Looking for the best PRACTICAL suspension set up for a c1500 work truck

[HotWheelsBurban]

Wow! Down here, usually the road damage is from flooding or excessive heat. Especially on older asphalt roads.

 

[AuroraGirl]

1500s absolutely can work hard, mine has towed its max weight in dirt and pavers and concrete etc many times. But OP is talking about spending thousands to upgrade a 1500 (with a 305 even) to do what a 2500/3500 is made for from the beginning. And then knowingly and intentionally overload it.

It would be cheaper and better to just sell it and buy a truck made for what he wants.

I got the sense he was putting the cart before the horse and his mind was made up to make this truck work and everything else follows

 

[Brothajack93]

You're new here huh? And to life evidently. Dumbass.
My truck will haul or tow far more than yours, it's bagged not slammed, and it's not as if it's the only truck I've owned, or currently own.
Truck guy? You own the weakest, smallest full size V8 truck that it was possible to buy, but you wanna talk s h i t. GTFOH

Nah I just don’t like people and their toxic “holier than though” BS attitudes. Some people work on a budget. There are hard working people in the world who live paycheque to paycheque especially since everything has gone up in price since the pandemic including these trucks and just trucks in general. I also live in the most BS liberal province in the country where these trucks are harder to come by because outrageous certification and emissions laws have phased them out like the laws were meant to. It’s not like I live in Alberta anymore where I made far more money and a good solid truck in whatever size you want is at your fingertips. Or the southern U.S where these trucks have nothing but spot rust. It’s not like this is my first truck either. I work with what I have and to me a truck is what it was engineered for….. WORK. Not some d-bags little tinker toy. I bought a rusty old half ton **** box cause it’s what I can get. Though I’ve never really done a lot of work on my trucks I’m figuring it out myself with the help of decent people from forums and groups such as this one. I have no time for twits who want to be smart and try and bash a guy for trying to make something from nothing. Maybe you should think about if your commenting on posts to help or to be an ass. Now piss off and leave me to do what ever I want with MY TRUCK…. You can lift, lower, bag or do whatever you please with yours and you won’t find me going out of my way to tell you how dumb I think it is

 

[618 Syndicate]

Nah I just don’t like people and their toxic “holier than though” BS attitudes. Some people work on a budget. There are hard working people in the world who live paycheque to paycheque especially since everything has gone up in price since the pandemic including these trucks and just trucks in general. I also live in the most BS liberal province in the country where these trucks are harder to come by because outrageous certification and emissions laws have phased them out like the laws were meant to. It’s not like I live in Alberta anymore where I made far more money and a good solid truck in whatever size you want is at your fingertips. Or the southern U.S where these trucks have nothing but spot rust. It’s not like this is my first truck either. I work with what I have and to me a truck is what it was engineered for….. WORK. Not some d-bags little tinker toy. I bought a rusty old half ton **** box cause it’s what I can get. Though I’ve never really done a lot of work on my trucks I’m figuring it out myself with the help of decent people from forums and groups such as this one. I have no time for twits who want to be smart and try and bash a guy for trying to make something from nothing. Maybe you should think about if your commenting on posts to help or to be an ass. Now piss off and leave me to do what ever I want with MY TRUCK…. You can lift, lower, bag or do whatever you please with yours and you won’t find me going out of my way to tell you how dumb I think it is

Nothing like coming on a public forum and asking for advice and going all keyboard warrior when it's given but you don't like it.
Settle down tough guy, you won't last long around here with that attitude.

