lowering a 14 4x4??

[RAndrae]

My 72 year old dad just bought a 14 2500 4x4...Its a little high for him....any thoughts on lowering it?? any one done it?? Thanks

 

[K5IP]

RAndrae,
It is always a problem. Just seem like Dodge does not think anyone would pull a 5th wheel rig. In my case I raised the trailer, but did not like doing that. Sometimes you have to put up with the good and the bad.
Rog

 

[Powder Extreme]

Kelderman makes spring replacement airbags for front and rear. You can set your height as well as get a better ride.

 

[Simplysmn]

Just get a set of AMP Step's they work Great and tuck out of the way when not needed .

 

[Ozymandias]

How much he'd like to lower the vehicle? I think more than 1" is technically impossible.

 

[WCPoe]

Just get a set of AMP Step's they work Great and tuck out of the way when not needed .

My thoughts exactly. The retractable steps are a great addition.

Geno's has them ----> http://www.genosgarage.com/AMP-POWE...-10-15/productinfo/AMP-75138-01/#.VGnwsfnF98E

 

[crispyboy]

Just having a good step on a truck doesn't make it easier for getting old folks into tall truck. My dad is 82 (avg size/weight/height) and on a walker now. It is an absolute ordeal getting him into my truck (stock height). We have to use a stool to get him to the nerf bar height then he can climb in. Even back in pre-walker days he would struggle to get into this truck.

It sounds like the expensive air ride system is about the best you can do....

It seems like all the manufacturers think a 4x4 truck needs to be sky high to have "the look". What ever happened functionality? It seems like the designers of the trucks don't ever use them as the intended purpose as a truck.
Another case in point. My sister owns a 2010 F150. A nice truck by all accounts until you try and get something out of the bed. The bed sides must be 6" deeper than any other truck.....

Do I sound crabby today? I guess my wife's current case of PMS is wearing on me

 

[mrkstrk]

Does your dad's truck have the air suspension? If it does, he can set it in the load mode when he gets out and it will still be lowered when he gets back in.

 

[Brocky]

Big truck air suspension systems have an air bag dump valve built into them for getting under and dropping trailers. If you have or can put air ride on your Dad's truck this might be an option. Just remember that with out the bags inflated and/or a change in ride height will change the angles on your drive shaft and tear up universals, rears, and trannys!!

 

[WCPoe]

Just a thought. -----> But the retractable AMP steps are a good bit lower for the step up than the fixed "nerf bar" types. Maybe a good 6 - 8 inches when they are in the down position. Heck the fixed bars on my near stock height 2007 4X4 aren't easy for me to climb up on.

 

[crispyboy]

Maybe somebody that has the AMP step would be so kind as to take a measurement from the door sill to the top of the deployed AMP step. I would be interested.
What about the wheel to wheel running boards? These might be lower to the ground and bit cheaper.

 

[photowrite]

Just
It seems like all the manufacturers think a 4x4 truck needs to be sky high to have "the look". What ever happened functionality?

I understand and sympathize with the difficulty of getting old or feeble people into a tall truck, 'cars' and/or minivans are much better for that.

I would argue that the current (and past) 4WD Dodge/Ram trucks are very functional and are deigned to do more with their 4WD system than travel snowy or icy paved roads. Because the 4WD in my rigs is used for much off-pavement, backcountry travel, I absolutely love that my '14 Ram is tall, and will not need a suspension lift for decent clearance like my last two Toyotas did.

Someday all trucks might be as low as the 4WD 1500s, possibly to increase EPA MPG ratings when/if they are required on heavy-duty trucks... that will be a sad day for this backcountry traveler.

 

[Simplysmn]

I will say for a Fact that the amp step's hang lower then the Bar's do .I want to say it's atleast 7 to 8 inches lower then the cab bottom .

 

[crispyboy]

I understand and sympathize with the difficulty of getting old or feeble people into a tall truck, 'cars' and/or minivans are much better for that.

