only have to raise the bed floor a little bit to clear the pumpkin and any kind of crossmembers. You also need to look into gas tank placement... cause it really needs to be relocated, or find a fuel cell that can fit under the bed, but not be close to the ground. I would run 3/8in valves and 1/2in line... which is pretty standard... moderatly quick but still controlable. As for the time crunch.. my buddy and i bagged my truck in 2 weekends and i drove it the week in between due to work. But we have done setups before.. and worked late a couple nights (like till 3am). Seeing how ur kinda new at it... and will be explaining everything to your welder.. it will take u more time to figure things out as you go along. And will have to play a LOT of, OK.. weld this here.. "WHY?" BECAUSE I SAID SO DAMNIT! LOL. Think about air tank location, valve placement (closer to the bag faster it will go).
Mike

you could always put ur tank and compressors under ur bed so you can still haul things in ur bed

Nice reply there Mullet.

Yeah that's what I was thinking about Slammed.

just raised my bedfloor 4" and fixing to put in a 5" notch that will lay on 19's or 20's with a small tire. everything will be mounted under the bed.




its still this deep.
://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL505/2264144/4431855/117894998.jpg

Are the black painted areas where you did the cut and welding? I could deal with it being that deep

yeah thats where the two pieces met and I welded it back up.

What sized bags, compressor, tank should I be looking for?