Suspension Idea

[AngryLepercon]

Ok this just came to me I think it would work. Here is the deal find to tractor front axles and put them on your Ranger.

You would have great articulation with the center pivot point ( kinda like solid axle) put bump stops on the frame to keep it from going to far. The axles should already have hydo steering built in already so steering is no problem. This is for a play toy only but if your state would allow u on the road with it you can add a adjustable shock setup. With the axles having gears that are made for pulling and geared low so crawling wouldn't be a problem as well. So what you guys think am I crazy or am I on to something.

 

[kevinsranger]

haha i work for a komatsu dealership and i always check out the front axles for the backhoes but i just dont think they would work for the road. same set up pretty much, but the u joints in the backhoes we have, have smaller u joints then my dana 35

 

[AngryLepercon]

Very limited road usage. Just mount a "boss" on top of each axle connect that to the frame. you shouldn't need springs or coilovers or anything like that. Get custom driveshafts hook the steering up and your done. The body should not roll that much and all your articulation will come from the center for the front end right below the bumper where the pivot is. Mounting the "bosses" on top the axle and mounting your truck on top of that will give u more ground clearance. O well its just a thought.

 

[kevinsranger]

i would think you would need coils or leafs, did you ever have one of those machines front ends off the ground? the axle just rocks and floats around.

 

[BlackBII]

Like this?

The front end loader i used to run had axles like that, that sucker had some great flex, very minimal body roll

 

[AngryLepercon]

i would think you would need coils or leafs, did you ever have one of those machines front ends off the ground? the axle just rocks and floats around.

Yea i understand that it just floats around but unless you are planning to roll the thing over you should always have at least one front and one rear wheel on the ground at all times. Thanks to Gravity that should not be a problem.

 

[AngryLepercon]

Like this?

The front end loader i used to run had axles like that, that sucker had some great flex, very minimal body roll

Exactly like that.

 

[prefab08]

clark hurth makes axles with sealed planitarys and intrnal wet disks that so bad ass they use them in mine trucks up here in norther ontario, if you set them up right when your motor dies the brakes lock. the best news about the whole axle is the front has hydralic cylinder with tie rods that could be off a john deer back hoe!! il try and get some picturs up here this weekend. they are just too dam expensive to buy out right.

 

[JohnnyU]

clark hurth makes axles with sealed planitarys and intrnal wet disks that so bad ass they use them in mine trucks up here in norther ontario...

Those must be small mine trucks. My trucks use drive axles that weigh as much or more than 10,000lbs...

 

[Bray D]

What do you plan to do for the rear? Those fronts are allowed to articulate to much because the rear doesn't move AT ALL. I believe for a capable offroad rig, you strive to have near equal articualtion front and rear.

 

[Broaner]

Why do I feel like I've seen these on some pro rock crawling buggies on Extreme 4x4? Is this true or did I fabricate that image in my head?

 

[Toreadorranger]

people use portals and gear reduction hubs all the time. But have you ever driven a truck with no suspension? There is no way you could use that center pivot with out knocking your teeth out.

 

[Sunk]

people use portals and gear reduction hubs all the time. But have you ever driven a truck with no suspension? There is no way you could use that center pivot with out knocking your teeth out.

Finally! I have no experience with tractors so I didn't want to say anything, but I was pretty sure there wasn't any magic suspension hidden within that joint. I found it funny the title of the thread talked about suspension, yet the idea involved none. I think it would kind of cool personally, and I think portals are totally badass, but could go without driving a truck in which I feel every crack in the pavement.

 

[AngryLepercon]

What do you plan to do for the rear? Those fronts are allowed to articulate to much because the rear doesn't move AT ALL. I believe for a capable offroad rig, you strive to have near equal articualtion front and rear.

Could u just get two fronts that way you would that the option to have rear steer. Your could mount shocks and all on it as well for a smoother ride. but like I said offroad use only.

 

[Bray D]

If you used 2 front ends you wouldn't get the truck to stay up, it would just roll to the heaviest side. I don't know how to explain it if you can't visualize it. There would be insane amounts of body roll.