Longhorngary

Wow...this has begun to turn ugly. I was just trying to understand people's motivations when I started this thread. I couldn't care less what people do with their trucks within the limits of general safety. Let's all try and get along.

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

I've never once adjusted my headlights while loaded and leveled.. But you made it sound like that's the type of scenario people face post level with any payload which is just not true. Unless you overload the truck to the point where the bump stops are compressed and the arch of the leafs is gone or flipped.. Sounds like you've seen a lot of that. I honestly haven't..

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

This has not turned ugly. This is what a meaningful debate/conversation is supposed to look like when opinions differ. It's called healthy, not ugly. We are all different.

patrickoneal

No, I haven't seen much of that. I had over 2,000 lbs in my truck yesterday(mostly in the bed). It squatted to just about level, so I rolled over some scales to get an idea of what a safe load looks like(and to make sure I was safe). Total weight was 7,000 lbs even, rear axle a bit over 3,800, so I was still within the limits on the door stickers. I could have loaded it more to reach 7,850.

What would my loaded truck look like if I raised the front end? It sure wouldn't be level.

MarkY

Same here. I leveled my truck which amounted to raising the front end TWO whole inches. It makes not one iota of difference to oncoming traffic. Now a 6 inch lift would make a difference. People never flash their lights at me.

patrickoneal

This is what I'm talking about. Truck is just about level when loaded. If I raised the front end 2 inches it would be up in the air and drive like crap with a load in it.

patrickoneal

Yeah, I'm not trying to be ugly either. I'm more function over form, and I know well that's not the case for a lot of people. I don't really care what anyone else does to their trucks, I was just saying why I have zero desire to level due to the practical implications when loading the truck.

ZeroTX

That's one LOOOOONG TRUCK! Is it a 4x4? This thread is convoluted by people simultaneously talking about leveled 4x2 (lower the rear) vs. leveled 4x4 (raise the front). Two ENTIRELY different things for ENTIRELY different reasons.

Can we limit to one topic?

patrickoneal

It is long, but it is 2WD. I didn't even realize that they were leveled in different ways. It does sit about as high as a 4WD due to the HDPP and tires. Either way, if you were to load to the point of a reverse rake(with or without "leveling"), weight comes off the front wheels and causes all sorts of problems.

ZeroTX

I agree re: the functionality aspect for a tow rig, but I think most who are leveling out 4x2's are more of a street/style truck, not a tow rig.

Most of the "leveling" threads/topics on here are about 4x4's raising the front 2". Look for "leveling kit" and you'll find about two dozen different ones manufactured specifically for that purpose alone (raising the 4x4 2" in the front to make it about as high as the rear).

Same issue could apply if you tow with your 4x4, if it ends up in a reverse rake. For me, the solution to that for a regular-towing truck would be air bags on the back. Depends on priorities. For me, I'd rather have the higher front clearance and a semi-lifted look in a basically stock truck.