Posted 2012-03-14 8:59 AM (#142070) Subject: Lifted Trucks Pulling GN LQ?
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Austin, TX
Hi! I am brand new to this forum. Looking to purchase my first LQ 3H trailer, yay! Husband works for 4 Wheel Parts & I currently tow with a 2005 4x4 Chevy Duramax w/a 6 inch lift kit & 35 inch tires. This truck is all setup with gears and tows great (boat, car hauler, 3H BP, enclosed 30 ft BP trailer, etc). So, I don't want to lower the truck. My questions are: 1. Is anyone towing their GN LQ with a lifted truck? 2. Are there any particular brands of GN LQ that ride higher off the ground, so I'd have more clearance between the bed of the truck & the gooseneck. I did use the search function, but I didn't see any other threads on this subject or I wasn't using the correct words.I don't want to dent the bed of the truck and a lot of places I currently tow to are down unpaved, bumpy roads. I've also looked into replacing the bed of the truck with an after market aluminum/steel flat bed, which would eliminate the problem completely. However, those are kind of pricey.Any advice is appreciated!Thank you,Jasmin
Posted 2012-03-14 11:50 AM (#142075 - in reply to #142070) Subject: RE: Lifted Trucks Pulling GN LQ?
Veteran
Posts: 105 Location: Illinois
Short answer, you won't be able to pull a GN trailer with the factory bed. If there is a dealer near you go there and back under a trailer then lower the trailer till the coupler is about 3-4 inches above the floor of the bed IF you have clearance.
Posted 2012-03-14 12:30 PM (#142077 - in reply to #142070) Subject: RE: Lifted Trucks Pulling GN LQ?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by jasmintx on 2012-03-14 8:59 AM
Hi! I am brand new to this forum. Looking to purchase my first LQ 3H trailer, yay! Husband works for 4 Wheel Parts & I currently tow with a 2005 4x4 Chevy Duramax w/a 6 inch lift kit & 35 inch tires. This truck is all setup with gears and tows great (boat, car hauler, 3H BP, enclosed 30 ft BP trailer, etc). So, I don't want to lower the truck. My questions are: 1. Is anyone towing their GN LQ with a lifted truck? 2. Are there any particular brands of GN LQ that ride higher off the ground, so I'd have more clearance between the bed of the truck & the gooseneck. I did use the search function, but I didn't see any other threads on this subject or I wasn't using the correct words.I don't want to dent the bed of the truck and a lot of places I currently tow to are down unpaved, bumpy roads. I've also looked into replacing the bed of the truck with an after market aluminum/steel flat bed, which would eliminate the problem completely. However, those are kind of pricey.Any advice is appreciated!Thank you,Jasmin
Lifted trucks really do not lose towing capacity if the right equipment is installed...BUT....
larger tires affect everything. Say your truck has 410 gears with 265-70-17 tires(a tire at 31 inches tall) and you lift your truck and install 35-36" tall tires.
What you have just done is changed your differential gear ratio to about a 3.08 which is not a gear for towing compared to a stock sized tire with the 410 ratio differential.
Also the driveline angle has to be considered when towing with a lifted truck(you need the proper drop on your hitch). Braking is really not affected much, but it is affected some.
towing a heavy load with a lifted truck is okay if everything has been considered.
And you'll never get the proper clearance of the bed rails for a GN short of bolcking up the trailer substatially
Posted 2012-03-14 3:50 PM (#142098 - in reply to #142070) Subject: RE: Lifted Trucks Pulling GN LQ?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Oversized tires and lift kits, effect a negative change in almost anything a truck is designed to do. It changes the center of gravity, increases the pinion angles whilst reducing the U joints' longevity. As Paul said, the effected gear ratios are changed, along with the braking, handling and ride. What is the load rating of the oversized tires? A flat bed would be your only recourse to haul a GN trailer.
This would not be an ideal tow vehicle under any circumstances.
Lifted Trucks Pulling GN LQ?
