If I tow every now and then, what is a good way to keep the back end from drooping down when towing a 5k trailer? (5k is the towing limit of the L)

Air shocks? These would be easily installed and removed as needed.

Leaf spring stiffeners? Not easily swapped out

Any other ideas?

Thanks..............................

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Go Hard or Go home........
*Red 2000 SVT Lightning
*Leer Lo-Rider Bed Cover
*Swanson Performance Chip
*Adopted 3/29/00, #221
*352RWHP / 432RWTQ with Chip
-98 Mustang GT Convertible, 4.6L Supercharged with FRPP Eaton M112 @ 10psi, 310rwhp/350rwtq
to many other handling/engine mods to list.....

 

You might want to take a look at this:
http://www.activesuspension.com

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.
'00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, 4.10 gears, Swanson chip, Pro-M, NGK plugs, carbon drive shaft, Roadmaster suspension kit
13.39 @ 102.5
2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, radar, autopilot and GPS chartplotter/fishfinder.

gmvye@pacbell.net

 

I would get a weight distributing hitch setup. I own one and wouldn't tow with anything else. You can preload the torsion bars to put more weight on your front end. This raises the rear of the vehicle when the trailer is hooked up. No muss, No fuss of adding anything to your suspension, and when not towing, your truck rides like it always did. Check into Reese hitches. I think there were links in the towing section of this site (in someones post).

-----------------------
Rick
'01 Red L Ordered 11/30/00

 

Definitely get a load distributing hitch. They are between $200-300 and are well worth the money. I tow about 5000 lbs and it made a HUGE improvement.

Jim

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Jim
2000 Red Lightning (no mods yet)
2001 Red Corvette Z06

 

I pull a 4,000 lb. boat every Saturday and Sunday to the river. It does great.

I did install a set of air springs made by Air Lift. They make all the difference in the world. Before, I was worried about bottoming out on the bump stops, but now I just air the air bags up to about 40 psi. They make for a more even and sturdy ride while towing. When I get home from the river, I just release all but about 10 psi. I would highly recommend these to anyone towing.

just my $.02.

The manufacturer is Air Lift and the part number is 59501. I called the tech department to make sure this would work on the L.

When I first bought the kit the rear of my truck was at the stock height. Just before I received the kit I lowered the rear of my truck 1-1/2" with the AIM shackles. Then I called back to make sure the air lift kit would still work, and the tech said no problem.

The number for airlift is 1-800-248-0892. They will be able to locate a dealer in your area. I purchased mine from Four Wheel Parts Wholesalers in Houston. The price was $169.00. Everywhere else I called wanted $220.00 or more.

There are a few installation tricks, but all in all it is simple.

I hope this helps. If you are going to install the kit yourself and have any questions I will be glad to help.

 

Towed my boat with the L. for the first time today. I had tried once before, but gave it up because the rear end sagged too bad. Didn't take into account that without motors on the back the tongue weight was probably way too high. This time, with the motors on and the active suspension installed it was no sweat. Very little rear end sag, and despite very strong, gusty cross winds the load felt very stable, no bottoming at all, despite fact I estimate that the towing weight was about 5400 lb. Unfortunately, I didn't take into account that with full tanks the weight is going to go up to around 6500 lb., and I feel this exceeds the margin of safety on the hitch. I went by a trailer hitch place today, but they said that a load leveling hitch would not work with surge brakes, and they refused to install a higher capacity hitch on my truck. So, sports fans, any suggestions?

 

This company sells weight distributing hitches that work with surge brakes.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/boat.html

Hope this helps.

Jim

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Jim
2000 Red Lightning (no mods yet)
2001 Red Corvette Z06

 

Thanks for the link, Jim. Sure looks like it ought to work; I will contact them to find out.

Well, I read the FAQ more carefully. It would seem that that system is more designed to eliminate bounce and sway than to increase the tow capacity of the truck. With my active suspension I experience very little bounce and sway, even in a very gusty cross wind. I think I just need to find someone who will install a beefier hitch on my truck.

Addendum: Lightning 5000 lb. towing capacity NOT. I know it says 5000 lb. on the bumper, but guess what, a guy from Beacon Marine who tows a comparable size boat was looking at my hitch today, and found this little sticker on it that says, in essence, 5000 lb. maximum and 500 lb. tongue weight with regular hitch, 8700 lb. maximum and 870 lb. tongue weight with load distributing hitch. So with one of them thar equalizing hitches it should be no problema to tow my 6500 lb. boat. In fact, since the active suspension seems to accomplish much the same thing as an equalizing hitch, I feel very confident that I will have no problem towing my boat even with full tanks. Its nice to know, though, that if necessary I can install the equalizing hitch and have plenty of safety margin.




[This message has been edited by alphadoggy (edited 12-27-2000).]