CARLI suspension

mountainsledmania · Apr 11, 2015

im looking at putting in a carli commuter lift in my 2500 cummins. I have a bds rite now and it rides like dog crap. Im trying to figure out what to expect out of this kit... is it going to ride like a caddy or am I expecting to much? any info would be great

deaner · Apr 11, 2015

HRT offroad is a member on here and a Carli dealer. He would be able to answer any questions you have. Good guy.

1BIGBADSLVRAM · Apr 11, 2015

Had one in a dodge 3500, ride is amazing! Big $$$ but if u can afford it, definitely the way to go. Kevin at HRT is awesome to deal with, truly a Carli specialist

westskman · Apr 12, 2015

I have a backcountry in my 12 3500. Ride quality is great but I have had problems with some components. Sway bar links broke twice and I'm not out launching it over approaches. The bushings on the track bar and the shocks both lasted about 45000 Kms which is a year for me. Put my old links and a set of 5100 bilsteins on and they are still good. All in all happy with it. It really smooths out the rear end takes away the chatter

mountainsledmania · Apr 12, 2015

good to hear... the rear end on my bds is dreadfull I swear to god the wheels are off the pavement on frost heaves. im looking at the commuter witch has the fox shocks valve for the highway. my truck is a pavement pounder used to pull a trailer or a deck for the winter so I think this is my best option.

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 12, 2015

If you want caddy ride your going to have to swap rear leafs.
I think it' accounts for 60% of ride quality.
Thuren makes some very nice stuff. I had Carli 3" coils on my 08 but I have Thuren coils on my 12
I like them better imo they are softer. But the commuter are valved for Carli coils.
I'm switching back to 6" and I'm going Thuren coils Thuren alien long arms and Thuren custom soft ride fox shocks.

I have Carli arms now, Carli track bar, Carli opposing stabilizers. Thuren sway bar.
The arms and track bar have been a bitch to keep from popping in off angle approaches.

Brace yourself for the draining of your bank account!

mountainsledmania · Apr 12, 2015

OVERKILL 19 said:
If you want caddy ride your going to have to swap rear leafs.
I think it' accounts for 60% of ride quality.
Thuren makes some very nice stuff. I had Carli 3" coils on my 08 but I have Thuren coils on my 12
I like them better imo they are softer. But the commuter are valved for Carli coils.
I'm switching back to 6" and I'm going Thuren coils Thuren alien long arms and Thuren custom soft ride fox shocks.

I have Carli arms now, Carli track bar, Carli opposing stabilizers. Thuren sway bar.
The arms and track bar have been a bitch to keep from popping in off angle approaches.

Brace yourself for the draining of your bank account!

interesting, so in comparison to the bds with the base shocks I have is it worth it for me to switch to the commuter or put better shocks in the bds? I don't have thousands to throw at my rig but id like to drink my tims in I without it ending up all over the dash

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 13, 2015

I had a bds 6" on my 12 when I bought the truck. I thought it rode better than my 08 with all the Carli stuff, or as good.
My 08 had leafs, arms, Pintops etc. but 6" generally is softer than 3".
I pulled the bds 6" due to buying a fifth wheel and installed the Thuren 3" coils. Funny the Thuren 3" coils where 1/4" shorter than the BDS 6" coils while on the bench and rode softer once installed.

What year is your truck. What height?

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 13, 2015

PS.
What are your plans for a sway bar? It can cause a lot of rough ride ... Off angle drive ways. I ran without my factory sway bar till my Thuren showed up. It all helps a little.
Some guys run no sway bar at all. It takes a bit of getting used to. But most can't stand the thought of not having it !

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 13, 2015

Do you tow haul heavy loads?

mountainsledmania · Apr 13, 2015

hmm interesting. my truck is an07 ram 200 5.9 and I usually have a deck and two sleds with gear. I have a 30 ft enclosed but im getting out of it. but unloaded the ride is really harsh. what about the fox shocks that bds offers as the upgrade? would those help out a little bit?

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 14, 2015

I have never run those so I can't say. If your shocks u have now are toast, I'm sure the foxes will help. If yours are 07 vintage... They are toast ! Lol
But no shock is going to replace the fact that your rear leafs ride on the overloads too much.

Replace leafs with Carli ..which you lose I think 15 - 20% load capacity.
Or you can cut overloads back to 14" overall length. If you run empty most/ all the time. Which I hate telling guys just due to the fact that if you load her up you can bend break leafs.

Carli makes great stuff but it's a system. If you buy commuter Carli shocks for your BDS coils it won't be happy. They are tuned for carlis coils , arms, track bar , sway bar etc. but you can buy it piece by piece. double check those commuter shocks are not stainless steel shafts, so they won't like our winter wonder land.

.
Everyone always starts at the front when the back causes a lot of the problem.

