Suspension for my Crew Cab

in2hotrods · Post by **in2hotrods** » April 28, 2009, 10:14 pm

I started collecting parts for building my shortbed unibody...sold it (without my parts collection). Now I'm building a shortbed crew cab.

My original plan for the rear suspension was an 8.8 explorer disc brake rear with a trailing arm suspension and coil springs with some air bag helper springs.

Now I just parted out a 63 shortbed parts truck and kept the 9" and leaf springs and shackles from it.

I'd like to be able to tow a car on a trailer occasionally...which way should I go.

I still have plans to run the crown vic setup in the front due to the fact that I have it and ease of installation, plus my mod motor should bolt right in when its ready.

I want to be able to use my truck as a light to medium duty truck but not ride like a dump truck. I recently sold my 93 shortbed F150 and that was definitely a complaint of mine...it was light duty and it rode pretty harsh.

So, I guess the real question is this:

"Is the 8.8 from an explorer strong enough to occasionally tow a car on a trailer?"

my66longbed · Post by **my66longbed** » April 28, 2009, 11:06 pm

From my own personal experience I would go with the 9 inch. I have had two explorers with the 8.8 and have lost both of the rears doing light towing. Light towing is hauling no more then a ton on a single axle 16 foot utility trailer.

1961 slickwilly · Post by **1961 slickwilly** » April 28, 2009, 11:23 pm

i peronally hate the 8.8. even though they are readly available they are not ment to tow much other than what they're under for made a medium duty 8.8 that was under 70's model 250's they are the same except have 8 lug axles. I've recently built 5 of them in the last month at work some just pulled a 5x8 trailer with a small lawn mower some tried to use the exploder for a tow truck pulling 20ft trailer i've seen to many with busted spider gears and toothless ring gears to put one under my rig. I'd go with the 9" with some 3:50 gears or similar ratios so you can pull another slick home and get decent milage when your not towing. thats just my two cents

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » April 29, 2009, 7:43 am

I'd go with the 9" as well.

You can estimate the average US-made older car to weigh between 2,800 to 3,600 lbs. A steel, full size car hauling trailer will likely weigh over 2,500 lbs. Using the top of these ranges, you're up into the 6,100 lbs towing weight neighborhood. Assuming 10-15% is tongue weight (610 to 915 lbs) and throw in 1, 2+ hundred lbs of tools, chains, extra parts, spare tires, etc. puts your anticipated payload weight topping 1,000 lbs.

I'd rather not have to be concerned about my tow truck being on the edge of being able to handle the payload and towing capacity. I'd build it to handle the max work task I'd likely try to do. I'd also confirm just what the the load-rating is of my planned wheels and tires. Realize that big 20" bling wheels can't do the work, nor can 50-series rubberband tires. Steel wheels and 6-ply or 8-ply LT tires are up to the task.

JMHO,
BarnieTrk

PFM-64f100 · Post by **PFM-64f100** » April 29, 2009, 8:53 am

You never said it you were doing a F100, F250+ or 4x4 suspension. I voted for 9" unless your going with F250 or bigger suspension and if yes then use the dana rear end that come with those trucks.... If you want rear disc on the Dana look here..

http://ramchargercentral.com/index.php? ... show;id=66

PFM-64f100 · Post by **PFM-64f100** » April 29, 2009, 8:54 am

You never said (or I missed that part, It happens sometimes

) it you were doing a F100, F250+ or 4x4 suspension. I voted for 9" unless your going with F250 or bigger suspension and if yes then use the dana rear end that come with those trucks.... If you want rear disc on the Dana look here..

http://ramchargercentral.com/index.php? ... show;id=66

36truck · Post by **36truck** » April 29, 2009, 9:42 am

Who says that you can't haul with a 8.8 rear. I hauled a 65 F100 from Cody Wy. to Iron Mountain Mi. with my 06 Ranger over 10,000' of elevation. Plus multi more cars & trucks with it & no issues plenty of power.

in2hotrods · Post by **in2hotrods** » April 29, 2009, 10:12 am

36 Truck....thanks for the inspiration. Good to see it can be used that way. I was suspicious.

PFM...I'll be building it as 2wd F100.

36truck · Post by **36truck** » April 29, 2009, 10:29 am

Lots of hot Mustangs still use the 8.8 rear. I think you biggest headache will be fabing all the brackets to pit the 8.8 under it.

in2hotrods · Post by **in2hotrods** » April 29, 2009, 11:30 am

36...The rear that I pulled from the explorer has bars and brackets fom the factory attached to it. I think it had a tow package installed from the factory. My plan was to replace the bars with something custom. I should post a picture.

Roger Carter · Post by **Roger Carter** » April 29, 2009, 4:26 pm

Had a '87 Crown Vic wagon with the factory trailer tow package. The rear end was a 8.8 limited slip with 3.55 gears, again, all factory. Sold the rig a number of years ago with 160,000 plus miles. Never had an issue with the rear end (or any other part).
I didn't do a lot of heavy towing, though I did tow a 16' tandem axle car hauler, both loaded and unloaded, on occassion.

65f100_Thug · Post by **65f100_Thug** » May 2, 2009, 8:01 pm

Without seeing the 8.8 setup,the first thing that came to my mind is...could you have the best of both worlds and use the 9inch with the suspension that is currently attached to the 8.8?

I don't know anything about the 8.8's so I'm not trying to dispute the 8.8 guys at all,but the 9 inch rear end tough enough that hard core chebby guys swallow their pride and use them under their junk.

in2hotrods · Post by **in2hotrods** » May 5, 2009, 11:12 am

65-thug...I suppose that is an option too.

Truckfarmer2 · Post by **Truckfarmer2** » May 6, 2009, 8:51 am

Ford has put the 8.8 rearend in F150's since the 1980's. They must be tough enough for that. Most hotrodders would use the 9 inch and redrill the axles to match the front wheel bolt pattern.