I've got new 17" Ford wheels with the 265/70R17 Goodyear tires for winter towing. These wheels raise the truck about 2". If you put an L wheel side-by-side to the new one, it's about a four inch difference in total height; but, only raises the truck two inches. The rear tire well would, I think, tolerate the 2" shakkle drop kit even with the 17" wheels. My concern is about how a drop will affect tow rating; anyone have input on how my tow rating and/or tongue weight rating may be affected with a drop. It would be great to do a drop for when I have the stock SVT wheels on and be able to use them even when towing a trailer of approx weight of 3000 lbs withoug worrying about putting too much stress on the leaf springs. As I've said, the 17" wheels raised the truck by about 2". Here's a pic of the new 17 wheels mounted on the L to show stock suspention with the taller wheels.
http://members.aol.com/svt150bolt/wheel17a.jpg

 

Brb

 

SilverBullet

Right, I knew that the axle would be closer to the jounce; I just wanted to get an opinion from a technical person. The sidewall info is good news; those tires really do have a lot that. Maybe using near minimum recommeded tire pressure would help even more. Towing would be done for every other weekend during winter when I go to Macinac or the UP if snow is not too great in the lower penninsula. I'm going to put the trailer tongue on a clinical scale and pin down the exact weight.

Thanks

 

[This message has been edited by SilverBullet (edited 07-23-2000).]

 

SiverBullet

The trailer is a single axle Pace American V-Nose. This is an enclosed trailer that holds two snowmobiles side by side with a bit of room left in front for gear. I think the dimensions are 8.5' x 14'. Not really big. About the sightline, that will be key and will not be overlooked. Safety, for me, is everything. I'd REALLY hate to wipe out with my L and two very nice sleds because I goofed on all these modifications. Fortunately, the shackles are a cheap mod and I've got a lot of time to work it out.

 

you are crazy if you are worrying about a couple of sleds!! Ive seen cars towing sleds.if you were towing around towing capacity with the lightning,I would be careful.If all you are towing is a couple of sleds and supplies,Dont sweat it.Those sdi-doo trailers dont weigh ***** anyway.I tow a complete driveway sealcoating outfit with a 150 gallon (8Lbs) a gallon tank.all in all it is about 3000 lbs.I tow this with a 89 f150 strait six lowered 2 inches and I also tow it once in a while with my 98 ford ranger 4cyl auto.It is kinda tough with the ranger but Il be damned if Im gonna tow with my baby lightning!LOLAll in all dont worry,Two sleds arent gonna hurt nothing

 

Guys ! Go for a set of air bags. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread as far as towing with a lowerer truck goes.Let the air out and you are low ,Pump them up and shes a truck again. I bought mine from Performance Suspensions web site for about $175 or so. Have been using them on my shackled F150 all summer and think they are great. I also have load leveler hitch but I am towing a 22 1/2 ft travel trailer.Quite a bit of tounge weight.the truck handles it well and looks cool towing it to boot.

 

Ditto on the air bags. I have 5" rear drop on my F150 with shackles and hangers. I had 30 bags of quicqrete (60 lbs = 1800 lbs total) in the bed of my truck last week and was ok but just barely. Previously I had an S-10 with a V6 that was lowered. I towed a 16 ft. dual axle Pace trailer with it loaded with my bands equipment. Without air bags, the fenders were cutting into the tire sidwalls, but had same as unloaded stance with the air bags. You can even have a compressor and storage air tank for on board inflation, but being a performance guy you probably don't want the extra weitht. I just ran an air line to inside the gas filler door. Just filled up with air before I hooked up the trailer.

 

I tow a set of seedoos with gas,gear and have the two inch shackles installed. The tounge weight is the determining factor in both of our cases. My tounge weight is no more than 200 lbs. The backend of the L does go down slightly, but tows great. No bottoming out or problems towing. Total weight of everything is 1400-1500 LBS max.