How low can you go, and still haul?

[Greasey Harley]

I installed a 1-2 drop, using cpp springs and have been happy with the performance. No noticable difference from the 50 year old stock springs, just a touch lower, and a better ride. It can still load two dirt bikes, or one shovelhead in the back, with no problems. It gets loaded down with 20 bags of mulch every year.

Thing is, an inch lower would look better, in my opinion ( which is the only opinion that matters, when it comes to my truck). However, I refuse to have a truck that can't haul.

Anyone use 3" drop springs in the rear and haul significant amounts of weight?

If I go an inch lower, will air bags become nesecary?

Random thoughts streaming through my head.
-Russ

[mongocanfly]

Before air bags came along I lowered my 86...I used air shocks to help haul loads...could haul as much as before I lowered it....I think air bags would be ideal....I've gotem on my non lowered trucks..

[66 C10 383]

Early Classic Enterprises (ECE) has a section called Customer Trucks. There's a guy that has hauled 1550 pounds with his lowered 66. He didn't say what the rear drop coil height was but there are pics of it empty and loaded.

https://www.earlyclassic.com/node/33

My truck isn't on the road yet but this is why I decided to go with ECE springs and spindles.

No, I get no compensation from this statement … LoL

[Richard]

Had a 6/8 drop on my 94 with a custom notched frame and notched bed cross member. Pumpkin almost touched bed at full compression. Ride was great with 10-15 psi in bags unloaded. With helper bags at 60-80 psi I hauled whatever I wanted. Helper bags are easy on a leaf truck, not sure what you have.

[Greasey Harley]

Originally Posted by Richard

Had a 6/8 drop on my 94 with a custom notched frame and notched bed cross member. Pumpkin almost touched bed at full compression. Ride was great with 10-15 psi in bags unloaded. With helper bags at 60-80 psi I hauled whatever I wanted. Helper bags are easy on a leaf truck, not sure what you have.

Fair enough, but I would never notch an original swb 67-72 ( Ford or Chevy) I am only concerned about dropping the truck without cutting the frame. I AM NOT GOING TO CUT MY FRAME, EVER.
Thanks for the input though.

[Richard]

NP. Still own the truck. Have not got around to it but I saved the pieces I cut out of the frame rails. Will take out my custom bolt in notches and weld the original frame pieces back in. I enjoyed the truck at the dropped stance for many years. Put back to stock in the front with keeping 2" de-arced in rear for a few years. Now it is lifted 5"-2". Getting ready to make my 72 k10 all my own now. Possibly coil overs in the front. Air bags make all the difference when you want to haul. If your truck is a coil maybe look into the bags that insert in the coils. You can do bags pretty cheap if you leave out the compressor and just use an external air fill. Whatever you do enjoy your truck!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Greasey Harley

I installed a 1-2 drop, using cpp springs and have been happy with the performance. No noticable difference from the 50 year old stock springs, just a touch lower, and a better ride. It can still load two dirt bikes, or one shovelhead in the back, with no problems. It gets loaded down with 20 bags of mulch every year.

Thing is, an inch lower would look better, in my opinion ( which is the only opinion that matters, when it comes to my truck). However, I refuse to have a truck that can't haul.

Anyone use 3" drop springs in the rear and haul significant amounts of weight?

If I go an inch lower, will air bags become nesecary?

Random thoughts streaming through my head.
-Russ

What year truck? Leafs or coils in the back?