Nick R wrote: I have a 2006 Silverado 1/2 ton crew cab that has a 6 inch lift and 35's on it. It pulls my camper better with the lift on it than it did without. My camper is only about 5000lbs. I changed the gears from stock 3.42's to 4.88's, the towing mileage went from 9-10mpg to 11-12 mpg. I can now tow in overdrive. The rpm's are are 2000 at 60 mph, the Trans does not have to shift down very often any more and when it does it only revs to 3000 instead of the 4000-4500 it did before. I have the add-a-leaf and a 5" rear block for the rear suspension. The bounce that I used to have on the freeways is now gone. My rear does not drop very far when I hook up. I went from P-rated tires to lt's in the d load range. The shocks are pro-comp mx-6's that are adjustable. They are are adjusted to full firm when towing and that takes away the bouncing that I had before. I do use an equalizer hitch too. I was worried( my wife was worried) how it would pull my camper lifted. I am glad that I did it. But every one has there own comfort levels and likes.
Your truck pulls your trailer better and the transmission shifts differently because of the change in overall gear ratio that was accomplished by the combination of different ratio axle gears and different tire diameter. That has nothing to do with the height of the suspension. You probly over-corrected the gear ratio for the tire size (I did the same on my truck going from 3.55 to 4.56 and 31.5" to 33" tires), which allows greater torque applied for pulling.
Your truck squats less when loaded and is more stable on the road because of the extra add-a-leaf which increased the spring rate and stiffer shocks (which are both great!), not because of the increase in suspension height. The same thing can be accomplished without changing the suspension height by using stiffer springs with the same height as stock and the same stiffer shocks.
Your truck is an example of a lift that was done right and an owner who educated yourself about the task and thought out what you were doing and made good decisions about how to upgrade the truck for the intended purpose. Bravo to you! Too bad more people don't put their thinking caps on before doing things to their trucks!
SoCalDesertRider wrote: No one said anything about electric brakes on the boat trailer. Most boat trailers that have brakes have hydraulic surge brakes. Very common on trailers for larger boats.
He mentioned that the controller was in order, I was trying to point out that it wouldnt matter if it was a boat trailer with surge brakes.
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SoCalDesertRider wrote: No one said anything about electric brakes on the boat trailer. Most boat trailers that have brakes have hydraulic surge brakes. Very common on trailers for larger boats.
He mentioned that the controller was in order, I was trying to point out that it wouldnt matter if it was a boat trailer with surge brakes.
You're a sharper reader than I am. The word 'controller' didn't even register in mind there, but now that I re-read the post, I see it there.
I guess it is possible that by saying 'controller' he meant the master cylinder and sliding actuater of the surge brake unit, but only he would be able to tell us what he actually meant by it.
