truck to tall in rear

[RedRam1]

Jumbo Jet,



I tried to send you a private email on this topic, but am not sure if I did it right. Anyway, the rest of the TDR gang may be interested as well.



I would like to lower the back end of my truck a couple of inches, and I have some questions about your home built lowering blocks:



1. I don't see a sway bar on your truck. Thought all trucks with the camper pkg had the bar, and overload springs. Do you have a swaybar? If so, did it work in conjunction with your blocks with out any massaging?



2. I've read/heard that the factory lowering kit included shorter shocks. Did you use the factory shocks with your blocks? If no, what did you use?



3. Did you have your truck re-aligned after lowering?



4. Out of curiousity, do you remember what your U-bolts cost?



5. Is there anything you would do differently based on lessons learned doing the first two?

 

[RedRam1]

Jumbo,



Thanks for replying to my private email, Apparently I posted at the same time as you were answering. In case anyone else is interested in your answers to my questions, I'll summarize your responses here.



Q1. You replied that you have the swaybar, and it works fine with the shorter spacer blocks.



Q2. You stated that your Rancho's worked with no problems.



Q3. You did re-align.



Q4. $50



Q5. No?

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Q5. Paid more attention to the overload spring and made sure it was closer to the bump stops to engage quicker under heavy load.

 

[RedRam1]

Jumbo,



One more question:



The dimension for the spacer blocks referenced in your sketch is 2. 5" x 3" x 6". After looking at your photos one more time, it appears that the spacer mounts on the axle housing are not flat plates, but are "bathtub" shaped receptacles. Your spacers appear to be sitting on top of the mounts in lieu of inside the depression. Obviously, what you have done works. Is the footprint of the blocks on your truck exactly 3 x 6? Also, any particular reason you sized the blocks to fit on top of, rather than inside of the axle mounts?



Sorry if I've misinterpreted something, my question is based solely on what I think I see in your photos... I'm at work and the truck's at home, so I can't go look/measure - should have checked things out under the truck last night, but didn't have time. The guy at the weld shop is going to cut my steel this morning, and I need to be sure about the length/width dimensions for the blocks.



Thanks again for your help.

 

[canblue]

Just a little confused on height numbers

I have a stock 99 2500 4x4, LWB,Quad. I measured

the front and rear wheel wells. Front is 39 and rear is 41 1/2 or there abouts. I have not lowered the truck. In a previous post, the picture implies that these are the numbers after lowering or am I missing something here?



Thanks.

 

[Tractorat]

I had the same problem with my trailer. I took it to an RV place and they flipped the trailer axle so it rides under the springs on the trailer rather than on top. I got a long drop for my hitch, but I only have to go down about half way on it (I got the drop before I though about flipping the trailer axle) Trailer rides exactly level now. It cost me about $200 to flip the axles.

 

[JBlock]

Shortbed and a fifth wheel

Originally posted by Jumbo Jet

I lowered my 2001 4x4 and my 2002 4x4 2-1/2". Drove 2001 35,000 miles with quite a bit of it towing 5th wheel trailer - no problems.



Driven the 2002 300 miles towing 5th wheel trailer with no problems.



Hi I noticed you are a short bed, I thought you couldn't tow a fifth wheel with short bed, Any comments, DO you have special trailing hitch are anything extra.



Thanks Joe

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Extended 5th wheel hitch pin.



I've never towed with LWB.



I've never had a problem. It will turn more than 90 degrees on a level surface. Just have to wacth those turns on the uneven ground.

 

[canblue]

What is the real scoop on this

I am getting very confused about all of this. If I lower the rear of the truck by 2 inches, do I need to do anything to the front or rear? Should I add air bags on the rear? I understand that Dodge has lift block or spacers for other trucks, maybe a 2500, that could be used.



What about the axle travel/ride heigth and the bump stops? This has nothing to do with ground clearance or tire size.



How much impact is there on the front end, other than a new alignment?

 

[Boondocker]

adjustments

There are a couple of things that need attention if you lower the rear of the truck besides a front end alignment.



Headlight aiming needs to be adjusted. You might be at the upper limit when empty, but if you put on a payload, you'll surely give oncoming motorists reason to flash you.



Also, something that I've seen no mention of regarding front or rear "leveling" is the ride height sensitive rear brake proportioning. Supposedly, when the rear of the truck is lower than normal (empty), more braking is biased to the rear brakes. I have not been able to verify this.



I think I need some nerf bar steps that extend wheel well to wheel well.



Regards,

Neil