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Can't see how using appropriately-sized chains in an emergency-type situation would be unsafe. Like VPed pointed out, they're loading the suspension in the right direction and the springs should absorb all but the most violent shock-loads. Maybe a combination of chains and airbags would be the...

That seems like a pretty good idea. Maybe even more useful on something heavier, like a 5-ton?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. A bent piece of spring-steel is going to have different spring steel is going to have different spring rates, depending on which way it bends. Not just because of the way it's bent, but the way it's captured and loaded. That's true of individual springs, and...

Ah, first-hand experience. Good point about the tires on/off. Might not get around to building the axle chain-up brackets I designed and posted about earlier in this thread, only because think I'm planning on bobbing that truck now. Maybe for the 5-tons though?

The second part of your post I quoted is correct, and conflicts with the first part of your post. Agree with the second part, but not the first. Most leafsprings are not going to exert the same force in either direction. I understand that it's going to exert a lifting force on the middle axle...

Yeah, that would work if the walking-beam suspension had a solid link between the two axles, but seems to me the leafsprings would allow the middle axle to stay on the ground because there's nothing pulling the middle axle up and leafsprings are made to flex and those leafsprings were designed...

Airbags on the rear axle wouldn't lift the middle axle.

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

I redesigned the lower bracket and tool the files to a local sheetmetal shop to get a quote, but before I can have any parts made I need to decide what size/type of chain to use. Is there any chain that is common the military applications that it would make sense to use here? Maybe like the...

The only problem I could see would be if one wheel/tire wasn't spinning and the other wheel/tire had to spin twice as fast. I can see how that would be kind of hard on the spider gears, but I'm not sure why one wheel/tire wouldn't be spinning. Seems to me like they would both just freewheel...

Hmmm, I don't see how. The axle would still be located by the three-link and panhard bar, so how would the ale move from side-to-side?

I was not disagreeing with anyone. I was asking for a more thorough explanation of exactly what the problem/s might be because I honestly don't understand.

Need? Probably not, but I'd rather have a bracket there than have to loop it around the axle. That much weight supported by a chain would maul the axlehousing if I was driving on rough terrain. That lower bracket that I designed would bolt under the lower link mount, but I might redesign that...

Haha. Thanks, I knew that you and I were on the same page. I thought the simplest way to secure the chain would be to run a bolt or piece or wire or a zip-tie through the loose end to secure it to the length of chain that would be under tension. I don't work with Chains much though - there might...

Alright, here are a few screen captures of a quick model of what I'm thinking might work pretty well. It's not to scale, and I haven't put too much thought into the best way to do this yet, but I wanted to move past the 'why' and talk a bit more about the 'how'. Constructive feedback would be...

Exactly zero tires will be lifted by me. I took a spare tire with me when I went to pick up my trailer and had to use a dirt bike ramp to get it up into the van. I don't have any delusions about being able to He-Man those bitches.

It's an M353 that I bought from Ft. Lewis a few months ago. Yes, it uses the same lug pattern, and I'm planning on running the same wheels/tires. But aside from an absolute emergency, I'd rather not have to leave the trailer behind. I'm trying to locate a 12ft Uhaul-type aluminum box to set...

Spare tubes are great, but what do you do when you blow-out a sidewall? And don't tell me it doesn't happen, or that it's not likely. That's not the point. I'm just trying to provide for one more 'what-if' scenario and I don't see what it could hurt to have a couple of extra brackets bolted to...

Don't want to weld on these frames. Whatever I come up with will bolt onto the frame. Rather than having to wrap a chain around the axle though, I will probably weld-on some type of heavy-duty anchor-point. I'm thinking that will most likely be a couple of tabs that I can slip a bolt through...

I'm sure that would work in a pinch, but that's not really how I like to do things (I'm a product designer/professional tinkerer). I'm down to improvise an make-do when we're out in the middle of nowhere (and I've done a lot of that), but this is just too easy to do 'right'. I knew exactly what...