Well, I hope to have pictures of all of the following available in the next week or so. But I've asked a lot of questions about various mods, and over the past few months, I've installed the following:

1. Rear airbag inserts in the coil springs, plus related inflation hoses.

2. Set of 3 rear red clearance lights above bumper and below/behind rear door.

3. Roof-mounted clearance lights (5 amber ones).

4. A set of Hella (500?) 6" round driving lights on the front bumper, pointed forward for driving light duty, wired to come on with the high-beams.

5. A set of Hella FF75 1"x5" driving/fog lights mounted in the lower air dam openings, angled slightly to the sides, as my ditch lights.

6. Ye ole radar detector, mounted at the top of the windshield and wired into the overhead console, to come on/shut off with the key.

7. A set of strobe lights installed in the tail lights and turn signals (used when escorting equipment on the farm).

8. One very, very happy driver.

9. One burned out heated driver's seat.

I need to replace the heater element in that driver's seat...but will probably wait until I have some more free time later this summer. As I mentioned, I'll try to get some pics up soon.

 

What brand strobe lights did you use for the tail lights/turn signals? I use my truck for surveying frequently and some strobes would be nice.

 

What type of air bags did you install in the rear springs? Where they hard to install?

I occasionally load a couple a hundred pounds of crap (cement, plywood,etc..) and would like something like helper springs.

Thanks
Steve

 

Several trucks ago, I had a 95 F-150 4x4 with a stick and a 300I-6. Great truck. Anyhow, at that time, I looked at strobe systems available and found a website called Strobes N More I e-mailed the guy a couple times, and ended up getting a 60 watt 6 head NOVA Superpak Kit with 4 lights (2 amber and 2 clear) and the Rotary control switch. The switch allows me to flip on only the front or rear, and control the flash rate and brightness. There are 2 brightness modes (I tend to use the brighter mode all of the time) and I think 4 flash modes (constant flash back and forth, and then a number of flashes on each side then the other side (i.e. 2 on the L, 2 on the R, 2 on the L, etc.)). Since then, I've installed the same system in the F-150, a ranger I had after it, and my current Expy. It works great, and I love it. Never had a single problem. The guy who runs strobesnmore is very helpful, and since then, I've ordered and installed similar systems for 4 other trucks (including my brother's Chevy K2500). I ordered a 6 head system because I wasn't sure if I'd want to add some standalone flash heads in addition to the hidden strobes at some point, but I've been pleased with my hidden strobes thus far.

On the F-150 and ranger, I mounted clear strobes in the colored turn signals up front, and amber strobes in the clear reverse light housing in back, thus flashing amber in all 4 directions (which is relatively legal). On the Expy, I have the amber strobes in the cornering lights up front (flashing amber) and the white strobes in the rear brake light housing (flashing red) as there is not enough room in the reverse light housing on the Expy. Not quite as legal, but I use the lights with discretion (i.e. don't impersonate a police officer), and have never had a problem. I find police in my area are very appreciative of farmers trying to be safe by escorting their equipment...Never had a problem. Of course, I use them at other times too (stop at an auto accident, flip on the strobes, etc.).

I mounted my strobe powerpak under the middle row seat. Mounted on the floor, it is out of the way, low enough to allow the seat to fold flat, and is relatively centrally located (which makes it easy to run the 15' power cables to each corner). Initially, I wired a cigarette lighter plug to the system, and plugged it into the cig lighter at the base of the center console in the back when I needed it. This was very cheap and easy to do...but after frigging with the plug whenever I needed lights, I decided to permanently mount the switch at the base of the dash on the right hand side of the driver's area...right next to the center console (and immediately to the R of my trailer brake controller). It's within easy reach, is out of the way (never hit it with my legs) and within sight while driving (the switches light up when the strobes are on, so I don't go driving around with strobes on when they shouldn't be).

I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have.

 

Air bags...well, after doing a lot of research, I found that I could get a set of Firestone Ride-Rite bags from my local NAPA for $72, including tax. That was the best price I found anywhere.

Installation was very easy, and they work as advertised. I thought a long time about where I would put the valvestems used to inflate the bags, and ended up finding, at the outside on the bottom/rear of the rear bumper, a small (3/8") hole on each side of the bumper. I mounted the valvestems there. Easy to run the air lines, easy to access, and out of the way. I suppose they could be knocked off if you were in bumper deep mud...but I think you'd have bigger problems then.

In retrospect, the only change I'd make is to run both bags into a Tee fitting and have only 1 valvestem to fill both bags, and equalize the pressure in them. I've also found that keeping the recommended minimal pressure in them at all times (10-15psi) actually makes my Expy ride a bit nicer than stock...but don't tell the LLS guys that!

 

howmuch were the strobes?

 

I saw that! Now you are a believer about how good the air suspension can make the Expy ride and handle! I've made a believer out of a few performance rally drivers too when I caught up to them in a race.
You do have an advantage in that you can at will raise the rear if youi find it dragging in mud or debris or dropoffs. The stock LLS can only raise an inch and then only in 4x4Low.

I had the same system you have back in 1972 on the rear of a Volvo 145 stationwagon. The MGB's in my sports car club wondered how I could keep up with them on cross country rally!

 

Frizz,

On second look, I have a 90Watt 6 head system.

He's got 'em on sale for $250 right now...I bought mine in a group purchase with a few guys I know and got a little better deal than that, with the switch and all.

 

TDS,

Ideally, I would have an on-board compressor and dash-mounted controls...but right now, I just have valvestems mounted on the rear bumper that get filled from an air compressor in the shop. I think the on-board air would be a great option...and one that I will likely pursue in the future.

 

I'd love to see pics of that. Was it a PITA to do?

 

I'll get the pics up this weekend (I hope). It wasn't too bad. I had to remove the center roof console, both of the A-Pillar covers and grab handles, and the sun visors, and then drop the roofliner in front. The scariest part was drilling the holes in the roof. Measure 25 times....drill once. I was scared to death that I would be misaligned, crooked, unevenly spaced, etc. But it worked out fine and is even waterproof ! :-) (a low goal to shoot for, undoubtedly).

 

Yeah, the drilling through the roof is what worries me too...

Looking forward to the pics!

 

Any Pictures?

 

I took a bunch of pictures, but there are 2 problems.

1. The Expy was very dirty. I need to wash it and retake ;-D

2. I tried 2 different free picture hosts and was unable to get either one to take the pics.

I'll try again VERY SOON.

 

Farmlaw:

I too am considering the air bag route... I am curious if you looked at the Air Ride model with compressor? and if so, did your choice for the firestone system come down primarily to price or was there some technical issue involved?

I pull a cmall camping trailer, and with 60k miles am starting to see some sag in the rear.

Finally, do you have any experience with Hellwig sway bars? Thought I might do that too.

Thanks,