 

[Brothajack93]

Nah I just don’t like people and their toxic “holier than though” BS attitudes. Some people work on a budget. There are hard working people in the world who live paycheque to paycheque especially since everything has gone up in price since the pandemic including these trucks and just trucks in general. I also live in the most BS liberal province in the country where these trucks are harder to come by because outrageous certification and emissions laws have phased them out like the laws were meant to. It’s not like I live in Alberta anymore where I made far more money and a good solid truck in whatever size you want is at your fingertips. Or the southern U.S where these trucks have nothing but spot rust. It’s not like this is my first truck either. I work with what I have and to me a truck is what it was engineered for….. WORK. Not some d-bags little tinker toy. I bought a rusty old half ton **** box cause it’s what I can get. Though I’ve never really done a lot of work on my trucks I’m figuring it out myself with the help of decent people from forums and groups such as this one. I have no time for twits who want to be smart and try and bash a guy for trying to make something from nothing. Maybe you should think about if your commenting on posts to help or to be an ass. Now piss off and leave me to do what ever I want with MY TRUCK…. You can lift, lower, bag or do whatever you please with yours and you won’t find me going out of my way to tell you how dumb I think it is

Like jeez dude at least other people had constructive things to say like “this truck would be better” instead of point out the most obvious crap cause you feel like telling someone they’re dumb. I’m not dumb I’m broke. Have you seen the price of goods these days? The housing market and how the low to mid class are getting screwed? And if you think I’m keeping a 305 in it you must really take me for stupid…. I’ve never owned anything but a 350. Would’ve seeked one out if I had OPTIONS AND MONEY!!!! Im already having to do a bunch of work to it before it even legally sees the road…. Why wouldn’t I throw a bit more into it to better handle the very thing I bought it for? I’d rather keep the gutless engine than wreck the suspension multiple times working to maybe get a little ahead and upgrade. Cause if there’s one thing I know it’s that the power train in these trucks is far stronger than literally everything else on them. My trucks have never been show pieces. I don’t think I’m “cool” cause I daily drive something custom. Im the same kinda hard working guy like the ones who bought these trucks 25plus years ago. Were those guys lifting the truck to drive to their factory job? No, they lifted it if they worked in the bush. Though there was a culture for street trucks it wasn’t half the trucks you see on the road like today. They bought a truck, maybe put a couple things in it to suit their needs and went to work. All I see is a bunch of dudes who have never even seen a construction site or any kind of work/terrain that would require a truck and their first thought is “I wonder what rims I should get”. Talk your crap all you want bud, I am a tough guy. That’s why I want my truck to work. And I fail to see how junkyard parts are going to cost me “thousands of dollars” I’ll probably end up spending more on the damn pre fab panels. I’ll do just fine in this group so long as I don’t have to deal with too many punks like you. Considering my questions are about work truck upgrades it should be safe to assume the people I interact with will be like minded. Not guys who go out of their way to try be rude with absolutely no helpful advice to the questions asked cause he thinks he knows better. So you keep doing your upgrades for whatever reason you do them and I will do mine for my reasons. When you live where I live, make what I make and need an old truck that you know and like and have but a couple grand for the initial investment you work with what you got. I’m sure my small tough truck will handle the job just as well as the small tough guy who owns it

 

[618 Syndicate]

