Lowered truck guys that still launch / tow - get in here

[Bigbore500r]

Need some input from you guys that tow and launch with lowered trucks -

Picked up this '15 GMC All-Terrain 4wd. Instead of going the leveled / bigger tire route, im thinking of dropping it with a 3/5 kit and leaving it on the factory 20's that it already has. I don't want to destroy the towing capability. I know i'd need to add bags for sure to keep it level if I'm dropping the rear the extra 2" to level it unloaded.

Anyone done this to their 14-18 1500 4wd? How does it tow? What kit did you use? How low can you go?

This truck may get a 2.9 whipple in the future.....so the lowered stance and better handling would be a plus for that setup. That will be a build thread in it's own.....

Of course - the factory ride is great, so ideally something that keeps the ride fairly plush, and can still yank the boat when the bags are aired up.

What. Say. Ye.

 

[Tank]

YAAAAAAAS Jerry! YAS!

 

[Bigbore500r]

YAAAAAAAS Jerry! YAS!

View attachment 1002745

Some advice! Lol
GET TO THE CHOPPA

 

[SOD]

I have a 21 4wd that I want to do the same thing to. Wanted the 6.2 and 10 speed and chevy thinks it should only come in 4wd. There was a member that did a thread on dropping a maroon or red late model, but I've tried to find it a couple of times. Hopefully someone sharper than me can dig it up.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I have a 21 4wd that I want to do the same thing to. Wanted the 6.2 and 10 speed and chevy thinks it should only come in 4wd. There was a member that did a thread on dropping a maroon or red late model, but I've tried to find it a couple of times. Hopefully someone sharper than me can dig it up.

I’m just curious on how the truck rides empty and when towing with bags aired up. I know some airbags have to be kept with some pressure in them even when now being used for extra load capacity, or they can tear. That messes with the ride.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Been there, done that. 2019 Z71 RST 4wd, inez hit rods upper/lower arms, belltech knuckles, and flip kit with bags in the rear. Just be sure to check your front druveshaft angles, I blew up a cv on the front because my shaft was too short. Put 1" longer shafts in and haven had an issue

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[Bigbore500r]

Been there, done that. 2019 Z71 RST 4wd, inez hit rods upper/lower arms, belltech knuckles, and flip kit with bags in the rear. Just be sure to check your front druveshaft angles, I blew up a cv on the front because my shaft was too short. Put 1" longer shafts in and haven had an issue View attachment 1002757 View attachment 1002758 View attachment 1002760

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

What size drop did you do, and how is the ride u loaded / towing?

 

[240Hallett]

I’m just curious on how the truck rides empty and when towing with bags aired up. I know some airbags have to be kept with some pressure in them even when now being used for extra load capacity, or they can tear. That messes with the ride.

The bags in my 03 have a minimum pressure of 5 or 10 and I don’t think it affects the ride. Stock suspension with 2 inch lowering shackles. Onboard compressor has a low presser switch to keep the minimum.

 

[cole_skier]

Did my 2 wheel drive belltech 3 and 5. Does great towing and launching.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

What size drop did you do, and how is the ride u loaded / towing?

It ended up being a 5/5. Stiffer than stock but still better that 3/4 ton. Because the rear travel is shortened so much anything less that 20lbs in the rear bags and the axle housing will bottom out on the frame. Loaded or towing I'm usually running 50-55 lbs in the bags.

One thing is that my bags are 2 separate lines, im not running a t fitting, that way each bag maintains its own pressure and keeps the body roll down

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[buck35]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

 

[TrollerDave]

Did my 2 wheel drive belltech 3 and 5. Does great towing and launching.

Are those 20” wheels? Any rubbing or bottoming out? Did you notice any difference in the ride? I was thinking about doing a 3/5. Truck looks good.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Bag it or it will never ride right.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

Because we’re bad ass

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Site 6 might give you some problems

 

[Bigbore500r]

Site 6 might give you some problems

It’s 4wd should be fine with my 28’ boat. Never had an issue with my other 4wd’s there.

