4X4 deuce offroad

[jeli]

How do deuces converted to a 4X4 configuration do offroad? I'm considering dropping an axle but I wouldn't bob it. Looking at the original rear design the axles can oscillate all over the place. If you run a front spring setup in the rear won't it force the frame to twist more or bottom a spring and lift a wheel?

 

[TheBuggyman]

If you dropped an axle and did not bob the truck you would either have a horrible departure angle or a horrible breakover angle.

The stock "3-link" used in these trucks also require the leafsprings to locate the axle side to side. The links absorb the rotational forces produced by the gearset.

You could use half of a leaf pack like a "buggy" spring to suspend the axle and locate it using the toque rods to transmit force I suppose.

Could you do it? Sure! Anything can be done, will it be hard? Absolutely! Will it be unique? Bet your bottom dollar.

 

[dirtyfingernails]

There's a fellow in our club (first florida chapter of the MVPA) who did this to a 5 ton (as buggyman indicates). He kept the original spring pack on the rear, removed the rear axle, and made a stanchion to hold the rear part of the spring pack in place. Very nice work.
Steve

 

[jeli]

I guess I wasn't real clear. I don't want to drop an axle off the existing suspension and make it work like that. If I convert my deuce to a 4x4 and hang the rear most axle in the same location using a front leaf setup will those springs give me a fair amount of travel? I know this will effect a lot of things because of the distance between the front and rear axle but I don't want to induce too much twist into the frame.

 

[Recovry4x4]

The frame is designed to twist. Thats why the back cab mounts are close together and on springs. The front bed mounts are sprung for the same purpose. I wouldn't worry at all about twisting the frame too much on a bobbed deuce. The front springs will give you decent articulation though.

 

[rizzo]

The frame is designed to twist. Thats why the back cab mounts are close together and on springs. The front bed mounts are sprung for the same purpose. I wouldn't worry at all about twisting the frame too much on a bobbed deuce. The front springs will give you decent articulation though.

I agree. I get a lot of twist running my trucks off road. no problems

 

[CGarbee]

BigwheelBob had no problems with the flex on his bob'ed duece last year in the Uwharrie during a trail ride the the full size Jeep crowd hosted (M715Zone). He had some problems with his Sprage not wanting to engage, but that's a different matter...

The shots I took durring the trip really don't do justice to the trails (they never really do...), but you can get an idea by looking at what I posted on my website... Photos 38-43 or so show us approaching a ledge, then his mouting it.

Since I was driving my M37 and trying to take photos... you get what you pay for...

See:
http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/photos48.htm

Length would have been a problem for him on these trials if he had not shortened the truck... As it was, he had a couple of trails that he was still too large to run (turning radius/width...).