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Commercial suspension lift?

Jeckyl1920

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Jul 31, 2018
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226
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Riverside, CA
We have a pete road truck converted to dump truck. The beast is so low and flexible that it flattens the fuel tanks a good 3 inches.

Is there such a thing as a commercial offroad lift? What is good and how much would it run?
 

crane operator

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sw missouri
Going to have to know what the suspension is, and go from there. Just a few thoughts, if its air ride 4 bag, just adjust the leveling valve to get the bags up a ways.

If its running low pro 22.5 rubber, get some taller rubber put on it, tall 24.5 or 22.5.

There's no way to stiffen up the frame flex, without going to the work of double frame.
 

DMiller

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Road tractors do not situate well to Dump Service conversion, frames are too springy, suspensions too soft, sit too low. Know a good many converted that hauled asphalt for paving contractors but did not have to do much off road. And just spacing axles up sets off a whole lot of bad geometry concerns.
 

Jeckyl1920

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226
Location
Riverside, CA
Road tractors do not situate well to Dump Service conversion, frames are too springy, suspensions too soft, sit too low. Know a good many converted that hauled asphalt for paving contractors but did not have to do much off road.
Yes, ours is actually an asphault truck, but we have to take grindings and such to the landfill periodically.

Honestly, i hate it for paving operations. Between the soft chassis and the lack of suspension dump valve, the bed leans out a good foot or so just from moderate road crown with a full load. It definitely makes you pucker until the load breaks.
 

DMiller

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Can consider smaller Diameter tanks, going to a Single Tank mounted back and higher on frame, still will be concerns with other mechanisms dragging when do not want. Setting up a dump valve will save you from laying it over from a bridged load, may want to reconsider the truck in general.
 

Jeckyl1920

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Jul 31, 2018
Messages
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Location
Riverside, CA
Going to have to know what the suspension is, and go from there. Just a few thoughts, if its air ride 4 bag, just adjust the leveling valve to get the bags up a ways.

If its running low pro 22.5 rubber, get some taller rubber put on it, tall 24.5 or 22.5.

There's no way to stiffen up the frame flex, without going to the work of double frame.
I can't raise the bags, the pintle hook is a good 2+ inch higher than the other truck, which would make the trailers even worse, and the lack of dump valve would make dumping heavy loads really stressful on the bags.

Have full sized tires. No shorties.
 

Jeckyl1920

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Jul 31, 2018
Messages
226
Location
Riverside, CA
Can consider smaller Diameter tanks, going to a Single Tank mounted back and higher on frame, still will be concerns with other mechanisms dragging when do not want. Setting up a dump valve will save you from laying it over from a bridged load, may want to reconsider the truck in general.
Agreed. Our mechanic says he cant do dump valves...... I'm not experienced in semi truck mods, or even much general mechanics on semi trucks, lots of gasser knowledge, but its adding up quickly.(I'm very engineer and mechanically minded)

If you could give me a general parts list and quick breakdown for the job, that would be cool. He claims the electric valves on these bags won't dump('15 peterbuilt? Have an older one with really slow dump valves on it as well.). I would be perfectly happy doing it myself if I already understand the job.
 

Jeckyl1920

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Riverside, CA
Oh, I forgot. They looked into smaller tanks and fell out of their chairs at the price(I told them they were pricey....).
 

DMiller

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If cannot do dump valves I would be eliminating the machine, is an accident looking to happen, air bags do NOT care as to left or right being a load holder, only interested in maintaining ride height on the control valve where side to side means NOTHING, setting it on the blocks is the ONLY safe way to dump a load on these.
 

RZucker

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Agreed. Our mechanic says he cant do dump valves...... I'm not experienced in semi truck mods, or even much general mechanics on semi trucks, lots of gasser knowledge, but its adding up quickly.(I'm very engineer and mechanically minded)

If you could give me a general parts list and quick breakdown for the job, that would be cool. He claims the electric valves on these bags won't dump('15 peterbuilt? Have an older one with really slow dump valves on it as well.). I would be perfectly happy doing it myself if I already understand the job.

Dump valve is easy. Run the line from the leveling valve to the cab and back to the bags using a flip valve to shut off and exhaust the bags. It's actually a faster system than most remote dump valves. You also want to make sure your bags have stop pads in them. Not all of them do.
 

