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Magnuman
04-02-2006, 10:13 AM
I am thinking of buying a used Chevy SIlverado 1500HD.
There is a 6” RCA lift with Bilstein shocks on this truck.
Will this diminish the towing capacity or ride quality greatly?

HMF'er
04-02-2006, 11:22 AM
The lift won't take away from your towing capacity, the larger tires will. I'm on my 2nd truck with a lift kit and I would NOT do it again. I said that after the first lift kit, but I just couldn't resist the better look of my new truck. The ride is stiffer, the off road tires hum, and depending on the lift kit, it puts more strain on the factory components due to the different angles than they were engineered for. My example is the joint of the aftermarket pitman arm to the factory drag link went out at 30k miles, almost lost my steering and had to be towed home.
If you're checking out a truck with a kit already installed, you may want to get under it and check all related moving components for wear, both factory and aftermarket parts. Good luck.

Magnuman
04-02-2006, 11:33 AM
This is the truck.
http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/9e/d1/d3_3.JPG?set_id=100D.
It has 35" tires.

YeLLowBoaT
04-02-2006, 11:44 AM
here is somthien else to think about. when towing your trailer it is important that it sits as level as possible. So when you lift a truck you normally need a drop hitch( most full size truck you need a small drop anyways). The porb lies when you need more the about a 6 Inch drop. After that they are $$$$$$ to buy or make. They also apply stress in other places, which can cuase poor ride, drifting and more "wear and tear". You also must consiter mud flaps of some type since big tires/lifts will throw mud/rocks/sand into the bow of your boat.
Bigger wheels and tries drasticly effect preformance and breaking....

HMF'er
04-02-2006, 11:50 AM
This is the truck.
http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/9e/d1/d3_3.JPG?set_id=100D.
It has 35" tires.
Good looking truck, that's why people lift them. Just not my thing anymore.

Extreme Marine Az
04-02-2006, 01:53 PM
I had 35's with a 4.5 lift on my 05 F-250 and it did well, raised it with a 7 inch lift and 37's and it pulled and stopped like shit, wandering was even worse. Had a Kelderman air-ride system so it was level but it still sucked

djunkie
04-02-2006, 01:59 PM
I used to tow with this truck. Boat weighed around 5000lbs on the trailer. It had plenty of power. It would pull all the hills great. BUT........ I went through 1 transmission, 3 torque convertors, 2 rear ends. Gas mileage absolutely sucked. 9-10 MPG if I was lucky. Stopping was eehhhhh ok I guess. Luckily my trailer brakes worked good. Rode pretty good since it was only a half ton. But nothing compares to my new truck. Rides better, wayyyy better gas mileage and can't even tell the boats behind me. And its staying stock for all these reasons.
Old truck
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/6749Picture__Medium_.jpg
New truck
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/6749Picture_004__Medium_.jpg

Red Horse
04-02-2006, 02:52 PM
I have also heard with a drop down hitch that every inch below 2 inches of drop you have to lower your hitch capacity rating 10% due to the stess of not being level.

Havasu Hangin'
04-02-2006, 03:27 PM
I have also heard with a drop down hitch that every inch below 2 inches of drop you have to lower your hitch capacity rating 10% due to the stess of not being level.
I'm not sure about the drop, but the farther back the hitch sets, the more leverage it has on the reciever. A 500lb tongue weight can easily be turned into 750lbs, depending on how far back the ball sits from the rear axle.
I found out the hard way when I weighed my truck and boat last year. 1,450 lbs of actual tongue weight turned into 1,750 lbs on the rear axle...lol.

Magnuman
04-03-2006, 12:12 PM
Thanks for the response.
I am going to stick with a non-lifted truck.
The lifted trucks look nice but I tow 8-9000 lbs.

H20 Toie
04-03-2006, 05:29 PM
Thanks for the response.
I am going to stick with a non-lifted truck.
The lifted trucks look nice but I tow 8-9000 lbs.
If you are towing that much weight you should not be looking at a 1500
my boat and trailer are right around 10k and i have a f350 w 6" lift and 37" tires and now that i did the edge programmer it tows fine.

duffster
04-04-2006, 06:43 AM
Anything diesel with a 6-8in lift and 37's will tow big weight just fine with no issues. The ones you need to stay away from are the trucks setup 10-14 running 40's.