Towing with a lowered truck

[cmexlr8]

I need some opinions/help with what I need to do to my truck to help with towing. I will be towing a 3500 lb car and occasionally a boat. The truck is lowered(see pics here - http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9415.0). I figure that I will need a under the bumper hitch, possibly helper springs or air bag helpers. I have a brake controller that I am going to put on. I am not worried about the transmission or motor, I just need guidance on issues with towing with a lowered truck.

[Captkaos]

How is it lowered? how much tongue weight will it have?
Helper airbags should work fine in leveling the load.

[cmexlr8]

How is it lowered? how much tongue weight will it have?
Helper airbags should work fine in leveling the load.

It is lowered in the back with shackle relocation. Not sure on the tonque weight -  I will be pulling a 3500 pound Chevelle with an 18 ft open trailer.

[Lt.Del]

Obvioulsly your suspension no longer has the stock "play" for up and down movement. Towing a load requires a certain amount of up and down movement.  However, by beefing up your suspension with bags or stiff leafs will be beneficial---you'll probably have to anyway to reduce sag under the weight.

Something to look into would be a hitch distributor.  What it does is help distribute the rear weight from the tongue to the front wheels of the tow vehicle.   I have one on my 30' camper trailer and it works wonders.   As soon as I tighten up the distribution arms with the chains, when I turn the crank to put all weight on the vehicle, the rear  doesn't sag any additional amount.  They are amazing.

[Captkaos]

If it has a shackle reversal ONLY it and is dropped that low, you are going to be hitting the framerails with a trailer.

[Novadiecast]

I think it can be done!

[cmexlr8]

If it has a shackle reversal ONLY it and is dropped that low, you are going to be hitting the framerails with a trailer.

I bought this truck recently, so I am still figuring things out. It has lowering shackles and hangers in the rear and front lower control arms with recessed spring buckets. It is really to low for my liking. I was looking at the front and in addition to the recessed buckets, the springs look collapsed. My guess is someone heated them with a torch to get them to sag. There is only about 1" of travel and I can clearly see where the control arm is contacting the subframe. I also think someone has removed a leaf in the rear to make the truck sit even lower. I need to figure out my options to fix it right so it still has a good stance, but it is safe and will have a chance at towing.

[Captkaos]

Shackles AND hangers are more like it.  You would still need helper bags.
If the front springs were heated, I would replace them...

[cmexlr8]

Shackles AND hangers are more like it.  You would still need helper bags.
If the front springs were heated, I would replace them...

Since it has the lowering style lower control arms, should I buy stock height springs or lowering springs? I want the end result to be lowered but a little higher than now. I suppose I need to figure out how much the LCA's I have are meant to lower and go from there.

[JJSZABO]

I think it can be done!

 

That does NOT look safe

[cmexlr8]

I think it can be done!

 

That does NOT look safe

my guess is that that truck is on bags and it is sitting at 'Parade Rest'. I am pretty sure it runs down the road with enough air in the bags to get a suitable ride height.

[JJSZABO]

I would hope so 

[Captkaos]

Lowered control arms generally came in at about 2 or 2.5" drops.  It would help to know which yours are or who made them.
How much higher do you want it from where it is now?  Now it is roughly a 4/6 drop.   (Unless the front is sitting/riding on the bumpstops.
I don't think you want to go with stock springs, but maybe 1 or 1.5" drop springs.
On the rear, regardless of how it is lowered, you HAVE to C-notch the frame, or the axle will be banding on it with a load.  If you added a helper bag setup you could use it to support some of the weight also

I 99% sure the dually is on bags.  There is a few in a thread on here with some.  One pulling a load down the road draggin.

[comp]

 i'd bet on bags