Family Tow Rig, New and Improved With a Little Lift

[Rocksurfer]

Well I had origanally bought this to make it a moderate wheeler and did take it out once but now that I have purchased my latest rig I won't need it to go out. I will still do some upgrades to it but not until I get the Toyota ready. So for now it's the Tow Rig. Comes with the 5.9 liter 4wd of course and won't have much trouble towing the Toyota. Of course since it is a Toyota I won't need to tow it since, well it is a Toyota. Some have seen it in the other threads but now that it is a tow rig it belongs here.

[Rocksurfer]

I got these for the Durango, they don't make a longer shackle for it so I'm going to use lowering shackles for a chevy 1500. Yes I said lowering shackle, for those that don't get it chevy shackles are reversed from what we normally see. The mount is below the spring so the shackle sits beside the frame, and by using it on the Durango they will increase lift instead of lowering it. They don't fit perfectly so you must throw in a couple shims between the bushing and the shackle. Should give me a couple inches of lift, I already lifted the front 2 inches so this should be perfect. Once I get them on I should be able to sport 33's under it.

[Rocksurfer]

Here's what I've done to the front-end, just cranked in the torsion bars a little more to get 2 inches before and after shots.

[Rocksurfer]

Here's the difference on the front, once I get the shackles on in a couple days I'll post up the results. About the only thing I may have to do to fit 33's is to cut some of the front bumper for clearance.

[Rocksurfer]

After work today I got the chance to throw on the rear shackles, turned out pretty good I got the 2 inches I figured I was going to get. I cranked in 2 inches on the front earlier and putting on the shackles was a breeze. To do this it requires that you use a 2 inch drop shackle for a C1500 Chevy truck. I couldn't stand the gold color shackles so I painted them black, and it didn't look good with the silver color of my truck.

1. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and support the FRAME with jackstands.
2. Lower the jack and pull it out. (Wheels should not touch the ground)
3. Remove the REAR shackle bolts (If you have a hitch, that will have to be removed first.)
4. Then the spring will actually go up. (You would think that it would drop down, but it doesn't)
5. Remove the stock rear spring shackle
6. Replace with the new shackle (It's actually a lowering shackle for a Chevy pick-up)
7. You will need a bottle jack or sissors jack for this step. Place the jack in between the frame and the leaf spring and raise it untill it comes down low enough to replace the rear spring shackle bolt. You will need to buy some washers for spacers because the shackles are slightly wider than the spring (required 4 flat washers each side).
8. Do the same thing to the other side and you're done! (with the rear)
9. Lower the rear and raise the front of the vehicle
10. With a large breaker bar tighten the torsion bar adjustment 8 equal turns. (mark your starting point) This will raise the front of the vehicle to match the rear.
11. Do that to both sides and lower the front.
12. Measure from the ground to he bottom of the fender (at the wheel) Make sure that distances are equal.

[Rocksurfer]

Here's a few before and after shots.

[AaronB]

looks alot better with the back lifted.

[mudmaster]

How's it ride now?

[Rocksurfer]

Seems to ride better and steer better, it put a lot more weight on the front axle. Also gives a better feel in the seat instead of a squatty lowrider feel, used to wash out in the rear around corners and the steering was a little touchy. Now it rolls through the corners evenly front to rear.

[mudmaster]

Cool, I was just wondering with the torsion bar crank if it would make it too stiff. Sounds like it didn't. Looks a lot better too.

[Rocksurfer]

The tires on it are 31's I'm thinking 33's will fit just fine giving me another inch of lift, I may have to trim the front bumper a little looks like it may hit it when turning.

[mudmaster]

33's should really transform it

[Rocksurfer]

Yeah I was thinking that I want to put 35's on my Toyota and then put the 33's I have on it now on the Durango.