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06-10-2013, 11:54 AM
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#1
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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Lowering my truck without losing capabilities
Let me start off with this first - this is purely an education thing. I'm extremely unlikely to actually pursue this. I'm mostly just curious and wonder if it's possible.
I bought a 4x4 truck for the capabilities of having all 6 wheels drive vs. just the rear 4. I had heard that duallies can have issues on wet and snow. I did not buy the 4x4 for the ability to drive offroad (outside of occasional grass). No rock crawling, no trails - I live a simple life.
What I don't like about the 4x4 is that raised the height of the truck vs. the 4x2 by a couple of inches (or so I think).
Is it possible to lower the truck back down to the 4x2 height and not lose any payload capacity?
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-10-2013, 12:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Country
Posts: 290
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Did ya check the cummins forum site? I'm sure its been done before. By taking any blocks out of the rear and I'm sure someone makes lowering springs for the front. Don't know if that would effect the load capacity or not.
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Matt & Kathie
2022 Cedar Creek
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06-10-2013, 12:11 PM
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#3
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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I didn't look there. I'm too truck-stupid that 99% (purely made up number like most statistics! ) of their threads are over my head.
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-10-2013, 01:33 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 50
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I have a Chevy 2500hd. I know that is different than yours but I lowered my truck 1" in the front and 2-1/2" in the rear. The front I turned the torsion bars down till the CV shaft was level/parallel with the ground. At the rear I used lowering shackles.
I am running airbags from airlift that are a custom mount for lowered trucks. They add 2000lbs of capacity. The bags keep my truck from squatting to much and make it ride like a dream when loaded.
I'm not a fan of having a big tall truck. I use my truck and the extra 2-1/2" lower the bed is, makes it a whole lot nicer to load and unload.
On a duelly you could most likely go 3 to 5 inches on the rear alone. They sit really high in the rear. If you do it all with a shackle don't forget to adjust your pinion angle.
Air ride makes a lot of different bags. Call their tech line
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2008 Silverado 2500HD DMax LTZ cc sb 4x4 EFILive tuned, Blocked, Deleted, Rerouted and removed B&W Turnover ball and 5th Companion or Pullrite 24K, riderite 5000 airbags
2011 Sabre 32BHOK-6 most of the options
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06-10-2013, 01:46 PM
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#5
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Lowered the rear of my 05 Silverado 2" to make it sit level. It does not lower you load capacity as it doesn't change any spring rate.
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06-12-2013, 03:37 PM
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#6
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daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Let me start off with this first - this is purely an education thing. I'm extremely unlikely to actually pursue this. I'm mostly just curious and wonder if it's possible.
I bought a 4x4 truck for the capabilities of having all 6 wheels drive vs. just the rear 4. I had heard that duallies can have issues on wet and snow. I did not buy the 4x4 for the ability to drive offroad (outside of occasional grass). No rock crawling, no trails - I live a simple life.
What I don't like about the 4x4 is that raised the height of the truck vs. the 4x2 by a couple of inches (or so I think).
Is it possible to lower the truck back down to the 4x2 height and not lose any payload capacity?
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Do these still use a solid front axle? If so, then no you can't. I know my 05 Dodge was solid front axle and if you lowered it the pumpkin would hit the oil pan.
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2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
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06-12-2013, 03:51 PM
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#7
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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I... have no idea. I can take pictures- but I've certainly have never seen a pumpkin .
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-12-2013, 03:53 PM
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#8
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeeplj8
Do these still use a solid front axle? If so, then no you can't. I know my 05 Dodge was solid front axle and if you lowered it the pumpkin would hit the oil pan.
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Boy that confuses this old man, I've always called the pumpkin the rearend housing (differential) and the oil pan is under the engine.
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06-12-2013, 03:59 PM
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#9
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Engineer of Crazy Train
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tiverton, RI
Posts: 1,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
Boy that confuses this old man, I've always called the pumpkin the rearend housing (differential) and the oil pan is under the engine.
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I think he is talking about the front differential housing. But aren't those usually offset to one side or another.
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TV - 2015 Ram Truck EcoDiesel
TV - 2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
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06-12-2013, 04:06 PM
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#10
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daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
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Flabio - please turn your man card in at the next rest stop.
