Decided to fabricate my own hoops.

DSZ71 · October 16, 2003

Okay, so after speaking with the welder in the maintenance shop here at work, I am gonna fabricate my own dual shock hoops for my truck. I ordered some 1.5" (.120 walled) mild steel tubing, and some 1/8" sheet metal, so I am ready to get down and dirty and make something happen. I am aiming for the use of dual 8" or 10" shocks, either FOX or Bilstein. I plan on making a small plate with welded tabs to bolt onto the upper control arm to use as the lower shock mounts. I am ordering the shock tabs from Fabtech tomorrow, at $2.00 each. All in all, the materials will be about $35.00 and thats a lot better than having them custom fabbed from a Pre-runner fab shop which I was quoted at $350! Heck even if I screw up a few designs, then its only a few dollars lost. Anyways, here is the design I am gonna follow. If all goes well, and I get a good result, I may take orders on more, and believe me, I will not sell them for $350!!

This picture is off of Fly n Hi's website and is a 2002 GMC Sierra 4x4 lifted with a 6" kit. They wanted $350 just for the work, plus you have to buy the shocks from them!

And this is more or less how I will mount the bottom plate to the UCA (this one is from the RCD kit).

tmf6902 · October 16, 2003

Cool....make sure you take some pics of the process.

elboberino · October 16, 2003

That's pretty sweet. I wish I knew how to work with metal or had the tools to. Good luck with it and definitely let us know how it turns out!

DSZ71 · October 16, 2003

Well I can weld, but not as good as this fabrication requires, but the welder at work is willing to help me out. I am doing most of the fab work like cutting and bending the tubes, and some tacks, but he is going to do the final welds (360 degree Mig welding). We have some extra conduit laying around that I might use as a prototype just to get the dimension I want, then when it looks good, then I am gonna make one with the 1.5" steel tubing, and see where that takes me.

kaspar139 · October 16, 2003

That sounds like a fun project! I look forward to seeing the results. good luck on it!

By the way, what will your warranty be

DSZ71 · October 16, 2003

By the way, what will your warranty be

I guarantee that it will looks hella-sick with a pair of Bilstein 7100s. . We'll see how easy they are to build, then I may take some orders.

3BAV · October 16, 2003

I'm interested in this setup as well. I have an Avalanche with a 4" lift on it but have not seen a kit that will work with my truck or is at a reasonable price point.

Keep us informed.

Jon

DSZ71 · October 16, 2003

I'm interested in this setup as well. I have an Avalanche with a 4" lift on it but have not seen a kit that will work with my truck or is at a reasonable price point.

Keep us informed.

Jon

If it does come out good, and I do decide to take orders, then it won't be some outrageous price. Off the top of my head...under $100.

DSZ71 · October 21, 2003

Well just to update everyone on the fabrication process, I got the 1.5" mild steel tubing in today, and the shock tabs should be here hopefully by the end of the week. Now what I need to do is order the shocks I plan on using...the Bilstein 7100 (10" travel), I have found the cheapest from a place called Spencer Low Racing for $129.00 and they have free shipping on $200+ orders, so thats cool. The only crappy thing is that I will be deer hunting this weekend, so I can't do any design work until next week. But I will keep everyone posted.

DSZ71