idea for preventing body sag on Max iv with big frame

[shorty]

Hi All,

i have an idea but don't know if it is worth the time and coffee i'm spending on it. i have a 2003 Max IV, 25 HP Kohler, 25 inch wheels. I put a frame/rack/roll cage on it last year - 1 1/2' square tubing. The cage sits on two pieces that run the length of the body and are joined at the front and back by angle iron. Yes, its heavy duty but works really well for hauling, pulling in the bush, etc.

i've read the posts that say the seat belt mounts on the Max are essential as they provide frame support to keep the body from sagging. I'm wondering if I can strengthen this support by welding an extension on to the seat belt bar to run it (between the body seam) and connect to the rack frame. Then drop two pieces of metal down from the seat belt bar and connect the bar to the Max's frame. The idea is that is that i use the connections to the body frame and the rack frame to increase the body support the seat belt bar provides. I would do this for both the front and back seat belt bars.

Does this sound worthwhile or unnecessary?

[countrycummins99]

anything to keep the body from sagging is a good idea i have a 96 with the factory roll cage and it causes the body to sag something fierce so i say go for it i put cross bars in to prevent sag on mine

[shorty]

Thanks...i think i'll begin with it today. do you have any pics of your cross members? I have a '93 and if i decide to keep it, i will need to do the same. any ideas are welcome!

[jpswift1]

Here's a good idea Hydromike had to prevent the body from sagging on his machine:

[shorty]

well, i'm going to see if i can do like Hydromike did. my idea doesn't work because of the way the tub and top meet at the sides. That's what happens when you sit on the couch at 7 am with a coffee and get an idea. 3 pm ideas over beer in the garage are WAY better.

[tonyk72]

Shorty, do you mind posting a few pics of your cage? I'm looking for some ideas...

[shorty]

sure, will do. as soon as i pry the camera out of the grasp of my fashion bug 15 yr old daughter.

[coldone907]

Weld a 5/8" nut on each underside of the rear seat frame where the frame meets the tub. Bolt thru the tub just above the middle wheel. The seat frame (which is obviously bolted to the main frame) acts as the body support, holding the tub from sagging. Seems too easy, but it works. I'll try to add photos soon.

[coldone907]

sagging seats

Here are some photos of how mine is done.

[shorty]

can you try that again...says the attachment was invalid.

[kghills]

Ran across this thread when researching body sag on my Max IV with factory roll cage. After running my Max IV with AquaTorques and 3" wheel spacers I noticed the front tires were starting to rub on the tub slightly. It even sat with a slight rake. I think the previous owner trailered it using the front winch to hold it secure. I feel the machine needs a support bar but I needed to lift the body first. I picked it up with my two post hoist lifting it by the cage.

In the next picture you can see where the front tire was wearing into the body lip. The AquaTorques tape 24" across with no air which is how I am running them now. Also notice I have it hanging to the point that the body is actually being pulled up enough to bend it in front and behind the roll bar. I heated the tub with a heat gun and let it hang over night. In the morning I had 4" of clearance between the tub and tires.

Letting the the Max down until the body line was level gave me 3" of tire clearance. If I let it all the way down to on its own weight I have 2.5". I plan to build a support bar that doubles as a grab rail to hold it level and maybe keep the 3" of clearance but that will come in another post.

Keith.

[wfo]

if you ck out the GOLIATH thread i did that to mine using the rear seat to hold up the body
my old 94 max iv had that standard from the factory and the later years they drop it. i do not
know why..when something works don't change it..

[kghills]

I will try to find that part of your build thread thanks. Here are a couple pictures of my machine and body sag. You can see the rake the body has over the tracks and how close it is to the front tires. It should sit level.


Keith.

[kghills]

if you ck out the GOLIATH thread i did that to mine using the rear seat to hold up the body
my old 94 max iv had that standard from the factory and the later years they drop it. i do not
know why..when something works don't change it..

I found this picture in your build thread.


For me this would actually lower my bottom tub as the tub should be up against the seat and there would be no room for your support. Also it is far enough back where it does nothing for where the sag seems more prevalent, in the front. My factory rear seat belt mount does sort of the same thing. The problem I see with your support and my factory seat belt supports, front and rear, is they are too far inward and the body just sags beyond them.

Keith.

[kghills]

Here are a couple pictures with a 2x4 as reference. Room for tracks?



Keith.