But I can’t fathom why I see M31’s and bigger launching there lol. Site 6 is a horrible choice for long trailers and heavy boats. Avoid at all cost

 

[buck35]

Because we’re bad ass

Alrighty then, Billy...lol

 

[H20 Toie]

Been there, done that. 2019 Z71 RST 4wd, inez hit rods upper/lower arms, belltech knuckles, and flip kit with bags in the rear. Just be sure to check your front druveshaft angles, I blew up a cv on the front because my shaft was too short. Put 1" longer shafts in and haven had an issue View attachment 1002757 View attachment 1002758 View attachment 1002760

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

Great now i have to rethink the lift, that looks bad ass, who did the install?

 

[Dkahnjob]

Nice El Camino in the background Chet.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Alrighty then, Billy...lol

That’s....us!

 

[BUDMAN]

Been there, done that. 2019 Z71 RST 4wd, inez hit rods upper/lower arms, belltech knuckles, and flip kit with bags in the rear. Just be sure to check your front druveshaft angles, I blew up a cv on the front because my shaft was too short. Put 1" longer shafts in and haven had an issue View attachment 1002757 View attachment 1002758 View attachment 1002760

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

Love this truck.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Great now i have to rethink the lift, that looks bad ass, who did the install?

I’ve always wanted to lift or level everything, and that was my first thought when I picked this truck up. but just think....
Properly lowered = keep the mpg and the ride it has now, no tire noise from big all terrains, easy enter / exit, easy to load the bed, better handling , and looks gangster! I never go this route, kinda digging on the idea

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Nice El Camino in the background Chet.

I'm excited to see it when you finish it

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[X Hoser]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

My xtra-cab chevy 2WD standard bed lowered 3/5 rode and handled better than my 2005 C6 Corvette! I really regret selling that truck.

 

[Dkahnjob]

The El Camino is almost done, this week I think.

 

[240Hallett]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

A better question would be why don’t the manufactures build a truck that actually sits level?

 

[HALLETT BOY]

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 2wd with factory air suspension. Can lower height by 3 inches to get in and out of easy , automatically lowers an inch after 50mph for aerodynamics, and I can raise it 3 inches up to 30mph for off road . Hook up boat and it self levels . Best option ever !

 

[Jed-O]

A better question would be why don’t the manufactures build a truck that actually sits level?

Because when you actually use your truck and put over a thousand pounds in the bed you don't really want the headlights pointed straight in the sky.
You could employ airbags to the rear axle...
PS.
Maybe it's my snow driving and off kilter situations that I get into often and actually use 4WD and of course I'm on the mountain.
Why in the hell would you want to lower your 4WD truck? Seems pretty counter productive to the entire point of buying a 4WD in the first place...

 

[FishSniper]

Never understood why someone would buy a truck to lower it but to each their own.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

Because when you actually use your truck and put over a thousand pounds in the bed you don't really want the headlights pointed straight in the sky.
You could employ airbags to the rear axle...
PS.
Maybe it's my snow driving and off kilter situations that I get into often and actually use 4WD and of course I'm on the mountain.
Why in the hell would you want to lower your 4WD truck? Seems pretty counter productive to the entire point of buying a 4WD in the first place...

Actually Chevy had a lowered awd truck called the SS , pretty bad ass . Would work great in snow and wet / slippery conditions .

 

[Jed-O]

Actually Chevy had a lowered awd truck called the SS , pretty bad ass . Would work great in snow and wet / slippery conditions .

Cool. Take it over a 2' snow and ice berm and get high centered then tell me how practical it is. I get it if it's just a toy, and you just need it to pull your flatbottom and make sure you can get off the ramp or off the soft shoulder on rice rd. But if you think you are taking it up the mountain to go skiing on a stormy weekend, I've got news for you... It's not going to end up well...

 

[buck35]

Actually Chevy had a lowered awd truck called the SS , pretty bad ass . Would work great in snow and wet / slippery conditions .

