Nenw
Well-Known Member
Hey crew, going to start this off with a few notes first.
I am harder on this van than probably most others except for say the Russians and a few Aussies. I am putting my little shoe box through its paces.
I am still awaiting feedback from Ironman USA on whether or not they will cover this under warranty.
Last week I spent the day at Hollister Hills ORV park, here in Cali. They've got some moves in there
Anyway, the day went pretty well, no issues, got a move down that's been plaguing me and hit a few trails that I just wasn't confident in doing alone.
The drive home, everything seems fine and I am running errands around town and I notice I have a little bit of drive shaft vibration. More than normal. The more I drive the worse it gets with each start and stop. At first I thought u-joints, they are original, so I get home pop under the van and the drive shaft is solid. My eye glances over at my leaf spring and boy is it messed up. I look back at my drive shaft and yup, the pinion angle is super gnarly.
I followed the modification posted by @Phelan . I did this mod maybe back in October, have done a wheelin' adventure up to Oregon with @13mclean and a few others, spent a few days rallying around holliser hills and Mendocino National Forest with @bikerjosh and in Big Sur with some others. In all and handful of hard days. Overall, I was pleased.
My rig with all my tools, recovery gear, 31" wheels, lift, rear carrier and roof rack, sits right at GVWR, 4960 lbs when I weighed it last with me in it. I don't have an interior build, that's all stock.
When we remove one of those leafs from the pack, to get it to sit 2" over stock we essentially removed the packs ability to carry a load properly. The leaf pack was not designed as a 3+1 rather a 4+1. The extra leaf is not to give it height, instead it's there for load. Removing a spring, essentially reduced it's ability to support the van. Hence, why we end up with 2" of lift rather that the 4"ish when you leave it as a 4+1.
I understand that now, and just want to use this as a word of caution for anyone who has done this mod and for anyone else thinking about doing this mod.
Ask yourself, how much weight are you carrying and what type of terrain you plan on going through.
I thought I had a relatively light rig but the weight adds up quickly...very quickly. If you are running relatively stock and have a parking lot queen, you may be okay. But if you are towing, or offroading I would suggest you do this mod with caution and frankly look to another solution.
I haven't yet decided what my next move is yet. I reached out to dobinson about importing rear leafs designed for our rigs. I need to check back as it's been a few days. Alternatively, re-arching an OEM pack, perhaps adding a leaf in, this would prove to be the most cost effective, or getting a custom pack made. Last I spoke to someone, at a shop in the bay area, this would cost in the $800 range.
I am harder on this van than probably most others except for say the Russians and a few Aussies. I am putting my little shoe box through its paces.
I am still awaiting feedback from Ironman USA on whether or not they will cover this under warranty.
Last week I spent the day at Hollister Hills ORV park, here in Cali. They've got some moves in there
Anyway, the day went pretty well, no issues, got a move down that's been plaguing me and hit a few trails that I just wasn't confident in doing alone.
The drive home, everything seems fine and I am running errands around town and I notice I have a little bit of drive shaft vibration. More than normal. The more I drive the worse it gets with each start and stop. At first I thought u-joints, they are original, so I get home pop under the van and the drive shaft is solid. My eye glances over at my leaf spring and boy is it messed up. I look back at my drive shaft and yup, the pinion angle is super gnarly.
I followed the modification posted by @Phelan . I did this mod maybe back in October, have done a wheelin' adventure up to Oregon with @13mclean and a few others, spent a few days rallying around holliser hills and Mendocino National Forest with @bikerjosh and in Big Sur with some others. In all and handful of hard days. Overall, I was pleased.
My rig with all my tools, recovery gear, 31" wheels, lift, rear carrier and roof rack, sits right at GVWR, 4960 lbs when I weighed it last with me in it. I don't have an interior build, that's all stock.
When we remove one of those leafs from the pack, to get it to sit 2" over stock we essentially removed the packs ability to carry a load properly. The leaf pack was not designed as a 3+1 rather a 4+1. The extra leaf is not to give it height, instead it's there for load. Removing a spring, essentially reduced it's ability to support the van. Hence, why we end up with 2" of lift rather that the 4"ish when you leave it as a 4+1.
I understand that now, and just want to use this as a word of caution for anyone who has done this mod and for anyone else thinking about doing this mod.
Ask yourself, how much weight are you carrying and what type of terrain you plan on going through.
I thought I had a relatively light rig but the weight adds up quickly...very quickly. If you are running relatively stock and have a parking lot queen, you may be okay. But if you are towing, or offroading I would suggest you do this mod with caution and frankly look to another solution.
I haven't yet decided what my next move is yet. I reached out to dobinson about importing rear leafs designed for our rigs. I need to check back as it's been a few days. Alternatively, re-arching an OEM pack, perhaps adding a leaf in, this would prove to be the most cost effective, or getting a custom pack made. Last I spoke to someone, at a shop in the bay area, this would cost in the $800 range.