Coot - I was going to poke fun at your Chevy for being without a front diff just to make you look, but yours is independent front, vs solid axle so you cannot see the pumpkin. front or rear, it will always be a pumpkin.
ChooChoo - knows his business, but although they are offset that is still the problem. It just hits one side of the pan not the center.
__________________
2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
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06-12-2013, 04:06 PM
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#11
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74
I think he is talking about the front differential housing. But aren't those usually offset to one side or another.
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Regardless, lowering the rearend does not lower the engine any closer to the front axle. You could take the rear end completely out of the truck and sit the rear bumper on the ground and it still doesn't change the engine-front axle relationship.
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06-12-2013, 04:08 PM
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#12
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daydreaming about camping
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KC area
Posts: 1,404
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
Regardless, lowering the rearend does not lower the engine any closer to the front axle. You could take the rear end completely out of the truck and sit the rear bumper on the ground and it still doesn't change the engine-front axle relationship.
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I think Flabio wants to lower the whole truck because he has trouble getting in with his long flowing locks...
__________________
2013 Coachmen Freedom Express 320BHDS pulled by a 2005 F250 King Ranch CC
A rainy day camping is better than a sunny day at work.
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06-12-2013, 04:14 PM
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#13
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeeplj8
I think Flabio wants to lower the whole truck because he has trouble getting in with his long flowing locks...
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Might have to put a pool noodle on the axle.
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06-12-2013, 04:23 PM
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#14
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeeplj8
I think Flabio wants to lower the whole truck because he has trouble getting in with his long flowing locks...
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"Flabio" ...
Did you really just call me Flabio?!
Laughing my tush off - my wife thinks I'm insane. Nicely done. I know I made that reference before, but hilarious to see someone else say it.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-12-2013, 04:28 PM
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#15
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
"Flabio" ...
Did you really just call me Flabio?!
Laughing my tush off - my wife thinks I'm insane. Nicely done. I know I made that reference before, but hilarious to see someone else say it.
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I guess long hair on a man is ok as long as he doesn't squat to pee.
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06-12-2013, 04:31 PM
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#16
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
I guess long hair on a man is ok as long as he doesn't squat to pee.
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This may belong on the secrets thread - but I'm not against sitting to pee in some situations.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-12-2013, 04:35 PM
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#17
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Engineer of Crazy Train
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tiverton, RI
Posts: 1,585
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Just did some searches and yes, it looks like you're out of luck.
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TV - 2015 Ram Truck EcoDiesel
TV - 2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
TT - 2015 Rockwood Roo 183 (SOLD due to 2 years off work)
Locomotive Engineer
Nights Camping --- 2015 - 19 Camped | Winterized -- 2014 - 18
Come read my Camping Blogs
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06-12-2013, 04:48 PM
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#18
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74
Just did some searches and yes, it looks like you're out of luck.
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Any idea why/how the 4x2s are lower? Guess I should confirm that they really are..
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-12-2013, 04:56 PM
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#19
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Engineer of Crazy Train
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tiverton, RI
Posts: 1,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Any idea why/how the 4x2s are lower? Guess I should confirm that they really are..
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Clearance for all the front drive train. If I was to buy a dually to just tow a fifth wheel, I would get a 2wd one. I had one. YES, I did get in situations where, mostly due to highway tires, I got stuck. But once I switched better tires, it was a lot better. Just learned not to get myself where I shouldn't go. Of course, I was younger and stupider back then.
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TV - 2015 Ram Truck EcoDiesel
TV - 2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
TT - 2015 Rockwood Roo 183 (SOLD due to 2 years off work)
Locomotive Engineer
Nights Camping --- 2015 - 19 Camped | Winterized -- 2014 - 18
Come read my Camping Blogs
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06-12-2013, 07:14 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,137
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"Is it possible to lower the truck back down to the 4x2 height and not lose any payload capacity?"
Yes. Of course it is.
Anything can be done if there is enough money involved.
A shop could cut up the frame, change A arms, remove blocks, move spring mounts, etc and with air bags you could set it down on the frame rails.
BTW, if it is an independent front suspension the front dif housing is bolted into the frame, only the A arms move.
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2012 Surveyor SV264
NW Oregon
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