Optimizing towing vehicle

[Degolyerent]

Prodigy p3 brake controller and air bags, gear change if the one you have is to high and transmission cooler upgrade and transmission temp. gauge
John

 

[MoMower]

For mechanical leveling help, I went with Helwig springs, from suspension connection. Com. Keep my 98 K1500 level with a ton in the bed.

 

[MikePA]

Depending on how your states laws are, your improvements might be for your comfort only.

This is what I was thinking as well. Also, going to 4.10 gears, front and rear, will be pricey and after all this money and work, it will still be a half ton truck towing at or above its capacity.

I have a 2004 K1500 Z71, similar to the OPs (8' bed, reg cab). I've added helper springs, installed new shocks, had the PCM tuned and installed a Maxbrake electric controller that splices into the braking system. I've also had to replace all the brake lines with stainless steel lines. One line rusted out, had that replaced with a regular steel one. Second line went out, and I decided to replace them all.

 

[George2615]

Add helper springs and shocks to the rear springs to help prevent the rear from squating too much.
Performance exhaust and maybe a tuner / programmer.
If possible, change the pintle on the trailer to a 2 5/16" hitch. Then you could use a load leveling weight distribution hitch.
Better brakes on the truck.
If truck has tow package it probably has an additional trans cooler. May even have trans temp gauge function in the dash.
All of the above will probably cost less than regearing two differentials.
The truck you have will tow your load fine.

Changing gears would be quite expensive to do front and rear. In the end it's still a half ton with a factory towing limit rating. Changing things will improve your towing and handling but I don't know if your state will legally allow you to change the factory GVWR.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No matter what you do its a older generation 1/2 ton. To me the first thing I would do is lose the pintle for a 2 5/16" ball and a Weight Distribution Hitch.

Chris

 

[LD1]

I'm not really wanting to spend money.

Not sure what your level of mechanical ability is, but you are likely gonna spend more money and still have an inferior truck vs trading in.

New gear sets...............$1500
Shocks (not sure why)......$400
Upgrade brakes................$400
Trans pan and shift kit........$500
Air bags or helper springs.....$400
Load range E tires.................$1000

You are looking at over $4000 for stuff that is standard (or not needed ) on a modern 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton of same vintage.

And all that money spent likely wont help resell at all. If anything, it will hurt it, cause someone looking for a 5.3L 1/2 ton is gonna want mileage, not 4.10 gears.

As to shocks, it wont help the rear end squat one bit. Shocks dont carry weight. They can only momentarily re-direct it. IE, you hit a big bump, the shocks will absorb it vs bottoming out on the bump stops. But it wont help with the squat. For that, you need the airbags or a helper spring.

But all of that aside, no matter what you do, legally you wont increase your towing capacity at all. It The only thing you will do is make the tow easier on your truck.

 

[Danny C]

I agree that the first thing I'd do is swap out the pintle hook for a 2-5/16" ball with a weight distributing hitch and even sway bars. I would also install a set of Timbren blocks to help the rear suspension. Timbren SES Suspension Upgrades - Upgrade Your Truck, Van, SUV I had a set in an '03 Ram 2500 I had with a 2yd3 stainless steel sal spreader they made a world of difference. A set of good tires makes a huge difference too.

 

[JJZ 109]

Yes brakes.

First thing that came to mind when I saw the other upgrades. Like Danny, I've also used Timbrens and found them helpful. The thing with Timbrens is that they don't mess up the ride when there's no load on the truck. I've also used airbags. While they helped the capacity, I still had stock brakes. Fortunately I didn't haul heavy too often. I've since gone from an F150 to a 250.

 

[jejeosborne]

Looks like I have an obvious solution to this problem. Give me your address and I will bring you my 7000 lb capacity trailer and swap it for your 10000 lb trailer. It would be helpful to both of us thus killing two birds with one stone. We would both end up with trailers better matching our trucks capability. Act quickly because this offer expires never.

 

[mkreitler]

Like you said I would keep the truck for a backup vehicle and go with a DURAMAX end of story!!!!!