Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think????

josmo · 11-01-2009, 09:00 PM

hey everyone i dont post much on here but i need some advice/opinions. I drive a 83 s-15. I bought it with 2 inch drop blocks, and i liked the look. when i converted the truck to run only electric power i took out the blocks because we added about 800lbs of batteries, and the suspension sits a little higher.

So my idea is to add back some drop blocks, but when i do that the ride height will probably bottom out. so Im thinking drop blocks 800lbs and helper air bags so in away i would have an adjustable height. So when i go to shows i can take the air out of the bags. And for DD i can put some air in the bags, and if i wanted to haul anything(unlikely) i could put a lot of pressure in the bags.

What do you guys think?

sdimedan01 · 11-01-2009, 11:06 PM

AIR SHOCKS

much cheaper and do the same thing. You can get a pair for about $70. I would say try that first before you invest in airbags

josmo · 11-02-2009, 12:13 AM

i have the bags for free. there not lowering air bags. the assist bags for trucks that carry big loads. they can be pumped up when you have a full load to help your suspension out

sdimedan01 · 11-02-2009, 07:29 AM

My question is why do you want to take the bags out for show?

Airshocks come with all of the air lines and just use a normal valve stem to fill, therefore, no tank or compressor, easily concealed if that is the look you are going for.

Post some pics of your ev conversion in a project thread. I think its cool

josmo · 11-02-2009, 08:16 AM

the bags would work just like the air shocks they would just have a valve stem. i would probably pump them um for daily driving so the suspension donsent constantly have a load on it. then if i wanted to be a lil lower at a show you could bleed some air out.

I just dont like how the suspension is right now because when u go over a speed bump it can get a little iffy

Slow_S10 · 11-02-2009, 09:37 AM

I think that would actually be a really good setup for your truck. I have actually been contemplating getting some helper bags for my truck too. Not because I have 800lbs of batteries but because I haul crap with my truck all the time. Currently I have Beltech leafs and 2" blocks for a 5" total drop out back but the problem is that the Beltech leaf springs cut the effective capacity of the suspension almost in half. I have debated getting helper bags or air shocks and I think the bags would work better for me and last much longer. I have heard of AirShocks not lasting too long if they are cycled fairly frequently.

Either way I was planning on keeping like a 3 or 5 gallon Air tank on board and just hooking up some manual valves for simplicity. I would pump up the tank with shop Air and just keep it filled. I would probably eventually upgrade the system with an onboard compressor and then throw some nice air horns in there too just for grins.

But enough about my crap... I want to see your electric setup! I have always dreamed of building my own EV. Although I would probably base in on a smaller car, probably something like a CRX.

josmo · 11-02-2009, 02:19 PM

I like the idea of having an on board charger, but every pound counts and every use of energy matters too so it becomes something that u dont "really need"

eventually down the road i'd like to bag it and then have an onboard compressor and tank and of Course have a set of horns! lol i have to have some way of getting people's attention, its not like i can rev my engine

actually the reason i did an s10 is you can add a ton of weight and not worry about bending twisting or tweaking the frame because its built for it. Also its pretty easy to find s-10 parts decently cheap.

But enough about my crap... I want to see your electric setup! I have always dreamed of building my own EV. Although I would probably base in on a smaller car, probably something like a CRX.[/quote]

josmo · 11-05-2009, 02:28 PM

how about if i was a normal truck and i wanted a 6 inch drop in the back but i didnt want to notch it. could i use helper bags to prevent bottoming out on the frame?

11-01-2009, 09:00 PM	#1
josmo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 63 Location: User is: OffLine	Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? hey everyone i dont post much on here but i need some advice/opinions. I drive a 83 s-15. I bought it with 2 inch drop blocks, and i liked the look. when i converted the truck to run only electric power i took out the blocks because we added about 800lbs of batteries, and the suspension sits a little higher. So my idea is to add back some drop blocks, but when i do that the ride height will probably bottom out. so Im thinking drop blocks 800lbs and helper air bags so in away i would have an adjustable height. So when i go to shows i can take the air out of the bags. And for DD i can put some air in the bags, and if i wanted to haul anything(unlikely) i could put a lot of pressure in the bags. What do you guys think?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 11:06 PM	#2
sdimedan01 Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Windsor, CT/ Nashua, NH User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? AIR SHOCKS much cheaper and do the same thing. You can get a pair for about $70. I would say try that first before you invest in airbags
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 12:13 AM	#3
josmo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 63 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? i have the bags for free. there not lowering air bags. the assist bags for trucks that carry big loads. they can be pumped up when you have a full load to help your suspension out
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 07:29 AM	#4
sdimedan01 Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Windsor, CT/ Nashua, NH User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? My question is why do you want to take the bags out for show? Airshocks come with all of the air lines and just use a normal valve stem to fill, therefore, no tank or compressor, easily concealed if that is the look you are going for. Post some pics of your ev conversion in a project thread. I think its cool
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:16 AM	#5
josmo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 63 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? the bags would work just like the air shocks they would just have a valve stem. i would probably pump them um for daily driving so the suspension donsent constantly have a load on it. then if i wanted to be a lil lower at a show you could bleed some air out. I just dont like how the suspension is right now because when u go over a speed bump it can get a little iffy
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 09:37 AM	#6
Slow_S10 I Type Slow Too... Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,354 Location: Chesapeake, VA User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? I think that would actually be a really good setup for your truck. I have actually been contemplating getting some helper bags for my truck too. Not because I have 800lbs of batteries but because I haul crap with my truck all the time. Currently I have Beltech leafs and 2" blocks for a 5" total drop out back but the problem is that the Beltech leaf springs cut the effective capacity of the suspension almost in half. I have debated getting helper bags or air shocks and I think the bags would work better for me and last much longer. I have heard of AirShocks not lasting too long if they are cycled fairly frequently. Either way I was planning on keeping like a 3 or 5 gallon Air tank on board and just hooking up some manual valves for simplicity. I would pump up the tank with shop Air and just keep it filled. I would probably eventually upgrade the system with an onboard compressor and then throw some nice air horns in there too just for grins. But enough about my crap... I want to see your electric setup! I have always dreamed of building my own EV. Although I would probably base in on a smaller car, probably something like a CRX.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 02:19 PM	#7
josmo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 63 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? I like the idea of having an on board charger, but every pound counts and every use of energy matters too so it becomes something that u dont "really need" eventually down the road i'd like to bag it and then have an onboard compressor and tank and of Course have a set of horns! lol i have to have some way of getting people's attention, its not like i can rev my engine actually the reason i did an s10 is you can add a ton of weight and not worry about bending twisting or tweaking the frame because its built for it. Also its pretty easy to find s-10 parts decently cheap. But enough about my crap... I want to see your electric setup! I have always dreamed of building my own EV. Although I would probably base in on a smaller car, probably something like a CRX.[/quote]
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 02:28 PM	#8
josmo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 63 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Drop blocks and helper bags NEED help What do you think???? how about if i was a normal truck and i wanted a 6 inch drop in the back but i didnt want to notch it. could i use helper bags to prevent bottoming out on the frame?
	[Reply w/Quote]