Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-28-2017, 07:31 AM   #1
Bama Hammer
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: ND
Posts: 42
Truck Leveling Kit?

Just bought a used silverado 1500 4x4 crew cab and the previous owner had it leveled.. Does anyone have any experience towing with a truck that had a leveling kit installed in the front end? Basically the truck sits level without a load in the back and I am concerned that adding about 500 lbs of tongue weight will cause too much load on the rear end...
Bama Hammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2017, 08:09 AM   #2
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
I have no experience towing with a leveling kit but I do have lots of experience towing with a non leveled truck - several kinds. They all squat to some degree with a heavy weight placed on the bumper. A leveling kit is going to make your front end high which poses a number of problems. I would have it removed.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2017, 01:56 PM   #3
travelin texans
Senior Member
 
travelin texans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
If you want to keep the leveling kit add air bags to the rear & inflate til tv & rv are level, no more squatting & probably better ride when loaded, some adjustments to your hitch heighth will most likely need to be made.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2017, 10:11 PM   #4
goducks
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Or
Posts: 172
As long as you bring the front of the truck back to what the MFG recommends then you should be fine. If you do use bags and a friction based WDH then the bags will counter the friction part of the WDH.
Best thing to do would be to air up the bags to get the rear up a couple inches or less. Then hitch up the TT and set the front up using the WDH.
goducks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2017, 05:32 AM   #5
KHBama
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Pike Road
Posts: 130
Had a Tundra that had a leveling kit, only towed with it a couple of times. Didn’t like the way it pulled, had about 700lbs of tongue weight and made it look like it had a major “sag” with the front leveled. Had constant problems with the truck shaking at 60-70mph and then my whole brake system went out coming down Mt. Cheaha(boy was that fun). Dealer I’ve dealt with for years made it right and traded me out of it for a Ram 2500.
KHBama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2017, 07:30 AM   #6
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,848
Leveling kits, lift kits and lowering kits all change the center of balance, drive line angle and steering/braking characteristics of a vehicle. Often, there's not a noticeable change when running empty, but loading a vehicle to near the max capacity and/or towing a significantly heavy trailer with a kit installed will cause handling problems at the fringes of the design capacity and capability.

I'd be inclined to remove the kit, return the vehicle to its OEM configuration and use a properly adjusted WD hitch to maintain the "level status".....

While the front end lift may not make a lot of difference in most driving situations, it only takes one "OH &*%#" moment to ruin an otherwise perfect day.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 09:06 AM   #7
roadglide
Senior Member
 
roadglide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
I was told 2 1/2 max suspension lift on a chevy because it stresses the wheel hub . I had 2 inch lift on my duramax because I put higher load index tires I have air bags. Chevys are made to ride low up front with a load it levels nice. Load up if it sets low add air bags. I did not need to adjust my head lights on my chevy.
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
roadglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 10:38 AM   #8
ike66
Junior Member
 
ike66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Florissant, Co.
Posts: 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans View Post
If you want to keep the leveling kit add air bags to the rear & inflate til tv & rv are level, no more squatting & probably better ride when loaded, some adjustments to your hitch heighth will most likely need to be made.


This is exactly what I’ve done. The front lift is only a 2” spacer that raises the body to level it out with the rear of the truck. Drive line and suspension does not change. Now to counter the sag when towing the 5th wheel I added air bags and air up till level again. Has worked well for me.
ike66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 06:18 AM   #9
Vet4jdc
Senior Member
 
Vet4jdc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 175
You will be fine with it leveled. I did 2 1/2” leveling in front and saw no difference in towing. I ended up adding air bags to get back to level when towing and the handling improved.
__________________
2019 Montana HC 331RL
2017 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
Vet4jdc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 12:01 PM   #10
Jonas
Member
 
Jonas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 55
I have a 2" leveling kit on the front to counter the winch and grill guard.
I have airbags in the rear to keep it level when towing. This set-up works very well for me!

