Reduce rake by adding weight in JT bed

[WILDHOBO]

So you are going to

1) make your truck handle worse.
2) accelerate worse
3) get worse fuel economy
4) wear its suspension faster
5) create the added hassle of having to remove 250 lbs in order to access the rear of the bed. (the most useful part in day to day use)
6) have to adjust your headlights for the new rake and have them pointing into the ground when you temporarily remove the weight.
7) consume about half of your remaining load capacity once you put 2 people in the truck

All to subtly change the look of the truck??

Uh. no.

I still do't get it. Its like a skinny teen age girl with body dysmorphia who sees a fat girl when she looks in the mirror. Rake Rake Rake. Oh My God. My truck has "the rake".

I like the rake. It’s there for a reason. When I lifted it, I put different springs in the rear to get the rake back. It performs amazingly off road for it. Great departure angle and better on steep climbs.

Sponsored

 

[dcmdon]

I like the rake. It’s there for a reason. When I lifted it, I put different springs in the rear to get the rake back. It performs amazingly off road for it. Great departure angle and better on steep climbs.

People are obsessed with hating it.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/search/1725922/?q=rake&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[WILDHOBO]

People are obsessed with hating it.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/search/1725922/?q=rake&c[title_only]=1&o=date

I know. It confuses me. All the level ones sag when the beds are loaded, or just with a heavy matching spare.

 

[timwiller]

in the 60's a little rake was cool. i did it to a 61 falcon wagon and it looked good. don't plan on touching my Willys Sport.

 

[Jason Oliver]

I have never understood this desire to "level" a pickup truck. Looks too much like a cousin to the carolina squat crap.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I like a little rake, but stock was a bit much for me.

 

[Patrick Montgomery]

It works great and it is things that I normally would load farther forward ....so I just push it forward if I need room or load on top ...

 

[ecidiego]

I have never understood this desire to "level" a pickup truck. Looks too much like a cousin to the carolina squat crap.

We call that the California lift. People acting like their Ford Rangers are trophy trucks with the front way higher.

 

[SteveInOrlando]

Actually I agree with him. A few pounds in the back and it does handle better. These are still pretty light in the ass end. The only real exception was my Chevy - it had a heavy butt and weight didn't really matter, but on my JT, when I haul just the right amount of weight, say a couple hundred pounds, it does ride and handle better. And that makes sense - it is a TRUCK.

I have max tow springs under mine and it takes more than 200 pounds to notice the rake change visually, but 500 pounds on the hitch and suddenly my heavy rake is totally flattened out. Mine sits pretty close to level with 1,000 pounds spread evenly in the bed.

We went shopping a week or so ago - 100 pounds of cat litter and cat food, about 120 pounds of wild bird food and my truck rode better, it was smoother on bumps.

The weight in the back is enough to cause the headlight issue discussed elsewhere.

I agree with Papa, If you throw 200 lbs in the back of mine, the rear wheel hop goes away on every speed bump.

Without something helping compress the suspension, I get bad real wheel hop on every speed bump, pot hole, etc.. I would hate to drive it empty if I still lived in the country where I used to. I had 5 miles of gravel road. This much rear wheel hop would have been a real problem.

That said, I have never owned a pickup that stock didn't have the same issue.


It's a truck thing.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I agree with Papa, If you throw 200 lbs in the back of mine, the rear wheel hop goes away on every speed bump.

Without something helping compress the suspension, I get bad real wheel hop on every speed bump, pot hole, etc.. I would hate to drive it empty if I still lived in the country where I used to. I had 5 miles of gravel road. This much rear wheel hop would have been a real problem.

That said, I have never owned a pickup that stock didn't have the same issue.


It's a truck thing.

Interesting. I have recovery gear in there, and almost always do, but I don’t think it’s even close to that heavy. Maybe 75-100lbs. Even empty, I don’t recall it being hoppy. My suspension is no longer stock, but it used to be stock rubicon. What are yours if you’re experiencing this? What tires and psi?

 

[SteveInOrlando]

Interesting. I have recovery gear in there, and almost always do, but I don’t think it’s even close to that heavy. Maybe 75-100lbs. Even empty, I don’t recall it being hoppy. My suspension is no longer stock, but it used to be stock rubicon. What are yours if you’re experiencing this? What tires and psi?

Stock Sport S springs, Falcon 2.0 shocks set soft, Stock Rubicon AT3 tires running 32psi.

The shocks and lower psi help, but still on every speed bump I get a small amount of sideways hop. I have had worse, but definitely not a truck I would be flying down a gravel road at 60MPH like I used to when I was younger.

For those who would never do that. Live in an area where the main road is gravel that you drive on a daily basis, and you would. I have literally thousands of miles on snow and gravel in pickups new and old. And yes, when I had my 64 chevy 1/2 ton, I did have a box attached at each rear corner with 2 sand bags in each box to plant the corner.

 

[2TH MVR]

I was raised in Alaska. We used to place some weight (sand bags) in the bed of the trucks. This was to enhance traction in the snow. Could care less about the "rake".

 

[WILDHOBO]

Stock Sport S springs, Falcon 2.0 shocks set soft, Stock Rubicon AT3 tires running 32psi.

The shocks and lower psi help, but still on every speed bump I get a small amount of sideways hop. I have had worse, but definitely not a truck I would be flying down a gravel road at 60MPH like I used to when I was younger.

For those who would never do that. Live in an area where the main road is gravel that you drive on a daily basis, and you would. I have literally thousands of miles on snow and gravel in pickups new and old. And yes, when I had my 64 chevy 1/2 ton, I did have a box attached at each rear corner with 2 sand bags in each box to plant the corner.

Hmm. I didn’t have the problem with rubicon springs and stock at3w’s at 37psi. Now I’m running JKS springs in front, ram 1500 springs in back, fox 2.0 all around, and Mickey Thomson Baja boss AT’s (37”) at 35psi. I live on a bumpy unpaved road and have been happy with the ride quality.

 

[SteveInOrlando]

Hmm. I didn’t have the problem with rubicon springs and stock at3w’s at 37psi. Now I’m running JKS springs in front, ram 1500 springs in back, fox 2.0 all around, and Mickey Thomson Baja boss AT’s (37”) at 35psi. I live on a bumpy unpaved road and have been happy with the ride quality.

Wait, what Ram 1500 springs in back? What is the benefit from that? Is there a ride height, weight benefit? How difficult was the mod?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Wait, what Ram 1500 springs in back? What is the benefit from that? Is there a ride height, weight benefit? How difficult was the mod?

It’s a mod that brings the rake back so I can be lifted and still haul and tow with no sag. It works phenomenally on the trails as well. Better departure angle and better for steep climbs. Just a spring swap. It rides great. Rake and all.

Sponsored