Lowering at truck and towing.

[Johnny Blaze]

Okay, what is a safe amount to lower at truck , say a 1986 Chevy C-10, and be good to tow with? Does it even matter? As long as your rear springs, shock, and tires can handle the load?

What other effects may there be?

[protour_chevelle]

Just run helper bags. What size of rims are you planning? Make sure to ask the tire shop about what you can tow with them. I know most places will say to stick with 20 and under, but theres always guys running bigger and towing more...

-Matt

[Johnny Blaze]

I'm not going any bigger than a 17"

[myclone]

I tow with my lowered dually and found a few things out the hard way as usual.

1. You will need helper bags of some type to help with the tongue weight. Equalizing systems would help but they usually hang down too close to the road surface for my liking once everything is hooked up/loaded.
2. Take a good look at how your tail gate lowers and where in relation to the tongue jack, locking mechanism for the ball, break away switch, etc. To keep the trailer level I have a zero drop ball mount that puts all the above dangerously close to the tail gate when its open. Not a big deal on a beater but if you care about the paint on the tow vehicle its worth looking at before you drop the tail gate the first time only to end up with some damage from the trailer.
3. If you tow long distances like I do at times you MUST watch whats going on ahead of you. Since your no longer at stock ride height and potentially hundreds of miles from home not seeing that loose semi truck recap before you run over it can cost you a shredded oil pan, wiring, brake lines, etc. Nothing like being stranded in BFE with a broken modified tow vehicle that Gomer's garage doesnt know how to even think about working on (if they will even entertain the thought).
4. In reference to #3 if youre going to venture far from home carry any extra odd ball stuff you have that is particular to your truck. Some extra air line, air line fittings, a lug wrench that will fit your custom wheels lugs, a jack that will fit under your lowered truck, as well as the normal stash of tools/duct tape that most any car guy should have on hand when venturing out of reach of friends/family at home. Make sure you have the right sized spare tire too since you wont get too awfully far without doing damage to a posi/limit slip rear with two diff sized tires on the rear.

Thats about all I can think of right off but so far Ive been all over the east coast with no real issues other than the PA turnpike practically beating me and my rig into a pulp due to its condition. Id just like to know what they actually do with the money they charge for tolls since its obviously not road maint.

[RatMalibu]

I've got a '94 2wd full size ext cab short bed thats dropped 2/4.....no helper bags and tow quit a bit with three different trailers...the one I use the most is a 20 foot w/2ft dove car trailer...as long as you load the trailer right I don't even squat the truck.....if it was a shorter trailer the bags would help I'm sure....oh yeah and trailer brakes are a must have item lol

[Reckn8]

I used to tow a 24 ft boat with my 90 chevy reg. cab shot bed pick up droped 4/6 with helper bags. I really recomend putting the helper bags on it. Sometimes you cant move the load around and need a little bit extra leveling.

[mdprovee]

Yes on the helper bags, had one lowered 4/6, towed anything I wanted with the bags pumped up.

[MuscleRodz]

I have a 3/5 drop on my 97 Chevy C-3500 and have pulled heavy loads all over the country. Bought it this way and could use helper bags. It still has the overload springs on it with the stops removed and a couple times it bottomed out against the bed. Needless to say at the time, I had over 2000 lbs in the bed before I hooked a overloaded 24 foot trailer to it. If you can afford it, buy an old dually to pull with. You will throw rocks at that 1/2 ton after pulling with a dually.

Mike