Extended Radius Arm questions...

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I bought 8 feet. I don't know why a welding shop/steel yard wouldn't cut it for you.

It doesn't need to be hitch tubing. Only difference is that there is no raised weld seam in hitch tube.

 

[Hagan]

I wasn't sure if they would or not. But I'll definitely get whichever I can find. It doesn't matter to me if it has the seam or not. I will need around 4'? I will buy 5' just in case.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Yea get a bit extra just in case.

 

[scotts90ranger]

yeah, get 5', I think 4' is enough but spare is better. I just got the hitch stock because that's what they called it, got the receiver stock to make spring perches out of at the same time, it was $10/foot but was PERFECT to make spring perches out of, and 1' made two ~7" perches

Everywhere I've found does cut stock, but the recycle yard I mentioned charges $3/cut

I haven't quite figured that part out yet, part of why I haven't done it, other than not having a decent welder at my house, although I do have a wire feed now to get things mocked up then weld them at work. I do have some ideas on mounting, but don't know what I'm going to end up doing. The time and other projects (not to mention having to fix the roof of the truck)

 

[Hagan]

I bought the 2x2 square 1/4" thick metal. It was $32 for 5'. I'm going to start working on it!

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Giddyup!

 

[Hagan]

Ok, well I started. I cut everything, drilled 3 holes in the arm itself for a weld. Then I drilled 4 holes in the end where the threaded end goes. I tacked everything...well I put too many tacks. Anyway, one looks like it has more angle than the other. How do I get them to be equal/match?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I clamped the radius arm ear down to my bench and used my magnetic protractor to make them the same.

 

[Hagan]

Ah I see! Thats what I need!

I'll pick one of those up today and tack it back together!

 

[4x4junkie]

Looks like a great start

As for the angle, I pretty much just eyeballed mine, though I did hold them up to each other before burning in the final welds.

Looks like you may have a bit of drilling & grinding to do to get it apart (that is if it's off so much that it can't be compensated for with the camber/caster bushing, which by the looks of it, it may be close).

 

[Hagan]

I was able to get it off with some persuasion!

Anyway, I bought an angle finder/magnetic protractor and I am going to put it to use! I feel dumb asking how to get the angles correct. I definitely wasn't thinking and shouldn't have been drinking.

I was wondering about how to fix the issues with tire rubbage. Isn't it common for bigger tires to rub against the radius arms? This should be addressed now before its too late.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

My swampers just rubbed at full lock, and they have a lot bigger side lugs that a normal 12.50 wide tire will. I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

[4x4junkie]

I angled the tube on mine inward slightly (this in addition to the angle for caster correction).

If you look close, you can kindof see the end of the tube is tilted up a bit from being flat against the inside of the arm.

Be sure to box in the backside of the arm afterward so it doesn't flex with the differential torquing against it.

 

[Hagan]

That's a great idea! I planned on boxing in the back of the arm and I plan on adding a brace from the top of the 2x2 to the top of the arm. I'm not sure if I'm going to use a tube/plate/2x2 for the brace but that's something I'll figure out.

Should I use 1/4" plate or will 3/16" be fine. I have 3/16" plate but no 1/4"

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

3/16" will be plenty. I used 1/4", but I had a bunch of it kicking around.