'84 Dodge Rampage Build Thread

[SteveM]

Thanks, Rex.  Your explanation "reads" better than what I posted before, and expresses what I'm trying to do very well.

I could probably omit the step of bolting through the 1/8" sheet, through the bed and into the rear crossmember, but I'd like to tie it all together.

Essentially, it will be welded and bolted.


Steve.

[Tman]

Nothing wrong with redundancy.

[SteveM]

I'm wearing 3 pairs of underpants right now.

[Duck-Stew]

Nothing wrong with redundancy.

I'm wearing 3 pairs of underpants right now.

LOL!!! 

[Tman]

I'm wearing 3 pairs of underpants right now.

TMI Steve!

[gkabbt]

Steve,

You probably knew I was going to chime in on this. 

How about what my guy did for my Rampage?







This setup has 2 functions: the attachment point for the down tubes as well as the pushbar / parachute mount.

Just a thought.

Gregg

[SteveM]

Gregg:

    Yours looks very stout and well engineered, as always.  I'm just trying to make mine a little simpler in terms of fabrication.  In your undercarriage photo, the shock mount crossmember is located just ahead of where your down-bars go through the bed. 
 
     My plan is to weld and bolt a piece of 1/8" thick steel (approximate dimensions of 18" x 36") between the wheelwells, and right above that shock mount crossmember.   My down-bars will be straight pieces, no bending required.  The welding will be done on the topside, and it will be bolted through the bed floor and through that crossmember.

     Then the down-bars will weld onto additional feet (maybe 6" x 6") that will be on top of the larger sheet.

     It will be easier for me to fabricate, and I think will provide plenty of strength.

     I still have a receiver hitch below the tailgate if I need a push-bar.  For the time being, no parachute would be needed.  I'd look kind of silly dragging a parachute along the ground.

Steve.

[SteveM]

Quick question, Gregg - have you figured out what to do about the rear shock abosorbers after you have done the axle flip?

I'm thinking that I'll need shocks which are about 4" shorter.

Steve.

[Tman]

Think Estes Model Rocket Chute Steve. 

[SteveM]

As a kid, my grandparents lived only a couple of blocks away from me.  I can still remember going to her house at the age of 5 or 6, something like that.

We would make parachutes from Kleenex tissue, using small pieces of string for the parachute lines, and those little green army guys tied to the end of the strings.  Then we would throw them off the front porch.

I think that a Kleenex parachute and some newspaper twine would be plenty to get my Rampage slowed to a safe speed.

[gkabbt]

Steve,

Your plan seems very simple and workable. 

To funny about the parachute. 

My plans are not definite on the rear shocks. I'm in agreement with you on the approx 4" shorter.

Gregg

[tauruck]

Yup been there. My neighbour started that parachute thing. His big brother was Airborne so we all had ambitions. Lionel Smith, you chicken!!! You sold us down the river.

[gkabbt]

Steve,

Should have included this in my previous post and something to think about.

I emailed Mike Manghelli (White Goose Bar VW Truck) about the rear air bags he is using and got this answer:
What kind of rear air bag shocks did you use?.....Really cool setup.  
Ride Tech, www.ridetech.com We won them at a club banquet, so the chassis was modified to make them fit.

I thought I had saved the pic but can't seem to find it. If I can find a pic of his setup I'll post it.

C'Ya,
Gregg

[SteveM]

At one time, I had Air Ride Technology bags on my '92 Dakota.  They made a big difference in the behavior of that truck when towing my jet boat.

I also had a '63 Nova at another time, and used some S-10 air shocks on the back to compensate for sagging springs.  Those worked pretty well, and were also short, although I can't remember how short.

The S-10 air shocks might be a possible solution.

Someone on another board sent me a suggestion to use the stock length shocks, but to re-make the upper mount, attaching it to the roll cage down bars.  That's another possibility.

Steve.

[salt27]

Early 70s 2wd front Chevy pickup shocks are short.

I have used them on spring over conversions.

  Don