Lowering truck

[CToney]

Since I’m old and washed up and definitely not a young whipper snapper I lowered the rear of my truck. Not a hard job. Clamp springs together, jack at front spring mount, remove u-bolts, remove centering nub, remove spring bolts, relocate nub and spacers and bolt back together. My endgate was 381/4” above the ground and now its 371/8” above the ground. Not a huge difference but it will be noticeable hooked up to my livestock trailer. My older trucks would be lower but not as bad.

 

[crispyboy]

I did that job to my 2009 truck about 8 years ago. It does make it a little easier to load stuff into the bed or hook up trailers. My truck still has a little bit of rake even after taking these out. I also readjusted the headlights with this project.

 

[CToney]

Dealer has yet to install my LED headlights. I’ll see how are after that. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[tgrfan2]

Thanks for that info. I asked the service manager if that would void my power train warranty and he said he didn't think so. I think I had better get that in writing. I pulled the fiver to the campgrounds yesterday with the 98 and backed the 2018 under before leveling the fiver. Not pretty. I have some numbers to crunch but the only way it will work is with a fifth wheel hitch at max height. My bro in laws 2019 2500 drops 2.5 inches with his similar fiver. I hope my 3500 will be similar.
Are you getting any spring wind up on take off with the removed leaf? I got some when I put the "livestock" version transmission in my 12V.

 

[AH64ID]

Should actually be less axle wrap as there are no more lift blocks and the leaves haven't been modified.

 

[CToney]

Thanks for that info. I asked the service manager if that would void my power train warranty and he said he didn't think so. I think I had better get that in writing. I pulled the fiver to the campgrounds yesterday with the 98 and backed the 2018 under before leveling the fiver. Not pretty. I have some numbers to crunch but the only way it will work is with a fifth wheel hitch at max height. My bro in laws 2019 2500 drops 2.5 inches with his similar fiver. I hope my 3500 will be similar.
Are you getting any spring wind up on take off with the removed leaf? I got some when I put the "livestock" version transmission in my 12V.

Not removing a leaf just removing blocks below leaves. I never asked about warranty. With all these guys lifting you’d think lowering would be fine...

 

[Mark31]

CToney, you are how old and washed up? Profile says 43! You ain't dry behind the ears yet, boy! We old codgers are laffin at you! This should be in joke of the day! Bbbbaaabeee, uuuuuuu ain't ssssseen nnnnnothin yyyet! All this with not one bit of seriousness! LOL

 

[grabinov]

Hey CToney,

I notice that the bump stops end up pretty close to the axle after you've lowered the truck. If you get tired of bouncing off of them, Thuren has a replacement bump stop they call "Boogie Rated" which is much more progressive and replaces the factory one. It's almost like a shock absorber (I guess technically it IS a shock absorber). Anyway it's a lot easier on your lower back! Not trying to sell anything, but I know what it's like when your back hurts! LOL!

 

[CToney]

Only lowered 11/8”. Its a stiff suspension I doubt it will bounce off bumps stops much at all.

 

[tgrfan2]

I hope I will know more this week. I have been trying to decide on the fifth wheel hitch and have worn out a tape and several pens. I have been going back and forth between several with puck adapters but supplies are limited and some are on backorder. I have gone full circle back to a manual slide with the puck system built in and 17 to 19 inch height adjustment. It still may look like a 747 taking off but I think it will work.
I am getting the slider tomorrow if CW can lay hands on it. Brake controller comes Tuesday. Back to dealer Wednesday for window tint and a preheat code that came up Friday morning. I hope to hook her up late in the week unless I can get a liner applied by then.
I am beginning to long for that simple 12V life back.

 

[CToney]

Trailer sits level now. I need a nice new Merritt or Wilson Aluminum trailer to pull now! Too many salty roads for the old Norberts.

 

[CToney]

To follow up on this thread. The springs have broke in now and are noticeably less arched when new. I have only towed trailer in picture above. I hauled a load of 14 750lb steer calves the other day and the truck sat too low... I’ll be moving the spacers back or moving a one or two of them. The sulastic shackles raised it a 1/2”

 

[bcbender]

I hooked up my 16K fiver this weekend for the first time and the truck sat dead level, so I assume it'll squat a bit when I get the rest of our "stuff" in it, new truck is a little higher than my 04 was, but ride was good.. don't miss the overloads on my 04, as John said they were pretty much useless, I added air bags on that truck to keep from bouncing on/off them when cycling the suspenstion, with my fiver it 'just touched' them.. How far / long did it take for your springs to break in?

 

[CToney]

3200 Kms on the truck now most with the trailer attached.

 

[bcbender]

well we are about the same then, Ive been towing light stuff tho.

 

[CToney]

Only 160kms with decent load.

 

[CToney]

My springs broke in and the sulastic shackles did too. I had to relocate shims back below axle. With trailer on unloaded it was ok. Loaded and it was too low. Hopefully this fixes it. If not I’ll have to add another shim.