Hey guys, its been way too busy around home here of late, not to mention how hot LOL. Just getting around to posting a few PIC's of the reverse shackle mod I have done to the Great white elephant.

I wound up moving the front axle forward 2" also when doing this, which made an already long wheel base truck way long LOL. This rig do pull trailers really well though. Have a look see if you have the time...The first one here is with the grill guard and winch mounted up after the shackle reversal. I added the high lift jack mount, shovel and axe hangers and a long 6' solid steel pry bar holder to the grill guard.

The next one here is the view of the shackle from the back side. All hangers and shackles made from 3/8" flatbar. Large 2" rubber bushing pressed into shackle where I welded in a 1" thick wall pipe for a bushing housing.

Next, the new bilstien 5125 shocks I put on all around, will be adding a second set all around maybe this fall if time allows.

This next one is of the front hanger and how I used it to weld braces for the front grill guard as well as the winch mount. Really does stiffen them up for just about any kind of impact LOL.

The last one for now is a side view of the swivel shackle hanger on the back side of the axle. Lenghten the driveshaft with a new balanced assembly to fit the longer stretched out wheelbase. I have this all on the truck now for a few months and have worked the truck pretty hard, all seems to be pretty well settled in and doing quite well. Hope everyone enjoys a look see at the rear shackle mod I did and let me say what a much better ride.

 

Forgot to mention The new Nitto 295 tires lost about 2mpg when I put them on, these are real close to, if not the same as Toyo's, at least look alike. Not real eat up with that now with fuel getting to expensive. I run about 55 pounds air in the front and 80 in the back to make them stand up tall LOL. I have hauled quite a few truck bed full of rock this past month and the extra air was great to have LOL...The better ride I got from the reverse shackle mod I took away when I aired up the tires that hard, oh well. Look forward to getting a Different brand of tire even if they only roll 30K miles. These don't work for me. Sure wish the tire manufactures would start posting the rolling resistance of the different tires they make and for each size.

 

hey Rowdy, lookin good! that grill guard is killer. i'd been wonderin where you were, looks like your keepin busy though. Awesome job!

 

I think I have a spare kitchen sink somewhere that you can bolt on to the front of that truck too!!!

 

Nice job! Love that grill guard and the shovel is a very nice touch. Glad to see you back.
One thing though, you forgot to install the cowcatcher.