Low Rider 4x4

[Flyfishing]

Hello,

Just bought a new 3500 SRW 5. 9 CTD 4WD from Dave Smith in Idaho... I,m happy with the deal they gave me. My old ride, a 1999 CTD 2WD that I'm getting ready to sell is about 4 inches lower from what I gather.

I would like to lower the new truck by about the same amount if possible without screwing up the geometry.

I was wondering why the 4x4's are so much higher. If the body sits on the frame the same as the 2WD and the tire diameters are the same; I'm assuming the frame is higher above the axle to clear the front differential and the rear is raised a like amount to level the truck.

I don't care to go to a dropped (or is it a raised axle) to do this, as I don't wish to lose any ground clearance.

Any thoughts on this matter???



Thanks for the help



Richard... Florida Keys

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Hello,

Just bought a new 3500 SRW 5. 9 CTD 4WD from Dave Smith in Idaho... I,m happy with the deal they gave me. My old ride, a 1999 CTD 2WD that I'm getting ready to sell is about 4 inches lower from what I gather.

I would like to lower the new truck by about the same amount if possible without screwing up the geometry.

I was wondering why the 4x4's are so much higher. If the body sits on the frame the same as the 2WD and the tire diameters are the same; I'm assuming the frame is higher above the axle to clear the front differential and the rear is raised a like amount to level the truck.

I don't care to go to a dropped (or is it a raised axle) to do this, as I don't wish to lose any ground clearance.

Any thoughts on this matter???



Thanks for the help



Richard... Florida Keys

UHG... I hope I retain my senses when I get older.

 

[Flyfishing]

Well, I hope you do too... But sense changes as you get older and hopefully wiser. I had my fun 4 wheelin in California in the early '60s in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Moving to Colorado in the late sixties I bought a new 1969 Toyota Land Cruiser with Hubs and a PTO winch for $3800. 00 (hows that for dollar devaluation). I installed a 350 Chevy using a con-fer conversion kit. That was a cool ride. Chained up there were not too many places you could not go. At 69 years of age now, which I hope you attain, I'm looking for a bit of creature comfort when I'm cruising around in the Arctic, Alaska and the Yukon Territories.



regards, Richard

 

[Tomeygun]

well... . ground clearance is mostly due to tire (think about that big ol diff hangin down)



Sooo - you want the biggest tire with the lowest suspension - note this will cause not alot of upwards movement/travel



Bottom line is cost. It wont be cheap to make a lowered truck still with 35s for diff clearnce.

 

[MLisle]

I think you could lower it several inches by going with shorter springs in the front and removing some leaves from the rear springs. I have a 1994 land cruiser and there was a article in 4wd magazine that showed them being used in Iceland and they had 44" tires. They were able to do that by increasing the size of the wheel wells. I think its amusing to see trucks with a massive amount of lift that would tip over if they ever went off-road since the CG has been increased so much. If you're not taking your truck in extreme off-road situations you don't need the lift. Its your truck so modify it as needed to fit YOUR circumstances.

 

[Flyfishing]

Thanks guys,

MLisle,



I wanted to buy a Land Cruiser Trooper diesel but there was no way to license it in the states. It was all mechanical and pretty bullet proof from what I understand. I've met and spoke with quite a few German folks that ship them to the States or Canada and drive them from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego (sp. ?) in South America. They choose that model for it's reliability.



I found some info on lowering the back a few inches by relocating some spacers in the spring pack. Maybe one can do the same up front. I'm satisfied with the ground clearance with stock tires. . I just would like the body a bit lower for easy entrance and exit. I'm with you ML on the high CG.

My '99 had such poor traction it would get stuck in damp grass. I thought about putting in a elocker but it's a good excuse to get a new ride... Now when I get stuck it will be much deeper and more remote (not).



Thanks again, Richard

 

[Matt400]

I'm assuming the frame is higher above the axle to clear the front differential and the rear is raised a like amount to level the truck.

That would be correct and lowering the front would mean no wheel travel as there is very little to begin with.

 

[Lorenz]

The truck would be sitting on the bumpstops if you lower the front 3". It would ride like a '81 pontiac on hydraulics.

The 2wd front end is a totally different beast with a-arm vs the 4wd straight axel.

The rear can be lowered by removing the spacers like you mentioned but your stuck with the front end the way it sits.

