A 1985 F-250 deisel duelly desperately needs some answers to the ride height issue. I would like to know from you, how to inspect the ride height to determine what my truck has now, if they are "beat" and what to do about raising the ride height up to carry the trailer I am trying to pull. I plan to change the towing end of the trailer to a pintel as well as extend the ramps some to help loading and off-loading. When I do the pintel, I will attatch it to the bottom of the T's frame. The ramps are about 5' now and may have an additional 1 1/2 to 2 foot more added. We also have talked about extending the frame of my truck and making a new bumper from a heavy C-channel. ( )
When I look at my truck loaded or unloaded, it seems like normal ride height to me, but my friend thinks its got beat springs and sits lower then it should loaded or unloaded. I see 5 leafs that are about 3' wide.
The local spring shop wants $485 for "HD" springs and says "that will put you where you want to be". The salvage yard has a pair of ten year old 1 ton springs with 6 leafs for $150.
The tires are 75R16. Can I measure the gap between the top of the tire and the wheel well to get ..... how do I determine what condition my springs are in ? When compared to my friend's stock C3500, my truck looks like it was lowered.
If it wasnt for the trailer height problem, I would have not thought twice about this issue.
What do I need to raise the rear as high as possible ?

http://home.comcast.net/~rebelbrowser/104_0424.jpg
I dont plan to load up the bed and tow like this ever again ! But, I wanted to see what this truck would do, It did just fine to me. The trailer was no lower to the ground then it usually is when the truck isnt loaded.
I think the springs are fine but the trailer is just too tall for my truck.

 

$500 seams way high for some leaf springs... Try blue oval truck parts (our sponser), and then lmc, then call napa, then ebay...
$500 seems way to much imho, is that parts only, or installed?

~Nate

 

250 more to install. Can you give me some links to follow ?

 

I spent over 300 for new front springs for my 83', and that was 10+ years ago...

its the odd geometry of those springs that makes them spendy....

 

I wanted some basic ideas about what the height is supposed to be and how to measure it. I gather I am looking at a truck that is lower all the way around. I dont know where to shop for new stuff or even what all to get. All I do know is my truck is lower then I need it to be and NOT that I see it squat when it is loaded. I just would like to know for sure wether it needs new stock stuff or needs to be raised higher some how. I mean this is driving me nuts. If the truck squatted, I could see buying new rear springs, but if the front seems to match the back in height, what am I looking at when my trailer needs it to be taller to avoid the V I get. You saw the photo, it doesnt start out level and then get V'd, it's V'd from when its not loaded to when I have the bed and a trailer on it. It stayed pretty much the same ! No noticable squat or bottoming out. It drove perfectly that day, except for the V. My only concern is the height I have at the tongue which causes loading and offloading to be a nitemare.

 

How many ways can I raise the ride height ?
For instance, If I was to go to a salvage yard (junk) what can I replace mine with that would be sure to raise the height, how would I know I wasnt buying beat springs ?

 

Look to see if there are some spacer blocks between the axle and springs, I am not sure if the 85's had them. Maybe you add some if there is none, you would need new u-bolts and possibly shocks or relocate the shock mounts.

 

Blocks are looking more like the right solution. I would say there are NO blocks present, but would need to check again to be sure of my answer.
Would you "Ad a Leaf" as well as blocks ?
Also would you raise the front as well if so, can you link me to the parts please ?
I know I may have been a bit wordy on this, but to recap my thinking, I am trying to decide wether to raise the truck, or modify some of the other things that play into the towing.ie the tow package that bolts to the truck's frame, could be made higher, and the trailer's hitch could be made higher with a pintel welded to the bottom of the frame.
I am leaning more toward raising the truck, but only if I can do the front as well.
Please visit https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...0&goto=newpost to comment.

 

Your picture shows the receiver hanging extra low, raising the receiver you have or buying a new one that mounts right at the bottom of the bumper may be all that is necessary.

 

I would just get some add-a-leaf springs, your truck doesn't look that low, and the extra springs will give you a couple more inches of ride height plus increased load capacity. They are fairly affordable too. I would be worried about blocks breaking with too much weight. Another option would be to add some airbags. They will keep the truck level without affecting the ride quality, but they are a bit spendy, I think $500 or more. Being that your truck is 2wd, it should sit a little lower. By the way, that is a nice looking truck you have there.

 

I like the buy a new reciever idea, if it was to raise the tow bar, and recead it in more towards the truck. Where do I shop for it ?
I am noticing a hobble up and down (around 35mph)<br>since we took off the wood and put on the steel. Is this caused by the distance away from the truck the ball is ?

Looks better from 50 yards away.

What is this, Stock !?<br> Couldnt I reattatch the leaf to the lower bolt here ? Wow, look at that rust growing.
The camera also shows the underside of the body panel, otherwise you would think <br>the panel was in bad shape, but its not. The truck does have good paint going for it.

I had to add this picture for interest.
I May be doing all this to take the yellow mustang and little blue to the crusher. I hope not.
Thanks for reading. What do you think about pic number 3 ?

 

They make special recievers that drop down lower to clear those custom drop bumpers, it looks like you may have one of those. My F-250 has a drop bumper, but I had a regular hitch so I ended up cutting a chunk out of my bumper to get the hitch to fit. Just try to find a regular hitch, when looking them up, it usually states if it is for a drop bumper or not. Dont you dare haul that stang or the truck to the crusher. Someone will want them. GIVE THEM TOO MEEEEEEEEEEE.

 

Good cal 67stangman. I gave you credit here. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...94#post3641294 I hope your right. I asked some additional questions about the bumper capacity, and where to find a cheap/used new class 6 reciever or wether to reweld the one I have to make it taller and perhaps even more beefy. I hate having two seperate threads going.. my bad.
but thanks for the strong words on the old truck. The mustang I already knew about, and was just kidding, but that old truck ! I need start earning soon. Help me learn how to resolve my towing issue will ya !