Ps there is this kit on kijij

4" KING Carli & Thuren Lift | other parts, accessories | Calgary | Kijiji

It's for a 2012 but I think most of it will swap over. I know the leafs are just a different bushing. I think the track bar and arms are a drill out and use bigger bolts but you would have to check your truck vs a 12. He's been trying to sell that for along time. His down fall is You still need arms his truck has Thuren long arms which are welded on.

the_real_wild1 · Apr 14, 2015

OVERKILL 19 said:
I have never run those so I can't say. If your shocks u have now are toast, I'm sure the foxes will help. If yours are 07 vintage... They are toast ! Lol
But no shock is going to replace the fact that your rear leafs ride on the overloads too much.

Replace leafs with Carli ..which you lose I think 15 - 20% load capacity.
Or you can cut overloads back to 14" overall length. If you run empty most/ all the time. Which I hate telling guys just due to the fact that if you load her up you can bend break leafs.

Carli makes great stuff but it's a system. If you buy commuter Carli shocks for your BDS coils it won't be happy. They are tuned for carlis coils , arms, track bar , sway bar etc. but you can buy it piece by piece. double check those commuter shocks are not stainless steel shafts, so they won't like our winter wonder land.

.
Everyone always starts at the front when the back causes a lot of the problem.

Ps there is this kit on kijij

4" KING Carli & Thuren Lift | other parts, accessories | Calgary | Kijiji

It's for a 2012 but I think most of it will swap over. I know the leafs are just a different bushing. I think the track bar and arms are a drill out and use bigger bolts but you would have to check your truck vs a 12. He's been trying to sell that for along time. His down fall is You still need arms his truck has Thuren long arms which are welded on.

You mean he needs ss shafts don't you?

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 14, 2015

the_real_wild1 said:
You mean he needs ss shafts don't you?

Kinda what I said! Poorly !Check those commuter shocks, they are not SS shafts. Winter salt bad

You want SS shafts if ur spending that much

the_real_wild1 · Apr 14, 2015

I knew what you meant but the way you wrote it sounded to me like you don't want the as shafts. Maybe it was just me

mountainsledmania · Apr 14, 2015

OVERKILL 19 said:
I have never run those so I can't say. If your shocks u have now are toast, I'm sure the foxes will help. If yours are 07 vintage... They are toast ! Lol
But no shock is going to replace the fact that your rear leafs ride on the overloads too much.

Replace leafs with Carli ..which you lose I think 15 - 20% load capacity.
Or you can cut overloads back to 14" overall length. If you run empty most/ all the time. Which I hate telling guys just due to the fact that if you load her up you can bend break leafs.

Carli makes great stuff but it's a system. If you buy commuter Carli shocks for your BDS coils it won't be happy. They are tuned for carlis coils , arms, track bar , sway bar etc. but you can buy it piece by piece. double check those commuter shocks are not stainless steel shafts, so they won't like our winter wonder land.

.
Everyone always starts at the front when the back causes a lot of the problem.

Ps there is this kit on kijij

4" KING Carli & Thuren Lift | other parts, accessories | Calgary | Kijiji

It's for a 2012 but I think most of it will swap over. I know the leafs are just a different bushing. I think the track bar and arms are a drill out and use bigger bolts but you would have to check your truck vs a 12. He's been trying to sell that for along time. His down fall is You still need arms his truck has Thuren long arms which are welded on.

What if i put the carli add a packs in the rear and replace my bds 5500 shocks with bilstein 5100's? could this be a cheaper alternative?

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 14, 2015

I've never run them so I can't say. But everything I've read it's a band aid towards buying full leaf pack.

As for shocks, remember the front end of your truck is 5000lbs so the bigger shock you can afford is going to work better.

mountainsledmania · Apr 14, 2015

OVERKILL 19 said:
I've never run them so I can't say. But everything I've read it's a band aid towards buying full leaf pack.

As for shocks, remember the front end of your truck is 5000lbs so the bigger shock you can afford is going to work better.

what are your suggesions in the shock department? I talked to buddy with the king thuren lift and he said to run m bds control arms with all his high end stuff? seems a litte off to use my half inch longer control arms for a 4 in lift?

mountainsledmania · Apr 14, 2015

and is there anything I can do to my current bds to make it somewhat livable?

OVERKILL 19 · Apr 14, 2015

mountainsledmania said:
and is there anything I can do to my current bds to make it somewhat livable?

U could do the add a leafs and a good set of shocks. Pull your factory sway bar and try it to see if frees up the front end. If it does get a sway bar.
I'm assuming your 3" lift.

I wouldn't run anything over 3" without long arms. You can but it starts getting choppy imo

If your 6" u need long arms to get rid of the bad ride. Bds long arm kit is $1100 I think

CARLI suspension

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