Triangulated 4-Link Pickup
 

Hey guys,

Just pondering over my lunch break.

Have any of you had any experience towing a trailer or hauling using a triangulated 4-link.

I'm looking at building a 57 chev pu. I can't build right now but I can plan. I want to have great drive-ability (if I want to drive it to work I can) but the reason I ask about the towing. I've got a 20' bass boat & it would be pretty neat to drag that to the lake behind a cool old p/u.

Let me know y'alls thoughts.

Truck Arm style, not 4-link tho'.
http://www.hotrodstohell.net/truckar...karm_index.htm
http://www.hotrodstohell.net/catalog/catalog.htm

Do not see any reason you could not tow with a triangulated 4 bar set up. (or a 3/4 bar with panhard). It is neat to tow with an oldie. I towed a 15' Terry Bass boat with a flat head powered 34 pick up in the early 70s. The 36 pickup in my avatar towed an 18 ft Glastron Bass boat from Miami Fl to Austin Tx and many fishing trips since. It also towed it's Coupe Cousin in the avatar from Oklahoma City to Austin Tx and Austin to East Tenn. Wish I had some pictures of either of those trips. Having revealed all this, it had leaf springs and air shocks under it. When I put the present triangulated 4 bar under it, I did not put a hitch on it but would not hesitate to do so!!

Trees

Trees,

That is the primary reason I want to do this, just for the coolness factor. I also want a great ride too.

I was just wondering about the spring rate for the coilovers...if I set them up to handle with an empty bed then I would get too much droop with a 2500# boat. If I set them up for the boat then would they be to hard for normal driving?

My Z71 doesn't have that problem, but then again it is a leaf spring setup. Hmmmm

You should not have more than 150 lbs of tongue weight so it should not matter. Hooking up your boat should be the same as you standing on the back bumper.If your springs can't handle you on the back bumper they are probably too light for normal driving. JMO.

I will stab at your 57 weight at about 3700 pounds with about 40 % of that riding on the rear wheels. In that case, you would be looking at about 1,400 pounds being supported by the rear axle or 700 pounds on each side. If you used 350 pound springs on your coil overs, they would depress 2 inches with an empty truck. The 150# tongue weight would only depress it slightly over a half inch which would not be a factor. Air bags would be ideal for what you are looking for and they work great on a Triangulated 4 bar set up. Recommend you look at and talk with the guys at Air Ride Technology for some good detailed info on what you are trying to do. They sell both coil over and air bags and should steer you toward what will work best.

Trees