compressing the suspension?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
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From: Midwest
compressing the suspension?
my 1995 f150 is about 3 inches to tall to fit into my garage. Can I use ratchet straps or something else to compress the suspension? I will only be doing this when i need to do major work to the truck,not just the occasional oil change. thanks!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 13
From: New Jersey
There is enough force in the suspension that if you ratchet it down, and hit any kind of bump going into the garage, whatever you clamp/strap things down with may break, resulting in flying things with tremendous force which can kill you, split and peel the truck's body apart, or damage things in the garage. And, when/if that happens, the truck will return to full height and if the cab is right under the garage door and/or garage door frame, you're going to have a nice dent on top and possibly knock the door off the frame or damage the header of the garage door opening.
People break spring compressors all the time with the truck perfectly still on jackstands... because of this I strongly recommend you don't MOVE the truck while racheted down.
People break spring compressors all the time with the truck perfectly still on jackstands... because of this I strongly recommend you don't MOVE the truck while racheted down.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
There is enough force in the suspension that if you ratchet it down, and hit any kind of bump going into the garage, whatever you clamp/strap things down with may break, resulting in flying things with tremendous force which can kill you, split and peel the truck's body apart, or damage things in the garage. And, when/if that happens, the truck will return to full height and if the cab is right under the garage door and/or garage door frame, you're going to have a nice dent on top and possibly knock the door off the frame or damage the header of the garage door opening.
People break spring compressors all the time with the truck perfectly still on jackstands... because of this I strongly recommend you don't MOVE the truck while racheted down.
People break spring compressors all the time with the truck perfectly still on jackstands... because of this I strongly recommend you don't MOVE the truck while racheted down.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Mississippi
Can you just raise the header of the garage opening 4 inches? Whatever way you do it is gonna become a serious pain fast.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 313
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From: Indianapolis
Harbor Freight carries an item which might help. I believe they are called wheel dollies. What about pulling the tires and then setting the hubs in the wheel dollies? Then you could push the truck in the garage and push it around once it was in.
Hunt4Fun
Hunt4Fun
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Midwest
well,the problem with the dollies or using just rims with no tires is that the driveway going to my garage is on a hill,so I can't change the tires or sit the truck on dollies and push it in the garage. it will have to be driven about 50 feet downhill. that is why I was thinking I could just compress the suspension while the truck was setting outside the garage and back it in. I might look into changing the header height. the garage door itself is a few inches above the header,might be enough room to rework the wood without moving the door,I will look into it.