Who's Towed 3+ Tons With A 2/4 Drop?

[VR4Rob]

I'm wondering if anybody has used their Silverado/Sierra 1500 to tow 3+ tons with a 2/4 inch drop and what setup did you use to do this safely? The truck I'm using is an 01 4.8L Silverado 2WD and has towed my car + trailer (which I'm LIBERALLY guessing at 6K lbs) with no problem over several hundred miles at a time. I would like to lower the truck but my only concern is how much the truck squats down with all the weight back there. I'm afraid the extra drop will render my truck useless for towing, especially with a 275/55/20 tire. I don't tow this much weight often, probably only 5 or so times a year but it's really nice to have a truck that can do it.

 

So if you've done this, what was your suspension setup??

[svensk]

Only way to know for sure is to lower it then hook the trailer (loaded up) and see if sits well enough above the bump stops.

[VR4Rob]

Only way to know for sure is to lower it then hook the trailer (loaded up) and see if sits well enough above the bump stops.

Obviously I'd like to save myself some grief and a lot of cursing if this doesn't work out Anybody else have any suggestions?

[jrrod2004]

Only way to know for sure is to lower it then hook the trailer (loaded up) and see if sits well enough above the bump stops.

Obviously I'd like to save myself some grief and a lot of cursing if this doesn't work out Anybody else have any suggestions?

 

 

 

Depends on how you drop the rear end, if you do it like this:

 

http://www.sporttruck.com/techarticles/071...t/photo_20.html

 

you might be able to still install one of these (leaf helper), but I have not tried this yet. (I think it would be the same effect once the suspension is modified with this addition)

 

 

[s-ten]

What you could do is drop your truck the way you want it and then cut the bump stops a bit to give you some extra clearance. If this did not allow for enough clearance you could then buy some airbags to assist the springs, which would bring the back up to level.

 

I have never had a dropped truck so I cannot say this from experience. But my dad used to use them in the early '90's in his 2500 truck (not lowered) that couldn't quite handle the slide-in camper that he put on it.

[VR4Rob]

Thanks for the suggestions. I might have to go the airbag route.