__________________
Lifted single axle w/ 33" LT tires - DuroMax XP3150iS Inverter generator
2016 F150 4X4 - EcoBoost - 3:55's - rear locker - 9500# winch
Jonas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 12:11 PM   #11
sbarlag
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Burns Harbor
Posts: 16
Perhaps I'm missing something. Won't a weight distribution hitch allow the truck to stay mostly level? Blue Ox makes a nice product and has an integrated Sway Control,,,no friction bar required.
sbarlag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 12:19 PM   #12
Jonas
Member
 
Jonas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 55
I don't need (or want) a WD hitch in my particular case. Not sure about others here.
__________________
Lifted single axle w/ 33" LT tires - DuroMax XP3150iS Inverter generator
2016 F150 4X4 - EcoBoost - 3:55's - rear locker - 9500# winch
Jonas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 12:51 PM   #13
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonas View Post
I don't need (or want) a WD hitch in my particular case. Not sure about others here.
I don't know if you've got "real world" weights on your trailer yet. If not, you might want to swing by a CAT scale next time you're heading out of town on a camping trip. Most F150 receivers are rated at 500/5000 pounds without a W/D hitch and 1100/10000 pounds with a W/D hitch.

Stats for your trailer, empty as shipped from Keystone give the tongue weight at 485 pounds. Add 40 lbs of propane and a battery and you're over the max receiver weight for a "non W/D hitch".... That's without any cargo in the trailer's front storage compartment, no camping equipment and no water/supplies in the trailer.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 03:33 PM   #14
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonas View Post
I don't need (or want) a WD hitch in my particular case. Not sure about others here.

I would strongly urge you to weigh your trailer/truck combo. Without a WDH I'm pretty sure you will be over the receiver limits. What class is the receiver? If it's a III you probably want to rethink your decision
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2018, 11:16 AM   #15
ctbruce
Site Team | Emeritus
 
ctbruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
There is also a minimum weight where a WDH is required. 5000lbs comes to mind, but I'm quoting that from memory.

I'm just curious, not trying to pile on or doubt your decision. But why would you not want a WDH to tow with? I don't think I've heard that expressed on the forum before.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
__________________

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
ctbruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2018, 11:28 AM   #16
sbarlag
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Burns Harbor
Posts: 16
I agree with ctbruce. A WDH will assist with front tire grab and front tire wear. It's a huge safety issue. I know many dealers will have you sign off saying you opted out of it, as a way to cover their ***. If you don't want to pay the higher dealer price there are many internet options.
__________________
Scott Barlag
NW Indiana
RV Capital of the World
sbarlag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2018, 11:31 AM   #17
sbarlag
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Burns Harbor
Posts: 16
Check out this link,,,https://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx
__________________
Scott Barlag
NW Indiana
RV Capital of the World
sbarlag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2018, 11:54 AM   #18
TLB
Senior Member
 
TLB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Essexville, MI
Posts: 262
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbarlag View Post
Perhaps I'm missing something. Won't a weight distribution hitch allow the truck to stay mostly level?
Yes.

I have a Suspension MAXX kit on my 2017 2500HD.

I had my WDH set by the dealer. Measurements were take of my truck before the trailer was attached and after. The tech then marked which link I needed to be attaching to the trailer. My truck rides level and smooth.
__________________

2014 Passport Elite 31RE

2017 2500HD Crew Cab
TLB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2018, 12:43 PM   #19
sbarlag
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Burns Harbor
Posts: 16
Ok, that explains alot. Thanks........
__________________
Scott Barlag
NW Indiana
RV Capital of the World
sbarlag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2018, 06:05 PM   #20
sconner
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 46
I had a 2000 Silverado 1500 4x4 crew cab. Although I didn't have a leveling kit on it, I torqued the torsion bars to level it. Had no handling issues towing my Passport 2920. Having said that, the safest bet is to have it factory height.
sconner is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
leveling

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.