What's the deepest snow you've ever driven in?

 

[BUDMAN]

I’ve always wanted to lift or level everything, and that was my first thought when I picked this truck up. but just think....
Properly lowered = keep the mpg and the ride it has now, no tire noise from big all terrains, easy enter / exit, easy to load the bed, better handling , and looks gangster! I never go this route, kinda digging on the idea

Things go in cycles. First it was lowered trucks the cal custom Trader style, then it went to lifted trucks and now it seems to be cycling back to lowered trucks. I used to lower all my trucks. I purchased a new body style 99 single cab with the intention to lower it. Showed up for my appointment and sitting out front was a red single cab that they just finished lifting. Let’s just say I left with a lifted truck . Since seeing SOCALCRICKETTS truck a few months back it’s had me thinking lowered 4 wheel drive might be the way to go

 

[brgrcru]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

The bigger ? How many people who have $50/80k 4x4 in so cal, actually use there truck for there intended 4x4 use , 5% maybe.
A lifted truck on snow or ice sucks . Our old ml350 or Audi q5 would run circles around my lifted 4x4 all day long .
So with that said , nothing I have is left stock. I guess it's just personnel preferences .

 

[RogerThat99]

Not the same year you are asking about, but I had a 2006 Suburban 4WD that was lowered with a 3"/5" kit (I don't remember which kit). I drove it in the snow a lot, and it did great. At the time, I ran a 50 series Toyo Proxies on it.

As far as towing, the most I ever towed was a 23' Wakeboard boat. Probably about 4,000 lbs.

I ran a 6" drop hitch, turned upside down so it raised it 6".

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[FCT]

Need some input from you guys that tow and launch with lowered trucks -

Picked up this '15 GMC All-Terrain 4wd. Instead of going the leveled / bigger tire route, im thinking of dropping it with a 3/5 kit and leaving it on the factory 20's that it already has. I don't want to destroy the towing capability. I know i'd need to add bags for sure to keep it level if I'm dropping the rear the extra 2" to level it unloaded.

Anyone done this to their 14-18 1500 4wd? How does it tow? What kit did you use? How low can you go?

This truck may get a 2.9 whipple in the future.....so the lowered stance and better handling would be a plus for that setup. That will be a build thread in it's own.....

Of course - the factory ride is great, so ideally something that keeps the ride fairly plush, and can still yank the boat when the bags are aired up.

What. Say. Ye.

View attachment 1002743

View attachment 1002744

I had a Sierra 1500 2wd 4/6 drop on 26” wheels and it launched and towed my 26’ hallet no problem

 

[mbrown2]

Been there, done that. 2019 Z71 RST 4wd, inez hit rods upper/lower arms, belltech knuckles, and flip kit with bags in the rear. Just be sure to check your front druveshaft angles, I blew up a cv on the front because my shaft was too short. Put 1" longer shafts in and haven had an issue View attachment 1002757 View attachment 1002758 View attachment 1002760

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

Sick!

 

[Riverryder]

@Jed-O stock 4x4 isn’t going over 2’ of snow without bumper plowing thru the snow.

Lowering a 4x4 is because why not?!
throwing a sc on your boat why? Because you want too.
His truck his money.
I take my truck in the dirt, snow and it’s used to tow my boat. After seeing the mileage drop from the bigger tires and lift. Wish I would have thrown a lowering shackle on my truck with some 20s and nitto ridge grapplers to get best of both worlds. I drive and use my boat a lot. 44k in 2 years.

