i got to carry 50 gallons of water, my generator, pressure washer, shop vac, small compersor, tons of detailing crap, etc.

My question is, would you trust a flip kit to hold it?

50 gallons x 8 lbs is 400 lbs or so. plus all my other stuff.

I don't know.. i'm considering a hitch but i'm trying to be cheap until i get this job done and know it's going to continue

 

I dont see why the rear suspension wouldnt hold it.
you are still using the stock leafs, and if your kit wont hold the weight i would hate to drive on that!

The flip kit should hold up to what the stock leaf is rated for at least. 800lbs or so shouldnt compromise its integrity.

Now bottoming out is a different story. may want to check your clearance from axle to bump stop once its loaded.

 

Shoot i'll probably be riding on the bumpstops now that you say that. In a couple weeks i'm pulling the flip kit out for 3" drop leafs and 2" shackles.. maybe i'll put bags in then

 

You can still run bags with a flip, McGaughys makes one that sits behind the axle tube. It's for their drop leafs but you can add a 3" spacer that's made for lifted trucks to bridge the gap. Dropping a 04-08 F150 that normally has 7" of clearance by 5" will give you 2", whether you flip the axle or drop with leafs/shackle. The airbags give you back the "upwards push" to keep everything off the axle. Arca ex on this forum has a similar setup if you search for it.

 

My friend has a flip kit, notched, and helper bag setup on his early 90s GMC and he tows 5,000+ pounds with it. Its his tow vehicle for his wheelin' rig.

Also most compact trucks are set up "flipped" from the factory and they usually have a decent payload and tow rating

 

I'm getting rid of the flip kit either way. It's a djm and it's a pos. Believe me i specialize in suspension and i don't feel like messing with it anymore. My axle is off center a half inch, and i have vibrations i can't get rid of. We've been through this before.. search my posts

I'm going with leafs and shackle hoping to cut down on torque twist.

Pat do you think i'll be alright? It's about an hour drive each way

 

Yea, I've heard there are flip kits out there that aren't very good. I have a Belltech flip and 2" spindles with a 1" coil strut drop in the front. My suspension goals were to have an average drop of 4" with the factory springs and it pays off by giving the same suspension feel as stock, but at a lower altitude. The Belltech flip is rock solid and surprisingly affordable. All the other stuff you have to buy for the rest of the suspension, not so affordable.

 

i also want to ride on a factory sprung ride,
how much did the front spindles run you if you dont mind me asking.
Can you post up some shots of how the truck sits.

 

Got any vibration problems with it?

I have the control arms upfront and i'm keeping those in.

 

I don't have any vibrations, I think this maybe because I have the factory one piece aluminum driveshaft. The Belltech flip also gives you a 1/2" spacer that raises the aft tranny mount to optimize the driveline angle, the rear axle brackets have the correct angle built in.

I did this drop almost two years ago so going on memory- the spindles were around $600 , the airbags $300, the front struts $150. I can't remember what the flip or the rear drop shocks were but it wasn't too bad.

 

One other thing that adds to the cost, you have to run a minimum wheel size of 20" to use the drop spindles, which I already had so I was set there.

If you have a flat on the front you have to put the factory spare on the rear and then shift the good rear wheel to the front. This happened to me recently on the interstate when I was taking my wife to the airport and she was sweating bullets that the flight would be missed. I didn't know it but she timed me during the change (she made the flight) and said that I did the double swap in 10 minutes. It's funny what adrenalin and fear of being rear ended on the I-state will do to motivate you to super human levels (har)!

 

will you be alright with what? Sorry i lost your train of thought......

 

without adding the airbags...on a flip kit, a box of kleenex will bottom you out. a full tank of gas on 04+ ford the flip with stock springs will bottom on on moderate bumps with an empty bed. add the bags and you add your max weight limits, but you also add money...just get new leafs and skip the flip

 

I was asking if you think it would be alright to run my truck like it is with all the weight for this one time.

I don't really have much of a choice though, unless i put a hitch on this weekend and put the water tank on our trailer. That is not something i want to do.

 

I hope you don't have a LS rear end.

That'll blow it to pieces