Ok I wrecked my truck (76 F-250) so more than likely she'll become the full time trail rig. So I'm thinking of bobing the bed just behind the rear wheels and moving the axles together about 4". Any ideas for a good flexy suspension? I'm thinking 1/4 eliptical in the rear and keep the full springs (leafs) up front.

You could convert the front end to coils, with wristed radius arms. That's what I am going to do when I do my SAS from the Twin I Beam. Try inboarding the rear springs too, if you don't go with the 1/4 eliptical. Are you going to be moving the front axle towards the back when you say move them together 4"? I personaly would, and am going to stick with just moving the rear forwards. Moving the front just seems like a bit to much work.
Well those are my ideas.

Exactly. Go to the radius arm front and wrist it. Then either do the quarter elip system or do a 4 link w/ coils. Why are you narrowing your axles? Wider is better!

I think he's talking about shortening the wheelbase...not width

I shortened mine to about 104", I also pushed the front axle forward a few inches for a better approach angle. Has 1/4 ellip. in rear and sum custom wristed arm up front....which is in need of sum softer front springs

FordPwr: What kind of rig do you have? I am going to be moving the rear axle on my F 150 forwards. (Only because it is a club cab, and has the wheelbase of a long bed.) I am trying to figure out what a good distance to move it would be. Any suggestions?
Note: I am going to be inboarding the shackles when I move everything forwards.

I'll probably leave the front end alone as far as placement. I'll move the rear axle forward 4" since I'll be bobbing the bed anyways. Not sure if I want to convert to coils up front though, to much work. I'm thinking if I get some nationals with a higher # leaf count and then do some other work I can get plenty of flex out of the front end.

Don't do anything to the suspension yet. start by just bobbing the bed or flat bedding it and add lockers if you don't already have them. Going quarter eliptic costs money and it gets you farther up the ramp but not much farther down the trail. I am not saying it doesn't help on the trail but it just isn't the best trail performance per dollar until you have true lockers front and rear low enough gearing, and good approach and departure angles that can't be improved without going coils or 1/4 eliptic.

Yeah I wasn't going to go 1/4 eliptical straight off the bat, just considering it for the long run of things. Bobbing the bed and shortening the wheelbase was going to be the first thing.

Why don't you just mount the springs under the frame instead of outside the frame. This will give you a little lift and quite a bit more flex.

Originally posted by big4294x4
Why don't you just mount the springs under the frame instead of outside the frame. This will give you a little lift and quite a bit more flex.

don't need more lift, just flex

If you put it under the frame it would make it a bit more tippy. You can get the same flex with a bit longer spring and better stability by putting them outside the frame.