Old Man EMU

[Frenchy]

Hey guys I’m installing my OME rear leaf spring kit and I need to know which way the OEM leaf spacer plate with the locator pin goes in.

Simply grind a little locator panel off and you're good to go

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[Chalupajones]

Simply grind a little locator panel off and you're good to go

So I don’t need the locator pin on that spacer plate? I thought that was to help make sure it lined up right?

 

[Frenchy]

So I don’t need the locator pin on that spacer plate? I thought that was to help make sure it lined up right?

When I get the install myself take away the locator pin and it was just fine

 

[AndyMedic]

I ground off the locate pin also as it had no place on the OME system

 

[Filthy McGnarly]

Hello,

Set up: Almost entirely stock 2019 Ford Ranger Super Crew FX4 and Four Wheel Camper Swift Shell
Total maximum weight added to the truck: 1,450 lbs
Driving conditions: 60% pavement, 30% dirt roads, 10% off road trails
Wheels: Stock wheel and tire
Shocks: Most likely going with Bilstein 6112s in front and 5160s in rear
Bump stops: Timbren active off road bump stops
Bumper: Stock, no winch

My questions: Does it make sense to go with the Old Man Emu 3.1" 1322 lbs constant load leaf springs? Would air bags still be required? Is there anybody on here that has experience with these springs and a heavy load? If so, what kind of load did you have, what was the resulting lift, and how was the ride quality?

More detail:
I am looking to figure out the best way to handle the weight of my fully loaded camper. I've weighed all my gear and additions to the camper that I can possibly think of, including myself, water, food and the sum total comes out to 1,450 lbs.

I plan to be on the road for a year or so. While I have the camper, I don't plan on having too much of a lift nor a winch/bumper, although I would like the ability to do both down the road when I'm done with the camper.

I've had the empty camper on the truck before and it worked but was not the best driving experience, on or off road. Hell, without the camper the ride is still pretty bad.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Frenchy]

Hello,

Set up: Almost entirely stock 2019 Ford Ranger Super Crew FX4 and Four Wheel Camper Swift Shell
Total maximum weight added to the truck: 1,450 lbs
Driving conditions: 60% pavement, 30% dirt roads, 10% off road trails
Wheels: Stock wheel and tire
Shocks: Most likely going with Bilstein 6112s in front and 5160s in rear
Bump stops: Timbren active off road bump stops
Bumper: Stock, no winch

My questions: Does it make sense to go with the Old Man Emu 3.1" 1322 lbs constant load leaf springs? Would air bags still be required? Is there anybody on here that has experience with these springs and a heavy load? If so, what kind of load did you have, what was the resulting lift, and how was the ride quality?

More detail:
I am looking to figure out the best way to handle the weight of my fully loaded camper. I've weighed all my gear and additions to the camper that I can possibly think of, including myself, water, food and the sum total comes out to 1,450 lbs.

I plan to be on the road for a year or so. While I have the camper, I don't plan on having too much of a lift nor a winch/bumper, although I would like the ability to do both down the road when I'm done with the camper.

I've had the empty camper on the truck before and it worked but was not the best driving experience, on or off road. Hell, without the camper the ride is still pretty bad.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

So I have to ask, is this a pull behind camper or a in bed camper?

 

[Filthy McGnarly]

So I have to ask, is this a pull behind camper or a in bed camper?

Slide in truck bed pop up camper

 

[Frenchy]

Slide in truck bed pop up camper

Gotcha. So first off I hope you havent baught any parts yet. Why you ask? Well you are searching for advice to start.

Just to give you a quick understanding of the Old Man EMU leafs there are 3 available for the Ranger. The standard load, medium load and heavy load. All are meant to lift the truck 1.6 inches in the rear with said amount of load. Standard 0 LBS, medium 660 LBS and heavy 1320 LBS. Again that is at probper lift height. My experience was with the Standard leafs as part of the standard lift. From what I found the truck would be leveled with roughly 780 LBS in the bed.

With that said with the weight you plan to run in the rear the truck should handle it just fine with the heavy leafs. Would air bags be needed? Most likely not.

As for what shocks to get? Simple, Old Man EMU. Why? Because, its designed to work with the springs. Whether you choose to go with the Nitro Chargers or the BP-51's is up to you and your pocketbook.

