Good leveling kits?
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 2
Hi Joe;
Got bad news for you on that hauling thing. Any drop of the rear will lose some weight bearing ability. The shackles, etc. all will lower your maximum weight. And when she's got a load on her, she will sit down in the rear like an old Chevy.
Ford made them able to carry a lot of weight, and Ford knew they looked better level. It was a compromise.
I got used to my truck standing up at the rear after a couple months. Like you, I found it tall enough already without jacking up the front.
I looked into lowering, more for the sport thing, but also because it sometimes strains my bad knee to ‘climb’ up into the cab.
The three shops I talked with all admitted I would lose some weight carrying ability, and all conceded that no matter how it was leveled, it would 'squat' in the rear with 500 or more pounds, or on sharp acceleration. Right now it takes about 1000 lbs to bring her to level.
Remember, most of the guys doing the leveling don't carry any weight beyond a couple kids, groceries.
Check with a lowering shop.
Around here lowering cars/trucks is more common than putting on wheels/tires.
Chris
Got bad news for you on that hauling thing. Any drop of the rear will lose some weight bearing ability. The shackles, etc. all will lower your maximum weight. And when she's got a load on her, she will sit down in the rear like an old Chevy.
Ford made them able to carry a lot of weight, and Ford knew they looked better level. It was a compromise.
I got used to my truck standing up at the rear after a couple months. Like you, I found it tall enough already without jacking up the front.
I looked into lowering, more for the sport thing, but also because it sometimes strains my bad knee to ‘climb’ up into the cab.
The three shops I talked with all admitted I would lose some weight carrying ability, and all conceded that no matter how it was leveled, it would 'squat' in the rear with 500 or more pounds, or on sharp acceleration. Right now it takes about 1000 lbs to bring her to level.
Remember, most of the guys doing the leveling don't carry any weight beyond a couple kids, groceries.
Check with a lowering shop.
Around here lowering cars/trucks is more common than putting on wheels/tires.
Chris
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Bremerton, WA (Seattle)
I guess the trick would be to get a lowering kit that you can quicky and easily remove. Like maybe air bags or something.
One complaint I have is that getting into the bed is a real pain. I guess I could get one of them tire ladders to get in...
One complaint I have is that getting into the bed is a real pain. I guess I could get one of them tire ladders to get in...
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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Originally Posted by JoeKramer
I guess the trick would be to get a lowering kit that you can quicky and easily remove. Like maybe air bags or something.
One complaint I have is that getting into the bed is a real pain. I guess I could get one of them tire ladders to get in...
One complaint I have is that getting into the bed is a real pain. I guess I could get one of them tire ladders to get in...
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Mcdonough GA
steve 1500 bucks seems like a lot of money and a that looks like a lot of work just to get level and towing capacity wouldn't $100 replacement shackles and some helper springs that could probably be had for less than 250 be a cheaper alternative?
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 50
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I agree, I do however like the fact that one could lower or lift the truck as much as 10 inches at the push of a botton from inside the cab. Some of the cheaper alternatives offer only limited lift and surport and adding control from the cab will cost extra. I installed 2" drop shackles myself because $1500.00 is a bit out of my range for now. Next year I plan on towing an 8,500 pound fifth wheel and may opt to install the AirBar system for better control.