Re: Re: Anybody tow with a lowered truck?

From: Mike Styer (m_sanders@go.com)
Date: Thu Aug 24 2000 - 20:43:57 EDT


Most factory sport trucks (RT, Lighting, new Chevy SS) have suspension setups that greatly differ from the stock setup, tuned or sometime replaced completely by the factory for a SPORT ride rather than a TRUCK ride. I'm guessing when Ma Mopar or Ford, Jr. design a sport truck, they are assuming their demographic is not wanting to tow a fifth wheel AND take exit ramps at 90 mph safely.

As for aftermarket lower system, I can tell you from my own experience you can tow a substantial load safely. I used to have a lowered Chevy Silverado (lowering blocks and chopped springs for about a 3/4 drop) and I towed a 3500 lb Boy Scout trailer at least once a month with ney a problem.

Towing capacity is one of the many trade off we must deal with to put more sport in our trucks. Lowered too far and your bed will slam against your diff. Personally I also noticed that load capacity in general is lesson by riding on lower profile tires. My Chevy started out with 255/40/15's and two sets of tires, I ended up with some 265/50/15. It rode nice, and I didn't feel every bump in the road.

As far as my Dakota is concerned, I just from TN to NY (about 1000 miles) with the bed of my truck loaded with about 700 lbs of furniture, towing a 6x12 trailer probably weighing in around 2500 lbs. I've got a 1-1/2" lowering block on the back...NO problems.

Sorry for being so long. Hope it helps.

Mike S.
93 V6 5-speed CC Sport

>U know the R/T is very slightly lowered and DC says it may not be safe to tow>more than 2,000 with them because of the lowered suspension. So lowering a
>truck does reduce the safe towing limit.
>
>Will Coughlin wrote:
>
>> I was just wondering,Does anybody tow anything substantial with their
>> lowered truck? I saw a lowered ext cab,2wd 318/auto dak towing a lawn
>> service trailer around the other day and I couldn't catch the guy to talk to
>> him.It looked like at least a 2"/4" and maybe a 3"/5" drop and it seemed to
>> handle the trailer real well.Any experiences?

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