Put simple I was happy with the basic kit on my truck. Was I planning to go with BP-51's? At one point I was..... But then shit hit the fan.... Well more like the Beef hit the ground. Due to my experience I will be going with Old Man EMU on my 1993 Pathfinder. Just have to save up for it.

Hope this helps

 

[Filthy McGnarly]

Gotcha. So first off I hope you havent baught any parts yet. Why you ask? Well you are searching for advice to start.

Just to give you a quick understanding of the Old Man EMU leafs there are 3 available for the Ranger. The standard load, medium load and heavy load. All are meant to lift the truck 1.6 inches in the rear with said amount of load. Standard 0 LBS, medium 660 LBS and heavy 1320 LBS. Again that is at probper lift height. My experience was with the Standard leafs as part of the standard lift. From what I found the truck would be leveled with roughly 780 LBS in the bed.

With that said with the weight you plan to run in the rear the truck should handle it just fine with the heavy leafs. Would air bags be needed? Most likely not.

As for what shocks to get? Simple, Old Man EMU. Why? Because, its designed to work with the springs. Whether you choose to go with the Nitro Chargers or the BP-51's is up to you and your pocketbook.

Put simple I was happy with the basic kit on my truck. Was I planning to go with BP-51's? At one point I was..... But then shit hit the fan.... Well more like the Beef hit the ground. Due to my experience I will be going with Old Man EMU on my 1993 Pathfinder. Just have to save up for it.

Hope this helps

Thank you! Definitely helps, after reading more on here and talking to a local shop, I am leaning towards going all OME. Any chance you know anybody on here with experience with the heavy load springs?

 

[Frenchy]

None that I'm aware of at this time

 

[egilbe]

Thank you! Definitely helps, after reading more on here and talking to a local shop, I am leaning towards going all OME. Any chance you know anybody on here with experience with the heavy load springs?

I have the medium load, with the heavier shocks OME makes. Works well off road and towing a trailer. Still has a tad bit of rake when not towing the trailer, but level when it is. I have a GFC camper so constant wright of 600- ish pounds when loaded. No complaints with the OME shocks. I blew the FPP fox shocks. I don't think they had enough travel for the springs.

Not exactly what you asked about, but my experiences.

 

[puda]

French/Andy
The shim. When I test fit the shim to the bottom of the leaf pack, there was barely any pin left to go into the bracket on the axle. Is that how yours were? I have the 1.7 OME leaf packs.

Were you able to get this to work on yours? Even without the pin on the shim I had none of the bolt head passing through the shim to engage with the axle.

 

[Frenchy]

Never had an issue with my Ranger for the 2 years I had it

Were you able to get this to work on yours? Even without the pin on the shim I had none of the bolt head passing through the shim to engage with the axle.

 

[puda]

Never had an issue with my Ranger for the 2 years I had it

I'm not understanding what is different. The first installation of the leaf springs I kept the shim, flipped it over and the little tab actually fell into another recess in the axle. But, I was not able to get things properly lined up and the truck pulled pretty bad when I went for a test drive. So, I took the shim off and reinstalled. Truck drove straight as an arrow again.

But, my truck is 3/4" low on the drivers side. It was 1/2" low when I had the shim installed. When I talked to ARB they were going to try to get me a "-" set of leaf springs, but only had the "+" which would explain why I got 2 similar springs and couldn't play with a way to compensate for the lean. Maybe you got a "+"and a "-" spring and installed the "-" on passenger side?

 

[jcole217]

I'm not understanding what is different. The first installation of the leaf springs I kept the shim, flipped it over and the little tab actually fell into another recess in the axle. But, I was not able to get things properly lined up and the truck pulled pretty bad when I went for a test drive. So, I took the shim off and reinstalled. Truck drove straight as an arrow again.

But, my truck is 3/4" low on the drivers side. It was 1/2" low when I had the shim installed. When I talked to ARB they were going to try to get me a "-" set of leaf springs, but only had the "+" which would explain why I got 2 similar springs and couldn't play with a way to compensate for the lean. Maybe you got a "+"and a "-" spring and installed the "-" on passenger side?

I have a “+” on the drivers side and a “o” on the passenger side, and my truck is perfectly level on the rear. I did not install the shim that was on the drivers side in the original leaf setup.

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