Capability of a 3/4 drop

[mp3deviant721]

How would a 3/4 drop fair in the snow or hauling firewood? Because I can't decide if I want to drop my truck or lift it. Suggestions? Comments?

 

[sacredauto]

i put a washer and dryer in the back of my already on the bumpstops 4/5 drop, as long as you don't mind a bumpy ride whille hauling you won't have an issue with it, can't say much for the snow seeing as i live in eastern North carolina though

 

[mp3deviant721]

Yeah, I kinda live in WI, so I was wondering about the snow part.

 

[JoshT]

How does a car fair in the snow? The issue with snow isn't the truck it's the driver. If you can drive fine in the snow where you live in a smaller car then you would be able to do fine in the truck lowered, because you'd have as much ground clearance if not more.

As for the fire wood. It will hit the bump stops on the rear axle quicker than if it weren't lowered, but it will not change the load rating of the truck. You also always have the option of trimming the bump stops to give more clearance if you find you are hitting them.

 

[jamesberk]

man I got a 4/5 with cut bump stops and over a speen bump my axle hits the frame. (depending on the speed) i sit 3 people in my box and we are testing on the axle. JoshT makes a very valid point about how you drive in the snow and what not. Just get good tires and put weight in the box and you'll be fine.

 

[mp3deviant721]

How does a car fair in the snow? The issue with snow isn't the truck it's the driver. If you can drive fine in the snow where you live in a smaller car then you would be able to do fine in the truck lowered, because you'd have as much ground clearance if not more.

As for the fire wood. It will hit the bump stops on the rear axle quicker than if it weren't lowered, but it will not change the load rating of the truck. You also always have the option of trimming the bump stops to give more clearance if you find you are hitting them.

You're right. I used to have a Tercel with bad coil springs and it rode low. I managed through a winter with that. I think I can manage a 3/4 dropped truck.

 

[JoshT]

man I got a 4/5 with cut bump stops and over a speen bump my axle hits the frame. (depending on the speed) i sit 3 people in my box and we are testing on the axle. JoshT makes a very valid point about how you drive in the snow and what not. Just get good tires and put weight in the box and you'll be fine.

I'd still suggest trying as every truck is different. If that won't work and you cannot stand the bumpier ride when hauling firewood there are many load assist options that can probably be adapted to fit the truck. I.E.: Almost any load assist made for an Explorer should work since they are spring over from the factory, but otherwise are pretty much the same as the Ranger.

 

[slammedxonair]

I drive my bagged daily ranger in the snow and haul fire wood with it

 

[doorgunner]

drop or lift....

drop or lift?

You have a large decision to make, Grasshopper......

the front bumper might push another 3" of snow....but i think you can handle that....LOL

 

[Ranger Kip]

lift it or dont do anything with it, firewood will definately be a downer in the snow.

 

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

You'll be fine. My 96 is dropped 5/6 and in winter has 24" tall snow tires on it. I moved several times in it, hauled appliances without issue. It depends on how you drop the rear for clearance. I'm still spring under, I bought lowering springs for it so I didn't loose the drop + the axle thickness. My bump stops are cut in half for a little extra space. I use to run it close, but never had an issue.

James

 

[waynaferd]

Heres my experience, in both a low sitting 96 thunderbird and a 7" lifted F-150 with 35's....if you happen to go off the road in the winter, you'll go alot farther in a lifted vehicle (providing you stay upright), making it that much harder to get unstuck.

My friend has a lifted dodge diesel, so both times were pretty easy, but we needed A LOT more chain to get to my F-150 than we did to the T-bird LOL

Only downside is that it was alot harder to get all the branches and mud cleaned out from under the T-bird.

 

[Army]

Haul the wood.....before it snows