Jeckyl1920

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Riverside, CA
Dump valve is easy. Run the line from the leveling valve to the cab and back to the bags using a flip valve to shut off and exhaust the bags. It's actually a faster system than most remote dump valves. You also want to make sure your bags have stop pads in them. Not all of them do.
Looks simple enough, and they sell the new style dash toggles. Seems the whole job will only be about $100 in switch, fittings and hose.

I'll have to check the bags, as this setup was designed around no dump valves.
 

RZucker

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Oh, I forgot. They looked into smaller tanks and fell out of their chairs at the price(I told them they were pricey....).
I had the same tank issue on a Kenworth dump, I got two 50 gallon step tanks and brackets from an International S-1900 for nearly free. Drilled some new holes and had miles of tank clearance. 100 gallons of fuel did everything we needed for a day.
 

pushbroom

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Feb 4, 2017
Messages
108
Location
Saskatchewan
If its a 15 peterbilt, is it a 567/579 model?
They use electric solinoids to control the air accessories. Very hard to believe it didnt come with a dump valve from factory.
Proper way is to install the solinoid, wire it to the chassis node, program the cecu and install a switch. It can be programmed to dump the bags when the pto is engaged.
Easy way is to just run an air line to an old style air rocker.
Steer axle can be spaced up and longer u bolts installed, they come at various heights from the factory. Suspension should be air trac, but being converted could have low air or flex air. Worst case low low air.
Want to post the last 6 of the s/n and i can see whats on it
 

td25c

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Feb 14, 2009
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indiana
Can consider smaller Diameter tanks, going to a Single Tank mounted back and higher on frame, still will be concerns with other mechanisms dragging when do not want. Setting up a dump valve will save you from laying it over from a bridged load, may want to reconsider the truck in general.

Spot on DMiller !

One additional gadget we added was dual port & starboard side dump valve's so the driver could adjust the suspension for the slope .

.http://www.heavytruckforums.com/showthread.php?263-Some-Holmes-750-action&p=2462&viewfull=1#post2462
 

Jeckyl1920

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Jul 31, 2018
Messages
226
Location
Riverside, CA
If its a 15 peterbilt, is it a 567/579 model?
They use electric solinoids to control the air accessories. Very hard to believe it didnt come with a dump valve from factory.
Proper way is to install the solinoid, wire it to the chassis node, program the cecu and install a switch. It can be programmed to dump the bags when the pto is engaged.
Easy way is to just run an air line to an old style air rocker.
Steer axle can be spaced up and longer u bolts installed, they come at various heights from the factory. Suspension should be air trac, but being converted could have low air or flex air. Worst case low low air.
Want to post the last 6 of the s/n and i can see whats on it
I'll get the numbers on monday(if I remember).

I believe the older truck uses the solenoid, and it takes 10 minutes to dump...... That's not the business. I want something fast, and likely it will have to be cheap for me to get it. It would be nice to not have to low gear crank the skip off the pintle hook as well.
 

td25c

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indiana
Air suspension on a dump truck is a disaster waiting to happen IMHO, whatever the suspension height. We've been through this same argument a few times over the years. "Proper" tippers have something like this under the back end - either alternative is acceptable. The old adage of polishing a turd springs to mind.

View attachment 197497View attachment 197499

Agree Nige .

Cant imagine what it would be like spreading stone with air suspension on the C-60 Chevy .

Probably be calling the Old Man to bring the wrecker . LOL :D

 

Jeckyl1920

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Messages
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Location
Riverside, CA
It's been a busy couple weeks.... here's the VIN.
 

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pushbroom

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Feb 4, 2017
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Location
Saskatchewan
Truck is a 2013 386 ex-werner truck
Super light spec, nothing on this truck is desirable for a dump truck
10speed trans. Flex air suspension 3.42 ratio 40 rears
Flex air is about the worst suspension for that application

No dump valve like you said, didn't even know the truck could be ordered without one.

Pete part numbers to install a factory dump valve are as follows
08-03315 ride height valve with dump
G90-6022-009BN Air rocker switch
Couple 1/4 male pipe to 1/4 synflex 90 degree fittings
30 ish feet of 1/4 synflex
A generic switch and valve could be bought for alot less then the pete ones
 

DMiller

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Make for damn certain the Pete rebound blocks are bolted on the frame above the banjo housings over the air leaf packs for something to bottom out on.
 
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