Nitro71455

Has anyone lowered thier 4x4 in the front and rear? I'm serously considering doing this mabey 2 1/2 to 3 inches. I don't off road, and the 4X4 is manily for snow...... I personally like a truck that's a bit lower to the ground so I don't have to climb up all the time (even being 6' 2" ........

Just looking for options or Ideas.... I know about removing the spacer in the rear.......... what about v10 springs in the front??

Rich

kayjh

Its a good question, although I would be happy with a 2" drop all around.

I just purchased a new horse trailer (gooseneck) and can't tell you the hassles (and costs) I went through to make sure there will be the required 7" of clearance between the bedrails and the bottom of the gooseneck. It seems most horse trailer manufacturers build for the "standard" height trucks (GMC, Ford, Chevy). The Dodge 2500 4x4 sits at least 3" higher at the rear.

The result for me: I added 16" wheels/tires to the trailer (adds 2.3" to trailer height), blocked the axles 1", then added 6" to the loading ramp length to maintain a reasonable loading angle (which gets steeper as the trailer floor height rises). All this added cost to the trailer.

If I owned a GMC or Ford, all I would have had to do is go over to the dealer, pick out a stock trailer and hook it up!

From reading this forum though, it seems most guys like to jack their trucks up, not drop them down - as if the rollover danger isn't a big enough issue at the stock height!

NDanecker

Great concept! I've lifted so many trucks in the past that I'm itching to try the other way. Most of them were great trail trucks, but a real pain to deal with as a daily driver. In my older age , I find myself driving 99% on the street. No more trail riding. Besides I can't afford to take a chance taking $40k truck back in the woods....

I started another thread about Xenon aero kits. I'm pretty sure their available for the 1500 but nothing listed for the 2500/3500. I think the body's are the same though, no?

Either way, without a 2" or so drop, an aero kit will look pretty silly. And I'm not talking about a butt dragger.....just enough of a drop to make it look sleek.

Stoked

I really wanted a two wheel drive and I was going to lower it, but couldn't find suspension parts for the front, so I got a 4x4 instead. If you do lower the front of a 4x4, be aware of the space between the axle and the oil pan. You don't want to hit it.

2003Ram

You probably wouldn't want to drop the front, but maybe remove the blocks in the rear to help level the truck. What worked for me was to add step bars to my truck. I put on the Westin Wheel to Wheel bars. They work great. If you don't have trailer or camper issues, I recommend going this route.

NDanecker

Got any pics?

BDude555

I've got the 2WD and love the truck, but even it sits up so high in back it looks like a top fuel dragster (comment most EVERYBODY makes). I would LOVE to drop the rear end 3" (more practical getting things in and out of the bed).
I'd say what we are all makeing clear here is that there IS a strong market for these products if we can get a manufacturer interested in making them... Hint, Hint!!

westcoaster

Oh good grief... Here I was lamenting because the frame is 3" lower on my stock 2004 as compared to my stock 1993. Dang gone it! 4x4 truck heights should be going the other way!! UP!!!
(I know, I know to each his own...)

mymaur

I'm with you. I'd love to lower my entire 2wd truck a few inches. When I sell this one, I am going back to a 4x4 & it will definetly be dropping about 6 inches. If that financially possible.

Love Dodge, but they do sit their trucks up awful high.

2003Ram

Here are pics from another thread. Scroll down. There are 3 or 4 pics of my nerf bars.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=39913

jt

You could cut 1/2 a coil off the front springs, if you are brave. Make sure to leave you bump stops in, get shorter shocks or install a spacer between the top shock tower and the top of the spring holder. The actual spring rate wouldn't likely change much if you took a little off the top and bottom of the spring.

James

BDude555

Got to be carefull cutting springs though, keep LOTS of coolant on them when you do the cutting, and only cut a little bit at a time so they stay cool!!!
Heat them up and they loose there temper in a hurry! thats why you see the kids who chop the springs on there car's bottoming out and bouncing around like theres no shocks on the cars.
Band saws work ok if you go slow, waterjet cant be beat for cutting them (cuts with 60K psi water so no heat at all!)
no grinders or torches!!!

rjordan

buy a lift kit, then put it on upside down