Lowering rear of truck, ?

[promisedland]

I like a 'close' to level truck. But dont like a tail down look when hooked to a trailer.
I have heard of reverse level; which i think is moving the rear leaf spring pack spacers from below the springs to above the springs. Has someone done this?
My truck has 2- 3/4'' spacers. Will this make much of a diff?? AND does the tail stay up with a trailer?

 

[RustyJC]

If all you do is move the axle, you haven't changed spring rate at all, and if the rear squats 3" now when your trailer is hitched up, it will squat 3" after you move the axle.

If you don't want it to squat, you'll either have to look at a stiffer spring pack (it will just squat less), overloads that engage almost immediately (and you won't like the empty ride of that at all - as soon as you hit the overloads on a bump, it feels like the suspension goes rock solid) or use airbags to bring it back to level when you're towing.

Rusty

 

[promisedland]

Is what i explained called 'reverse leveled'?

 

[RustyJC]

I've never heard of the term. Perhaps someone else who happens along would know.

I'm so used to the RVing practice of "flipping the axles" that I initially thought that's what you meant - moving the axle from below to above the springs, although RVers usually go the other way to raise the trailer.

At any rate, moving the spacers won't change the spring rate.

Rusty

 

[NIsaacs]

My truck has 2- 3/4'' spacers. Will this make much of a diff?? AND does the tail stay up with a trailer?

Removing the rear spacers will be the same as adding spacers to the front, only worse, because now you are changing your drive shaft angle. No matter how you level an empty truck , when you add a load, it will be un-level.

Nick

 

[promisedland]

I googled and found some threads on this, the spacers just below the spring pack are moved to the top of the pack. Mine has 2 spacers, some trucks have 3. It lowers the body/frame 1'' or so. Closer to level stance. Spring capacity dosnt change unless the helper is removed [i would not] As of now, if i remember correctly, my truck is still some higher in the rear with my trailer loaded, so i might try this as i dont want a taller truck but would like the closer to level look. I know driveline angle would change some but i dont expect this to be a biggie.
If i do it, i will post! With pics! WOW!

NIsaacs= Thats what U-joints are for! :-laf

 

[crispyboy]

I had the the "reverse level" done on my 2009, short bed, quad cab truck. It had 3 spacers below the spring pack. These were completely removed. I also took time to adjust the headlights. It still has a slight rake but not as severe as before. Wish I could make the entire truck drop 3 inches, it is still too tall.

 

[promisedland]

Well, i did some towing and i think i will leave my spacers where they are. With a gcvw of 22500 my Ram was slightly under level at the rear. Thanks for the replys!! If i didnt haul/tow, i would consider this though.

 

[NIsaacs]

Nice load! What species of hay it that? Looks kind of gnarly, like corn or sorghum?

Nick

 

[promisedland]

Corn stalks, or corn fodder as we call it. We shred the stalks with a flail chopper, works well for animal bedding. They pack solid with a big square baler. 850# each, a load of 14 weigh about 12,000# which brings my gcvw to 23500.