Like jeez dude at least other people had constructive things to say like “this truck would be better” instead of point out the most obvious crap cause you feel like telling someone they’re dumb. I’m not dumb I’m broke. Have you seen the price of goods these days? The housing market and how the low to mid class are getting screwed? And if you think I’m keeping a 305 in it you must really take me for stupid…. I’ve never owned anything but a 350. Would’ve seeked one out if I had OPTIONS AND MONEY!!!! Im already having to do a bunch of work to it before it even legally sees the road…. Why wouldn’t I throw a bit more into it to better handle the very thing I bought it for? I’d rather keep the gutless engine than wreck the suspension multiple times working to maybe get a little ahead and upgrade. Cause if there’s one thing I know it’s that the power train in these trucks is far stronger than literally everything else on them. My trucks have never been show pieces. I don’t think I’m “cool” cause I daily drive something custom. Im the same kinda hard working guy like the ones who bought these trucks 25plus years ago. Were those guys lifting the truck to drive to their factory job? No, they lifted it if they worked in the bush. Though there was a culture for street trucks it wasn’t half the trucks you see on the road like today. They bought a truck, maybe put a couple things in it to suit their needs and went to work. All I see is a bunch of dudes who have never even seen a construction site or any kind of work/terrain that would require a truck and their first thought is “I wonder what rims I should get”. Talk your crap all you want bud, I am a tough guy. That’s why I want my truck to work. And I fail to see how junkyard parts are going to cost me “thousands of dollars” I’ll probably end up spending more on the damn pre fab panels. I’ll do just fine in this group so long as I don’t have to deal with too many punks like you. Considering my questions are about work truck upgrades it should be safe to assume the people I interact with will be like minded. Not guys who go out of their way to try be rude with absolutely no helpful advice to the questions asked cause he thinks he knows better. So you keep doing your upgrades for whatever reason you do them and I will do mine for my reasons. When you live where I live, make what I make and need an old truck that you know and like and have but a couple grand for the initial investment you work with what you got. I’m sure my small tough truck will handle the job just as well as the small tough guy who owns it

You got me confused with someone else.
I am one of the guys who bought these trucks 25 years ago. And lowered them. And worked them. SMH. My first GMT 400 was a 95 crew cab dually I bought in 96. 5/7 drop and it hauled motorcycles, dirt, gravel, and pulled campers and boats.
I've always worked with what I got. If I wanted more I figured out how to get it and went and got it. Still do. Ain't no silver spoon here my guy. Worked construction as a laborer, and an operator, and drove trucks as a teamster.
You got no clue. None.

 

[boy&hisdogs]

I got the sense he was putting the cart before the horse and his mind was made up to make this truck work and everything else follows

Looks like I didn't read carefully enough!


Ok then here's what I would do if you must keep the same truck. I did handyman side work for years out of my 1500 and this is what worked for me.

1) 9.5" rear end with the lowest gears you can find and a locker. 3.73 minimum, 4.10 if you can but they are RARE around here for 6 lug. And no you can't just swap to 6 lug shafts in an 8 lug housing. I've tried. The shaft will fit but the 6 lug drums won't.

2) Heavier rear springs. All the SRW trucks have interchangeable springs so you can get 2500/3500 springs to bolt right in. I will say though that if you drive around empty they will rattle your fillings in a 1500. I swapped to the "light duty" 2500 springs and ended up pulling a leaf because I was sick of it. Even with a full toolbox and full size 37" spare in the bed.

3) 2500/3500 front calipers. Bolt in swap, they just have bigger pistons. This will balance out the big brakes from the other rear end.

4) Used toolboxes. You could save several hundred dollars depending on what/how many you get.

5) used lumber rack. Same deal as the boxes. I got mine for $60 at the pick n pull. Spent a Saturday grinding and spray painting and it was as good as new.

6) get a 12v charger or inverter for your 110v charger if you use battery tools.

7) Organize your daily use tools into as few boxes as possible. Saves a lot of time before and after work, and keeps you from forgetting small stuff.

 

[sewlow]

Stupid, useless lowered trucks.
Damn people ruining a perfectly good vehicle.

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[boy&hisdogs]

Stupid, useless lowered trucks.
Damn people ruining a perfectly good vehicle.

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Makes loading and unloading stuff from the bed much easier too!

 

[Brothajack93]

You got me confused with someone else.
I am one of the guys who bought these trucks 25 years ago. And lowered them. And worked them. SMH. My first GMT 400 was a 95 crew cab dually I bought in 96. 5/7 drop and it hauled motorcycles, dirt, gravel, and pulled campers and boats.
I've always worked with what I got. If I wanted more I figured out how to get it and went and got it. Still do. Ain't no silver spoon here my guy. Worked construction as a laborer, and an operator, and drove trucks as a teamster.
You got no clue. None.

Could’ve fooled me with a quote under your name that screams “my pants don’t fit”