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Well, you would have to put holes through your bed, or change the angle of the shock significantly, which would change the length of travel. I agree for any serious off roading the shock mounts will easily get hung up. Be the first and share it with us.
If the shock mounts were on top of the axle tube you will get wheel hop real bad. To lessen wheel hop you give the weaker component (the shock) a mechanical advantage. This is done by mounting the shock below the axle tube, by lowering the bracket 3" the shock gets a 6" advantage (3" for the bracket and the shock is 3" longer).
As for them getting hung up offroad. For me personnally I have never been stuck because of one of them hanging up they are small enough to cut through trees and slid over rocks. I would bet 99% of vehicles that get hung up offroad is on the diff #1 and the frame (highcentered) #2
ironically i got hung up on one of my shock hangers this past weekend out in the barstow desert hung up on a rock and had to back down for fear of ripping it clean off, but drj yours look like they hang even lower than mine, maybe the model year has something to do with that. But id be interested if someone had a kit for that also... but could you explain the reason its on the bottom of the tube again? i dont get how wheel hop is increased by raising the shock point 3 inches or how anything changes for that matter, couldnt you just use a shorter shock at a upper mounting point that is closer to verticle than the standard location?
its finned aircraft aluminum - holds 2 more quarts than stock - has a magnetic dipstick AND a plug for a sensor (if you want)...i have their trans cover too!!
i have a significant # of friends who wheel competitively and they all have moved that little bugger for clearance...its certainly a better design to NOT have something small and fragile like that dangling down...right?
On my '97 they are both in front of the axle, now IIRC Ford changed that in '99 and made them opposite (1 in front 1 in back) I might be wrong but I thought they staggered them. Anyway, if they are staggered why not move them up so they are physically mounted on the front side and back side of the axle tube. It looks like you'd only need to move it up about 2". I'd also swear mine doesn't stick down that bad either.
BTW, I also have a magHytec tranny pan, I want to get a diff cover next time i need to change the fluid.
i shot the pic from above (so - maybe thats why it looks funny) - i installed the diff cover and loved it so much i had to go back for the DOUBLE DEEP trans pan too!!
as for the shock tabs - sounds like the jury is still out...hmmmmm.