Lifted CrewCab Dually

[Powerhouse Ranch]

Me and my brother are purchasing a crew cab dually this weekend (more details later). 1 ton, crew cab dually 4x4. What's the best way to lift this thing (most likely 4") while keeping this thing a beast? Listening to all ideas, ESPECIALLY want to hear from @bucket with his 70s gem and how he did what he did. Thanks guys...

 

[nvrenuf]

Is it important to keep its towing capacity?

There’s arguments pro & con about how shackle flips effect towing capacity, I have no idea so I’d contact the manufacturer.

For no more than 4” I’d think a block is fine.

Be careful with rear lift springs, many will fit but it’s unlikely “off the shelf” springs will have similar capacity to the OE springs. That said, there are a few companies that build custom spec springs that will both lift and carry what you need (for a price).

Also be careful about bigger tires rubbing one another in the rear.

 

[Powerhouse Ranch]

Is it important to keep its towing capacity?

There’s arguments pro & con about how shackle flips effect towing capacity, I have no idea so I’d contact the manufacturer.

For no more than 4” I’d think a block is fine.

Be careful with rear lift springs, many will fit but it’s unlikely “off the shelf” springs will have similar capacity to the OE springs. That said, there are a few companies that build custom spec springs that will both lift and carry what you need (for a price).

Also be careful about bigger tires rubbing one another in the rear.

i did consider the tires. is it practical to add spacers in between?

 

[nvrenuf]

I had a friend that tan 38’s on a crew cab dually and he used 3” spacers between the rear tires. There will certainly be folks that’ll say you’ll kill everyone around you if you do this but it worked for years and this truck was abused.

My friend used steel spacers from a US company that made dually conversion kits. I would buy the BEST spacers available no matter how bad it hurts.

 

[nvrenuf]

This was the truck I mentioned, factory ‘83 K30 dually with 6x 12.50x38 TSL’s.

 

[Powerhouse Ranch]

I had a friend that tan 38’s on a crew cab dually and he used 3” spacers between the rear tires. There will certainly be folks that’ll say you’ll kill everyone around you if you do this but it worked for years and this truck was abused.

My friend used steel spacers from a US company that made dually conversion kits. I would buy the BEST spacers available no matter how bad it hurts.

in the long run that'll definitely be worth it in the long run. thanks John

 

[Powerhouse Ranch]

This was the truck I mentioned, factory ‘83 K30 dually with 6x 12.50x38 TSL’s.

wow what a rig. what kind of lift did he use?

 

[nvrenuf]

The lift was not a kit but a combo of parts. The front had 8” Superlift springs and the rear had the factory 56’s with a (I think) 3 springs added plus a 6” factory Dodge (1st gen) lift block. The reason for that specific block was that it’s cast iron, longer & wider (for bigger footprint on the spring perch), it was flat - no taper and it had a larger bump stop arm cast on it.

This truck still had a lot of axle wrap in the rear presumably because of the massive footprint.

 

[BKING33]

As far as wheel spacers go, you can only use a 1/4" spacer for Pa state inspections. I have the Off Road Design shackle flip kit on my K30.
Mine is not a dually but pretty much same rear suspension as yours