Have you considered automatic steps. They pop out from under the cab when the door is opened and pop back under the cab, and out of the way when the door is closed. You'd be able to keep the ground clearance.

 

[Flyfishing]

Matt, Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Sean... Thanks. by the way, I was visiting your site the other day and stuck it in my favorites. I'm going to replace the OEM shocks very soon on the new '07. I have Bilsteins on my old '99 4x2, the blue and yellow ones. They along with the DSS and MOOG ball joints make my old ride much better than new. I'll look you up regarding the shocks.

I will drop the back a bit for easy access to the back and just tough it out.

Thanks again for all your help.

regards, Richard

 

[Tomeygun]

Matt, Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Sean... Thanks. by the way, I was visiting your site the other day and stuck it in my favorites. I'm going to replace the OEM shocks very soon on the new '07. I have Bilsteins on my old '99 4x2, the blue and yellow ones. They along with the DSS and MOOG ball joints make my old ride much better than new. I'll look you up regarding the shocks.

I will drop the back a bit for easy access to the back and just tough it out.

Thanks again for all your help.

regards, Richard

you could also put kelderman air ride on it and drop it when entering



Just a bit of coin though

 

[p-Bar]

How about the Kodiak electric steps??

 

[VicR]

Richard - what cab do you have? Only reason I ask is I heard Megacab's were shorter. Is the 4 inches at bed height too?



I'm also thinking of upgrading my 99 but can't go too much higher or I won't be able to park my slide-in camper indoors.



-Vic

 

[Lorenz]

Thanks for looking us up.

 

[Jeepstang]

I am in the business of raising vehicles

if the tires are the same size that means that the axles are the same height off of the ground. Being that the Dodge trucks are sprung over the axles changing springs would change the amount of height the vehicle sits above the axles which gives the owner the ability to run a different tire size without clearance issues. I would not advise lowering the vehicle not because I can't stand the idea of lowering them but because everything is set to run at set angles which will change if you change the height of the springs. you may end up needing a shorter front track bar and pinion angle adjustents which is not a big deal but something to think about. If you want to lower the vehicle and not change geometry you can simply install smaller tires which will throw your speedometer off and rev the engine more. each inch of tire size will change the height by 50% which for 1" would be 1/2" Hope this helps

 

[Flyfishing]

Hey , Thanks for all the good information.

i have not taken delivery of the truck yet but I'm led to believe there is a slightforeward rake. How much I do not know. It appears that the rear spring pack on the 3500's are in three separate bundles along with spacers. One might be able to remove the spacers and the one lower helper spring without altering the pinion angle too much. I'll take a look at my 2500 and see what the spring pack looks like. At least the back end will be lower for easier access.



Thanks... R

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Relocating the spacers is a common modification, especially for owners of 5th wheel trailers. This lowers the rear about an inch. If you do a search here, you will find quite a bit of info on this, as well as a link to a guy's site that has the procedure explained with photos.



Make sure to adjust your headlights after lowering the rear.

 

[Flyfishing]

Ohnoitsyu,

Thanks... I found that link to the fellow that lowered his 3500... roger that on the headlights.



Thanks Richard

 

[opjohnny]

You could find the wheels and tires off an ST model. They came with 245/70-17" tires on 7. 5" wheels. E load rated tires but not sure of the capacity. They are shorter. You would have to adj the speedo.

 

[Flyfishing]

Opjohnny,



Thank you for the info re the smaller tires. I think I'll stay with the stock tires and go with an aftermarket 2500 spring pack and remove some spacers... That should lower the rear by 1 to 1. 5 inches.



Thanks for all the help guys.



Regards, Richard

 

[betterthanstock]

Opjohnny,



Thank you for the info re the smaller tires. I think I'll stay with the stock tires and go with an aftermarket 2500 spring pack and remove some spacers... That should lower the rear by 1 to 1. 5 inches.



Thanks for all the help guys.



Regards, Richard

No need for aftermarket springs. All the leafs and spacers can be removed to your desire. You will just need 4 shorter bolts, and maybe u bolts. I have removed the spacers, overload leafs, and one extra leaf. Then I added air bags, with expansion chambers, to give a softer spring rate. I can still load up a 3000 lb pallet, and with about 50 or 60 psi it sits level. I also have adjustable shocks.