Level kit and towing a boat

[Burnt Money]

I tow my Sundance DX20 20-30 times a year. I have a 2.5in leveling kit installed with 265/70/17 Cooper Rugged Treks. I am towing my boat 1200 miles round trip in 2 weeks to Captiva. I think I posted the hooked and unhooked measurements in a post a while back when someone asked about towing. Setting the hitch height is the key. On Memorial Day weekend I towed my boat loaded down with coolers and gear and the bed was full of firewood. It had some reverse rake but towed just fine for the 20 mile trip.

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[JasonTremor]

I watched this person's install of 285/70/17 tires on their Tremor. If I understood it right, you just need the high clearance crash bars and no lift, though they added a 1 inch front level kit in a second video. Spacers weren't required either.

 

[Frenchy]

I watched this person's install of 285/70/17 tires on their Tremor. If I understood it right, you just need the high clearance crash bars and no lift, though they added a 1 inch front level kit in a second video. Spacers weren't required either.

Makes sense that all they had to do was change the crash bars. The front already has about 2 in of lift compared to a non Tremor. As for spacers, I would not want to do that if avoidable

 

[CAB]

whats up y’all? I’ve got a 22 tremor and I’m hoping to install a 2” level eventually. Preferably the fordrangerlifts one. But I’ve also got aspirations of owning and towing a bow rider. Specifically one that would be 19-22’ and topping out around 4-5k dry. Does anyone have any personal experience towing while leveled and particularly with a 2” kit? I also currently have the stock 265/70/17 general grabbers and stock wheels so I’m also hoping to upgrade to 285/70/17s once I get the level installed. Anyone have any insight on how well that fits with the 2” kit and stock wheels as well? Really appreciate any help!

I have a ‘22 Tremor as well. I added a 1.5” level immediately after delivery in May 2022. I tow a 21’ NauticStar Deckboat weekly during the summer with no issues.

 

[rickyranger8]

I have a ‘22 Tremor as well. I added a 1.5” level immediately after delivery in May 2022. I tow a 21’ NauticStar Deckboat weekly during the summer with no issues.

Nice rig! Very similar to what I’m going for. How far is your avg trip?

 

[rickyranger8]

I watched this person's install of 285/70/17 tires on their Tremor. If I understood it right, you just need the high clearance crash bars and no lift, though they added a 1 inch front level kit in a second video. Spacers weren't required either.

Thanks for the video reference! I’ve heard stock wheels/no spacers do just fine with 285s and a level without any high clearance bars. I’ll give this video a watch

 

[rickyranger8]

I tow my Sundance DX20 20-30 times a year. I have a 2.5in leveling kit installed with 265/70/17 Cooper Rugged Treks. I am towing my boat 1200 miles round trip in 2 weeks to Captiva. I think I posted the hooked and unhooked measurements in a post a while back when someone asked about towing. Setting the hitch height is the key. On Memorial Day weekend I towed my boat loaded down with coolers and gear and the bed was full of firewood. It had some reverse rake but towed just fine for the 20 mile trip.

Good to know. I appreciate the response!

 

[CAB]

Nice rig! Very similar to what I’m going for. How far is your avg trip?

Storage to boat ramp is only 6 miles round trip. Storage to home is 39 miles one way. I tow at about 65mph as I have not yet dialed in the tongue weight/sway. I actually think I’m a little light on the tongue but since I rarely bring the boat back to my house, I have not made it a priority.
The best part of towing a boat with a Ranger is pulling your rig up the boat ramp with your four-cylinder while watching other full size trucks spin their tires. I have not weighed my boat-motor-trailer but estimate them to be about 5,000-5,500. I have actually been considering stepping up to a 24’ NauticStar with a larger motor.

Best of luck with your boat purchase. Buy the biggest/most powerful boat you can safely tow and afford.

 

[rickyranger8]

Absolutely will do. Appreciate it!

 

[Wes Siler]

whats up y’all? I’ve got a 22 tremor and I’m hoping to install a 2” level eventually. Preferably the fordrangerlifts one. But I’ve also got aspirations of owning and towing a bow rider. Specifically one that would be 19-22’ and topping out around 4-5k dry. Does anyone have any personal experience towing while leveled and particularly with a 2” kit? I also currently have the stock 265/70/17 general grabbers and stock wheels so I’m also hoping to upgrade to 285/70/17s once I get the level installed. Anyone have any insight on how well that fits with the 2” kit and stock wheels as well? Really appreciate any help!

Why'd you buy a Tremor, which is only suspension, just to change that suspension?

Two other issues here:
1) "level kits." If you're seeking greater performance, which it sounds like you are, you need to run a cohesive suspension system designed to work together, not just jack up the front end.
2) spacer lifts are stupid. You're just fucking your geometry to combine with point one to make your car look silly.

The correct way to achieve a smoother ride, with less sag while towing would be to run a suspension system designed to support the weight you're carrying. Depending on tongue weight, cargo, other mods, that's likely OME medium weight rear springs, or possibly heavy if you're really loaded down. Option those as part of a complete OME system (either Nitrocharger or BP-51), with UCAs, and you'll have a truck that performs correctly while loaded.

Airbags and helper springs are just bandaids. You need to fix the problem with spring rate if you want your truck to handle safely.

 

[JasonTremor]

Thanks for the video reference! I’ve heard stock wheels/no spacers do just fine with 285s and a level without any high clearance bars. I’ll give this video a watch

My goal is max tire size without altering the suspension with any kind of level/lift. I'm open to swapping the OE crash bars for aftermarket high clearance bars.

 

[rickyranger8]

Why'd you buy a Tremor, which is only suspension, just to change that suspension?

Two other issues here:
1) "level kits." If you're seeking greater performance, which it sounds like you are, you need to run a cohesive suspension system designed to work together, not just jack up the front end.
2) spacer lifts are stupid. You're just fucking your geometry to combine with point one to make your car look silly.

The correct way to achieve a smoother ride, with less sag while towing would be to run a suspension system designed to support the weight you're carrying. Depending on tongue weight, cargo, other mods, that's likely OME medium weight rear springs, or possibly heavy if you're really loaded down. Option those as part of a complete OME system (either Nitrocharger or BP-51), with UCAs, and you'll have a truck that performs correctly while loaded.

Airbags and helper springs are just bandaids. You need to fix the problem with spring rate if you want your truck to handle safely.

Well no I’m not looking to modify performance. I’m only trying to gain more clearance to allow for larger tires without comprising towing performance. I’m not sure where you got the idea that it sounded like I was trying to change the performance

 

[GitRDone]

I have Bilsteins on all 4 corners with 2.5" front level and tow an 18' center console boat. No problemo, the truck still has some rake unloaded and adding the boat/ trailer barely levels it.

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