ART AirBar and friends-

Okay, so I'm thinking about abandoning the '77. Two reasons. One, it's a lot more work that I'm willing to put into it at this point in time. Two, my Dad's wanting to sell me his '86 cheap so he can go out and buy a PSD. I was thinking about swapping my drop kit to the '86 and putting the '77 back stock, but now I'm thinking I'd like to go ahead and bag the '86.

I'm still a fan of stock beds devoid of a jungle gym of tube work, but man, my '77 rides like shit.

I'm thinking about possibly running the ART AirBar. Looks beefy as hell, it's pretty much bolt in, and I don't have to cut much up aside from a notch in the frame...which I'm okay with.

I know ART is notoriously pricey...the AirBar for the C30 comes in at just under $1,700 retail...but I wanted to hear from some of you guys who run that set up. Was it complete? If not, what else did you have to buy? What did it cost you OTD? I also want to get a feel for the ART StrongArms. Same questions.

I'm also interested in hearing from some of you guys that may have an ART alternative. I prefer a bolt in deal. Call me a puss, but I just really don't want to screw with it. I just want a slam, bam deal.

I'm also not really concerned with laying out. I'm not into cutting up my bed.

Basically, I just want a nice riding truck and I figure air is about the only way to get it in a 1 ton. That being said, how much PSI are you guys with the AirBar running at ride height, hows the ride, and what does your ride height look like?

...and as always, pics would be the roxxorz!!!

You guys have your assignment...now do me right over the weekend. I need something to read come Monday.

just fly me and my welder out thar and we will do it in a weekend heheheh

lol i would fly you to my place if you told me what to get to do it and pay ya as muc has i would want to do myself i dont wanna mess it up ill b the best helper ever thou

I have the airbar on my 2000. Did not come with cnotch which I understood it did, so another $200 for that and another week to wait. Other than that is was very simple to install even with the bed on, but had to relocate the exhaust which I didn't have time at first so I cut it before the axle with a turndown, well that worked until I set the ebrake after driving for a while. Well it heated the ps cable so much that it melted the cable and when it cooled it stuck the cable in the on position. So I was stranded at the inlaws driveway. I had to cut the cable which was on a brand new truck at the time to get the ebrake off to drive it home and replace the cable.

Other than that, I love it, road decent unloaded, better with a load. Now I modified it with triple stacks and a big notch and rides even better and tows smooth as a cadillac. Well built stuff, but now I need to replace the heims on the panhard bar as they are wearing due to driving it in the winter for a few years and the salt got the best of them. I would pay again for it especially if I was to modify it, way too easy and strong not too. I got what I payed for.

Hey Campy, I haven't run the strongarms on a full size yet, but i've done tons of S10's. The arms are always real nice. Bolt right up, beefy, no bullshit well thought out products. They are pricey, but I haven't had any issues with any of them yet.

Maybe try BLF for a pkg deal, don't they have a rear end kit now?

Might be cheaper?


Dunno, holla at a nigga.

if you dont wanna cut the bed raise the bed floor, itll still look stock, just an idea, its just not going to sit very low with out a bigger notch

check with blf but if not, i think suicide doors is making a bolt on kit now.

I agree. I'd raise the whole bed floor to get the truck lower & keep the stock bed floor so it's better for loading up for caring loads. I raised just the section of bed floor over the axle on my 94 Chevy & hated it for hauling loads.

hay 86 you might have a deal dude