Need to lower the pickup since the current height requires more distance to drive the bike up the ramp.
I tried riding the bike up with a shorter lead distance and it ended similar to the 1:45 mark of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_K2...ature=youtu.be
(I use a single ramp instead of riding up the middle of two double ramps but still)

Never having lowered a pickup before I did some initial research and the back required cutting a square into the chassis and replacing a new part on there then my buddy said you could just remove the rear axles and reverse the U-bolt suspending the axles from the leaf springs and instead place the rear axles on top of the leaf springs. Is it really that simple with no hardware to buy and I'd get it a couple inches lower?

Also what's the simplest way to do the front so the height matches or is even lower than the rear? This truck is way too high and I can't see anything down low by the front corners and I keep hitting chain link fences.

This is for a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 ST 3.7L V6 6-speed RWD Regular cab 6' bed

 

Great video!! How much lower do you want it? Is the tailgate easily removed? I've seen some that are on/off in seconds. The gate is on an upward angle. Removing it would give you another 4" or so. Secondly, what about a motorcycle trailer? You would be playing with the entire design of the truck if you change the position of the axle & springs. That's not a good idea.

 

Rear axle flip is easy, fronts get difficult because there is no way short of installing lowering spindles.

 

The tailgate doesn't incline any but that's mute since the bed is 72" and the bike is 83".
If this can be done in a weekend I prefer lowering the truck since I can't see things toward the ground anyway. With a trailer I have to buy it, park it, and store it and I'm trying to own less items.

 

Moot....not mute.

So you want to fundamentally change the design of the truck suspension to make it easier to load a bike occasionally?

See the idiot in the video? If he had pulled his truck forward about 15ft so the rear wheels were in the gutter, thus dropping the back of the truck he wouldn't have looked like such a D/A. He could have also turned the truck around, loaded from the street, and gotten the same effect

You want lower with good handling and normal load capacity....air ride. Expensive as all get out and a bit complicated to install.

Straight lowering kit...various...$300-500 with and/or without shocks.

Why not just a motorcycle tow dolly? Relatively cheap and compact and no compromising the truck suspension for future use.

 

I find myself loading the bike more frequently.
I don't trust those front wheel tow dolly's, I like knowing that bad boy is strapped in solid to the side mounts of the truck bed especially for those long trips to NC.
For now I'll just park further out if I need an area that gives me more lead distance.

 

do you have a receiver how about one of the receiver motorcycle carriers have you looked into them probably much cheaper and easier to install than lowering the vehicle.

 

I called it a trailer but that's what I meant.