 

[H20 Toie]

What is this 2" of snow you guys are talking about? think i saw that in a movie, is that a real thing? i just sold my lifted crew cab dually 4x4, my 4 link coilover, arb lockers one ton axles 37" tire blazer, my 4" lifted suburban and not one of them did i ever even put in four wheel drive, my jeep LJ had lockers, beadlocks and never used them, but they all looked bad ass, so maybe going the lowered route might be cool, i am used to driving around speed bumps and into driveways at an angle after owing the hellcat for a few years, The truck isn't going to be able to tow the boat anyway

 

[lakemadness]

Because when you actually use your truck and put over a thousand pounds in the bed you don't really want the headlights pointed straight in the sky.
You could employ airbags to the rear axle...
PS.
Maybe it's my snow driving and off kilter situations that I get into often and actually use 4WD and of course I'm on the mountain.
Why in the hell would you want to lower your 4WD truck? Seems pretty counter productive to the entire point of buying a 4WD in the first place...

I have a lowered f150 4wd. I’m not going off-road. It snows where I live. Still does really well in the snow. Pretty simple.

 

[lakemadness]

Cool. Take it over a 2' snow and ice berm and get high centered then tell me how practical it is. I get it if it's just a toy, and you just need it to pull your flatbottom and make sure you can get off the ramp or off the soft shoulder on rice rd. But if you think you are taking it up the mountain to go skiing on a stormy weekend, I've got news for you... It's not going to end up well...

we got a foot of snow here over a weekend. My truck went through it like nothing. A friend got his two wheel drive stuck, I went and pulled him out.

a lowered truck still has some clearance, at least mine does.

 

[cole_skier]

Are those 20” wheels? Any rubbing or bottoming out? Did you notice any difference in the ride? I was thinking about doing a 3/5. Truck looks good.

Thank you I love my my little truck. Yes they are 20’s. Haven’t had them rub from bottoming out. Will rub sometimes when backing up and turning on the inner fender wall. Stock height and width tires.

 

[lakemadness]

Just curious, but why does everybody in California ,southwest need to either raise or lower their truck? Not feeling it. ...

Have you spent any time out in California? Cars are kind of a thing- car culture. I grew up there, it’s a big part of the west coast. You see custom cars everywhere. From a simple lowered/lifted truck or modded import to $1M Singer Porsches, rare Ferraris, vintage cars, hot rods etc.

If you haven’t spent time there you just wouldn’t get it / appreciate it. Where I live now, even thought racing here is huge, the car scene is a joke compared to Southern California.

 

[SFV2RVR]

My last 2 trucks have been lowered and i wouldn’t change a thing. Both of them rode incredibly nice.

2017 GMC Sierra Denali. 3/5 Mcgaughys kit with helper bags. 6.2l w/ Magnusson tvs2300, kooks long tubes and tune. Made 525rwhp.

My current truck is a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali with a IHC 3/5 kit with rear helper bags. Rides better than my platinum Escalade driving around town and towing the boat.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lakemadness]

I wish I could make mine ride just a little softer. I have Belltech adjustable coil overs up front with Inez adjustable upper a arms and a flip kit in the rear with fox shocks. If the road is smooth it’s fine, handles well with very little body roll.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I've always been a lifted truck guy and never had any desire to lower one. I use my trucks as trucks and also off road. However, I would like a truck that no one makes, a regular cab, short bed with biggest V8, and top level interior. Up until a few years ago you could order a truck like this except for the interior was always base level with cloth seats and no fancy stuff. Now you can't even order a regular cab short bed.

I thought a little hot rod truck like this could be lowered and would handle pretty well. I own a couple Corvettes and love them but you sit really low and they are hard to get in and out of. A hot rod truck would have a good seating position with more interior room and a huge "trunk" in the back. Imagine that truck with a 6 speed manual trans for the ultimate sport truck.

 

[lbhsbz]

A better question would be why don’t the manufactures build a truck that actually sits level?

They sit level when you load them up...like a truck

 

[bocco]

Explain the leveling to me. I have a brand new RAM and it looks pretty level to me.

 

[Ricks raft]

A better question would be why don’t the manufactures build a truck that actually sits level?

Because if you actually use it as a truck the nose would be in the air

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

Taking a 4WD truck and lowering it is like a chick with Big tits getting a breast reduction. It just doesn’t make sense [emoji848]