2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission tight seat belt + bouncy ride = stiff neck?

[plangone]

Let me preface this by saying i was rear ended a few years ago and my neck isn't quite the way it used to be...



My truck has completely stock suspension with Monroe shocks that have been on there since I bought it 1. 5 years ago. I do have 285/75x16 BFSs on 16x8 Alcoas. Tire pressure is 55/45. The ride is quite bouncy as is.



The seat belt also feels like it has more tension than most other cars and trucks that I have driven.



Driving my Dodge to work (30 miles, mostly highway) will certainly give me a pain in the neck. I hate to admin this, but I recently drove a 99 F350 for about 20 hours straight and was feeling pretty good afterwards. Of course it doesn't have nearly as much power as my truck.



My questions are: Can I loosen up the seat belt tension? What should I attack on the suspension? I was thinking of a 2. 5" Skyjacker lift with all new springs and Rancho adj shocks to help smooth out the ride. I suppose I could lower tire pressure a bit, but I seems in line. I run empty most of the time. Let me know what you all think.

 

[illflem]

same problem here

Two things on the belts. If you're a big guy the dealer will provide seat belt extenders for free.

What I do is clip a large alligator type clip on the belt at the outside of the upper belt loop for long drives. A clothes pin may also work. No tension at all then.

 

[Mac]

The seatbelts on everything I have ever owned are too tight, this is what I do.

Get a 3 inch long piece of 1/2 or 3/4 inch PVC pipe. Use a hacksaw and slit the pipe from one end to within 1/2 inch of the other end. Keep the slit centered. On the unslit end drill a 1/8 inch hole and run a piece of heavy string thru the hole. Use the tubing like it was an old fasioned clothespin and slide it over the seatbelt up at the top to keep it from retracting and getting tight. You can adjust it for any amount of slack that makes you comfortable. Tie the other end of the string to something up near the top so you won't lose it.

If after sawing the slit it is too loose to grip the seatbelt, heat it and squeez the slit closed.

Works good.

 

[Deezul1]

If your ride is harsh and you dont need the helper springs, removing them will stop some of the roughness. I had about 2" clearance on the helper springs and the perches and when hitting small bumps it wasnt harsh but anything else would make the helpers slam into the perches and boy was that a hard hit.

 

[willyslover]

as Bill said the extenders work best. . it moves the buckle more to the center of your body. . therefor moving the belt to the left



I'm 6'7" and 350 +/- a pound or two . . I have the same issue with belt across the neck. . the extenders are the fix. . been doing this for years

 

[plangone]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I took a binder clip and put it on the seatbelt to put a little slack in it. Much better.



Still need more ideas about improving the ride though. Will shocks help that much or should I consider new springs as well?