I would argue that the current (and past) 4WD Dodge/Ram trucks are very functional and are deigned to do more with their 4WD system than travel snowy or icy paved roads. Because the 4WD in my rigs is used for much off-pavement, backcountry travel, I absolutely love that my '14 Ram is tall, and will not need a suspension lift for decent clearance like my last two Toyotas did.

Someday all trucks might be as low as the 4WD 1500s, possibly to increase EPA MPG ratings when/if they are required on heavy-duty trucks... that will be a sad day for this backcountry traveler.

Photowrite,
I should start by saying I somewhat of an old school guy (some say living in the past). I grew up on a farm in Kentucky around a brand of trucks that had a low loading height, 4wd, 3/4 ton #3250 payload and seemed to go up, down hills, through creeks and ditches etc..... do all this while carring 48 locust fence posts or a load of firewood. When you open the tailgate the level hits your leg about mid-thigh. Only when my family grew did I need to get a truck with a bigger cab. Granted this truck would not pull a trailer like a modern day truck but it was one of the easiest trucks to work with day to day. You may laugh, depending on you age you may not even know what it is but it is a Jeep J20 pickup. Here is a picture before I sold it to my dad. He replaced his standard shift truck with this automatic.
I still think the engineers could design a truck with a suspension that is more user friendly and enough articulation for the general populace.
If you ever read the RV forums it seems that folks with 5th wheels sometimes struggle to get their trailers hooked up properly because they sit so high.

 

[photowrite]

Photowrite,
I should start by saying I somewhat of an old school guy (some say living in the past). I grew up on a farm in Kentucky around a brand of trucks that had a low loading height, 4wd, 3/4 ton #3250 payload and seemed to go up, down hills, through creeks and ditches etc..... do all this while carring 48 locust fence posts or a load of firewood. When you open the tailgate the level hits your leg about mid-thigh. Only when my family grew did I need to get a truck with a bigger cab. Granted this truck would not pull a trailer like a modern day truck but it was one of the easiest trucks to work with day to day. You may laugh, depending on you age you may not even know what it is but it is a Jeep J20 pickup. Here is a picture before I sold it to my dad. He replaced his standard shift truck with this automatic.
I still think the engineers could design a truck with a suspension that is more user friendly and enough articulation for the general populace.
If you ever read the RV forums it seems that folks with 5th wheels sometimes struggle to get their trailers hooked up properly because they sit so high.

Yes sir, I well understand the pros and cons of lower and taller trucks. I'm an old-school guy in may ways too, and well beyond middle-age.
I don't question any of your experience or reasoning, just offering another view and why I like a taller 4WDs, I understand my use is atypical.

My first 4WD was a International Scout Terra pickup, a rig that was lowish by the standards of the day (and today) when Ford was still making their high-boy trucks, but very similar in height to the J-20. The Jeep J-20 was a cool rig and I still have a Petersen's Four-Wheel Drive annual test magazine with several 1977 vehicles evaluated, including the J-20 and the Terra pickup I sold too soon.

Your old J-20 was a beautiful truck, love the picture, thanks for sharing.

 

[Bob4x4]

As i remember my amp steps are about 12 inch drop,I had to get them for my wife to climb into my truck after going to 37'' tires

 

[RAndrae]

Thanks for the responses.. It seems as though the amp steps may be the best option, I would like to know the measurement of how for below the cab floor or door sill the amp step is.

 

[Ozymandias]

I will say for a Fact that the amp step's hang lower then the Bar's do .I want to say it's atleast 7 to 8 inches lower then the cab bottom .

This is the answer to your last question.

 

[Simplysmn]

Your best bet would be Call a Place that sell's them I am sure they will have a truck around the shop with them on it . they can go out and measure them . or Stop by a place they can even show you how Awesome they Are.

 

[RAndrae]

They are 14 inches from floor level on a 2014 2500.