I'll work on some designs, and when I get a finished idea that I can mok up, I'll post a pic. I agree on the tubular. There is a reason race car roll cages are made of round tube, and not square. Anyhow, I'll do some homework, and then make a final design, and post some progress. If it's a one off design, and works well, who knows, maybe I'll put in for a patent, and sell it "Ride Rite" or something. (yeah reight, like that'll happen). Anyhow, we'll see how it goes. Oh yeah, I guess I should say that with all the input, I have decided on 2" O.D. .250" wall DOM steel round tube. 1/4" plate steel for the mount brackets, and 1/2" plate for the bag perches. Should be more than strong enough, and I should be able to get an approval for the GVW of the bags. Did some looking at some air rides this weekend, and I think my plan will exceed a lot of the newer stuff on the big rigs.

 

do you work this rig very often or just something to play with

 

It's a '55 F-800 with a CAT V-8 under the hood. Of course, it's a toy. By the time it's done, there will be enough shiny stuff on it to blind the astronauts inthe space station, or send singals to a distance galaxy (which ever occurs first). Seriously though, I have no intentions on getting a CDL, so it's gonna be a toy. Plus, if I keep it a "street rod," then I don't have to deal with DOT regs, and can get it registered as a regular motor vehicle. In Oregon, it's like over $200 a year to register a semi. I'd rather go antique, and pay a one time fee of $55 and never have to register it again. I got three kids and a wife, no way in heck I'd be able to pay the insurance and registration fees related to a semi. TOY all the way.

 

Do you have any current pictures you can post up sounds pretty sweet

 

On the hook headin for home. I'll get some newer photos soon.

 

Gonna be making some cosmetic changes real shortly. The tanks are too long, so I'll be pulling them and cutting them down. I'm awaiting for the arrival of a 48" Kenworth or Freightliner flat top sleeper. I'll be ordering some 5' O.D. 8' Mitre cut chrome stacks soon, and will be adding some full tandem aluminum fenders to the rear.

 

I like your 2" round bars. I don't like the end treatement you decided on for the bars. You need some flex/movement/isolation of the bar ends. If you don't go with heim ends, consider poly bushings or rubber bushed ends.

Another consideration would be a 3 link rear suspension. 2 bottom bars and a single top bar off the top center of the rearend housing. Run all 3 bars level and you won't have much roll steer or rearend movement. Should be able to find top links already fabricated at any truck junk yard.

SPark

 

I planned on using poly bushings in the ends. I guess, it's not really a 4-link, more like a 3 link, I planned on running 1 bar on each side from the frame to the axle, tand then a panhard bar from the top of the diff housing to the inside of the frame rail. I was going to run the front and rear panhard bars from opposite sides.

 

Round tubing is stronger than square. It deflects the stress better and is not prone to bending as easily as square.