Avid Fox wrote:
jshupe wrote:
Avid Fox wrote:
If the hj tie downs and resulting bed flex were the specific problem, I'd see at least some buckling at the bed's front also, but there isn't any.
The front of the beds are braced better than the rear, especially when you aren't running a tailgate to limit the twisting in the rear. Forces travel. I assure you, the damage you're seeing here could easily be (and are) originating from the front of the bed, at the tie-downs.
I don't disagree, but not for the same reasons. It's not exactly a HJ problem, it's that perhaps I didn't torque the turn buckles enough. Spring loaded fronts are spring loaded fronts, and they both allow movement. I'm thinking user error, not design error.
I agree, somewhat, only because if it were that widespread of an issue, you would hear more about it.
That being said, the springs only offer a certain amount of travel, and will either bottom out or reach full extension, then you might as well not have them. You're talking about frost heaves, etc, which may very well exhaust the range of the springs, defeating them. If we're just talking casual on-highway use, the issue may never present itself - but off-road, or on bad roads, the springs only offer so much protection.
