Lowered Suspension Questions

JessEm · August 21, 2014, 12:01 AM

I'm not having much luck finding info on lowering the suspension. I tried search words like lowrider, dropped suspension and lowering kits.

Maybe this topic hasn't been covered? ... Basically, for starters, I'm just wondering what I'm getting into? And what changes will be required? I really like the look in this pic.

acenjason · August 21, 2014, 02:50 AM

Cool:)

acenjason · August 21, 2014, 02:52 AM

That does look cool) I was wondering about installing air bags into my suspension. I think I saw a nice bag set up on OZ's pics. I want to put them on to be able to level easy and I don't see why a person couldn't set it up to make Winny drop!:0 It is an interesting idea. You should ask The Great and Powerful Oz about it. It looked like it was installed into the existing leaf shock set up.......

LJ-TJ · August 21, 2014, 08:55 AM

If it were me I think I'd try to get hold of the Ring Brothers to see if I could get the name of the chap they bought there rig from. Who knows maybe they'd tell you. Never hurts to ask. What's the worse they could say? NO. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/swap-insanity-ringbrothers-1972-winnebago-happy-camper/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=swap-insanity-ringbrothers-1972-winnebago-happy-camper

Mytdawg · August 21, 2014, 10:42 AM

I know these guys make a lot of the components used in lowered cars. http://www.airliftcompany.com/

legomybago · August 21, 2014, 12:21 PM

Im going to take a guess.....axle flip in the rear, and custom dropped front spindles built. I really dont think you can purchase anything to lower a Winnebago Hm? Custom stuff

DonD · August 21, 2014, 01:03 PM

Plus you won't need an entry step!

Oz · August 21, 2014, 04:53 PM

Quote from: acenjason on August 21, 2014, 02:52 AM
That does look cool) I was wondering about installing air bags into my suspension. I think I saw a nice bag set up on OZ's pics. I want to put them on to be able to level easy and I don't see why a person couldn't set it up to make Winny drop!:0 It is an interesting idea. You should ask The Great and Powerful Oz about it. It looked like it was installed into the existing leaf shock set up.......

The front air bags have not been available for a few years now. The rear ones fit with just enough clearance that you have to be careful not to put in too little air. I know they wouldn't work with a dropped suspension.

Everything going into these lowered RVs is custom work and or compatible part selection from other vehicles. It's nearly new territory. As TJ and others suggested, best thing to do is to contact the source. I'm sure someone will create a website/group for this special interest RV customization.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 21, 2014, 05:36 PM

My question would be...why they heck would you want to lower a Winnebago (or any RV or truck for that matter) if its going to be used for anything other than show purposes? Makes no sense to me.

Kev

Oz · August 21, 2014, 05:52 PM

My best guess would be the same as why climb to the top of mt Everest? Just to do it. Personally, I think it's ridiculous trying to make old RVs look like tuner cars. Only a few lend themselves to it, really, but IMO, definitely not Winnebagos. And it needs to be done right.

The Starcraft is one.

[smg id=6706]

JessEm · August 21, 2014, 10:04 PM

The same reason you would lower ANY vehicle... If you have to ask...

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder.

Thanks all for the input. Interesting stuff.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 22, 2014, 08:10 AM

It wasn't meant to be snarky, so if it came out that way, my apologies. However, unless its going to be a show vehicle that never goes off road (any campground that isn't paved) or over really bad roads or speed bumps, you end up limiting where you can go, and how much you can carry. When you lower a vehicle you take away a LOT of its overall weight carrying capacity. Now add in the skirts that hang down from bottom sides of an RV, and you've just reduced your clearance over obstacles to next to nothing. I say go for it if you aren't going to use it much as a camper, or its only going to be a pavement pounder. But if you plan on camping in most campgrounds, the end result isn't going to make you very happy.

Kev

acenjason · August 22, 2014, 09:10 AM

Like low rider cars, I would bet that that above mentioned and pictured RV was dropped using air bags. Since those systems use an on board compresser they are easily raised and lowered depending on clearance needs. And I bet that dude has an easy time leveling. I think lowered Winny's look cool:)

Oz · August 22, 2014, 10:09 AM

It would be interesting to see a diagram and list of exactly what they do and use to do this.

Thenoob · August 22, 2014, 11:58 AM

Bumping this

Just bought a 73 d19, want to fab adjustable airbags in it. It all starts if dodge built these on an existing van/truck chassis which is what we would need to know, then we can look to source the parts.

Thenoob · August 22, 2014, 03:03 PM

So these dodges were apparently built on a m300 chassis as another member just filled me in on.

Should make it a bit easier to source info/kit etc

acenjason · August 23, 2014, 02:55 AM

I looked into switching one of my old dump trucks to air ride. The kit for a Pete 379 was pretty steep. Its a much heavier set up but still......

LJ-TJ · August 23, 2014, 07:51 AM

Well I kind a like the idea of lowering one of these old girls as well as I like the sun visor. I always wanted to hot rod or customize one of these old girls. Been trying to find a nice set of Bud wheels like the ones the big rigs. I think you could have a blast dressing one of these old girls up. Have at her mate. Lets see what you can come up with. She's a nice looking rig.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 24, 2014, 04:02 PM

Just not my speed. I'm more about lifting them and converting them to 4x4...lol! I'd LOVE to see a Monster Truck D-18 or the like, eyebrows and all!

Kev

M & J · August 24, 2014, 06:23 PM

Us too Kev. Theres buggyriding trips we wont go on because the rv is too low to get in on the roads. We're not sleeping in a tent again.

Oz · August 24, 2014, 09:19 PM

Ok, back to lowering.

Thenoob · August 24, 2014, 10:47 PM

Slam the piss out of it
Imagine if a grandpa had to get in there you could lay frame and he can just walk right in

Thenoob · August 26, 2014, 11:59 AM

Anyways

I sent those guys an email asking to explain what they went for up front for bags, I can't find an air ride kit for a dodge m300 or parts so they had to have stumbled on something that fit

JessEm · August 26, 2014, 01:23 PM

Quote from: Thenoob on August 26, 2014, 11:59 AM
Anyways

I sent those guys an email asking to explain what they went for up front for bags, I can't find an air ride kit for a dodge m300 or parts so they had to have stumbled on something that fit

+1. You beat me to it. .. To be honest, this project is still down the list a ways.

Thenoob · February 09, 2015, 01:52 PM

Bumping because I'm still searching for chassis fit for airbags... But in the meantime: