71 Lowered and Towing Ideas Please

[Hack71]

71 Cheyenne C10 with rear leaf springs, front is lowered 3" rear is not, I tow my Jeep several times a year. I would like to lower the rear of my truck but maintain the ability to tow. I am worried that C-notching the frame would compromise the capabilities, has anyone lowered a rear leaf spring truck and been able to tow?

[Mike C]

My short step is flipped in the rear to lower it 7”. I did not c-notch it. I pull trailers with it on occasion. I have a little 4x7 hd trailer with 5000# 6 lug axle underneath it and will haul a yard of gravel. No problems. You will slam the urethane bump stops if you hit big bumps though.

If you lower the rear 4” or less you shouldn’t need to c-notch even hauling heavy. Add some helper air bags and send it.

I put lowering shackles on my old GMC 2500 which dropped the back an inch and a half I think? And that didn’t effect the truck at all.

[BROWN 70]

Nice truck hack 71, I would leave it as is.

[Hack71]

Thanks!

[72c20customcamper]

Looks like it squats pretty good with the trailer on it so a 4 inch drop will really acerbate it . I would think you will need either Timbrens or air bags in order not to be on the stops . I wouldn’t c notch the frame and tow just my personal opinion.

[Sunchild714]

Add helper bags that you can pressurize when you tow.

[biketopia]

I'd do a shackle drop to bring the rear down 1-2+" and then add helper bags for towing.

[Hack71]

Biketopia, thanks, that was my thought, drop with a shackle and support with bags or Timbrens, C-notch just sounds like an awful idea for what I need the truck to do, this will be a summer project, so I still have some time to decide what to do. If you have any other ideas, please let me know, I appreciate all the input from everyone. FYI Jeep and trailer weight 7000lbs, the trailer has electric brakes. I've towed up to 5 hours one way, the truck pulls and stops great, Thanks!