Getting carli ride quality without leveling?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2019
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Getting carli ride quality without leveling?
Is there a way to get the ride quality of a carli or bds kit without leveling the truck? I prefer keeping the stock height but am looking at upgrading the suspension from stock soon. 2019 F350 SRW.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 284
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I’m definitely no expert and no engineer but I think the proper length king 2.5” or fox 2.5” shocks plus new high quality coil springs in the front and replacing the rear leaf springs with deaver leaf springs and shocks in the back would go a long way
keep in mind, the deavers are a softer spring so you lose some payload rating but that can always be fixed with $$$ and long travel airbags from Carli or other manufacturers
it might be worth it just to do a level to use a little bit longer of a shock in the front for more travel and you can always add a 1” block I think you can at least under the deavers if you want more rake
keeping everything stock height would save a lot of expense on relocation brackets or new parts taking into the account of the new geometry but at the expense of less travel in the shock itself since a longer shock won’t physically fit, it would more be an upgrade of higher quality shocks and springs
keep in mind, the deavers are a softer spring so you lose some payload rating but that can always be fixed with $$$ and long travel airbags from Carli or other manufacturers
it might be worth it just to do a level to use a little bit longer of a shock in the front for more travel and you can always add a 1” block I think you can at least under the deavers if you want more rake
keeping everything stock height would save a lot of expense on relocation brackets or new parts taking into the account of the new geometry but at the expense of less travel in the shock itself since a longer shock won’t physically fit, it would more be an upgrade of higher quality shocks and springs
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
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at stock height, you’re probably looking at having to keep factory springs which leave you with the task of finding better tuned shocks at stock length.
Stay away from bilstein and other cheap shocks and you’ll probably improve the ride but you’ll miss out of the additional travel (important for bump absorption since these SDs don’t have much in factory height) if you don’t at least go with a 2-2.5” kit.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2019
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The lighter spring rates in combo with shock tuning is the key.
at stock height, you’re probably looking at having to keep factory springs which leave you with the task of finding better tuned shocks at stock length.
Stay away from bilstein and other cheap shocks and you’ll probably improve the ride but you’ll miss out of the additional travel (important for bump absorption since these SDs don’t have much in factory height) if you don’t at least go with a 2-2.5” kit.
at stock height, you’re probably looking at having to keep factory springs which leave you with the task of finding better tuned shocks at stock length.
Stay away from bilstein and other cheap shocks and you’ll probably improve the ride but you’ll miss out of the additional travel (important for bump absorption since these SDs don’t have much in factory height) if you don’t at least go with a 2-2.5” kit.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
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What’s your intended budget for getting it done? If it’s in the budget I’d go with a Carli 2.5 kit and the progressive add a pack leaf for the rear. Not too crazy, should still tow we’ll and will give you a great ride quality.
if I remember correctly the add a pack rear leaf setup maintains the stock load ratings (unlike the full deaver leaf springs the reduce the trucks capacity).
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2022
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You will have to do air bags if you want lighter springs for better ride quality but it not sag when towing
it’s a compromise on spring rates for towing versus ride quality
it’s a compromise on spring rates for towing versus ride quality
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2019
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if you get the proper pieces (a decent kit) your towing won’t be affected at all. Maybe you took all the caster out of the old setup with the level and didn’t adjust for it with something like radius arm drops (or even new radius arms completely).
What’s your intended budget for getting it done? If it’s in the budget I’d go with a Carli 2.5 kit and the progressive add a pack leaf for the rear. Not too crazy, should still tow we’ll and will give you a great ride quality.
if I remember correctly the add a pack rear leaf setup maintains the stock load ratings (unlike the full deaver leaf springs the reduce the trucks capacity).
What’s your intended budget for getting it done? If it’s in the budget I’d go with a Carli 2.5 kit and the progressive add a pack leaf for the rear. Not too crazy, should still tow we’ll and will give you a great ride quality.
if I remember correctly the add a pack rear leaf setup maintains the stock load ratings (unlike the full deaver leaf springs the reduce the trucks capacity).
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
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if that’s an issue airbags are a pretty effective solution. I wish these trucks came with them in the rear to begin. Would be nice to always be able to level a load.
or maybe put a .5 or 1” taller block under the rear leaf springs to create more unloaded rake. That way it doesn’t look squatted when hauling?
I am in the same boat. Did a bds 2” level. Thinking about switching to Carli and want to have just a little more rake than standard with Carli because I tow a moderate weight trailer frequently as well. I want to keep the slightly higher ride height and improve the ride quality at the same time.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 284
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The Carli add a packs would be a good middle ground approach.
i think they do give the leaf springs a more progressive spring rate which should be somewhat softer for small bumps but not sacrifice load ratings. I don’t know how much of a ride improvement they really are as much as adding a little height to the rear and getting a little more travel.
if you’re going to go down the road or airbags, that’s going to be $$$ and I’d almost just look at trading for a ram 2500 where it will ride soft with coil springs on all 4 corners and there is a factory air bag option
the payload of the ram 2500 without the airbags is a complete joke for towing though it’s so low
i think they do give the leaf springs a more progressive spring rate which should be somewhat softer for small bumps but not sacrifice load ratings. I don’t know how much of a ride improvement they really are as much as adding a little height to the rear and getting a little more travel.
if you’re going to go down the road or airbags, that’s going to be $$$ and I’d almost just look at trading for a ram 2500 where it will ride soft with coil springs on all 4 corners and there is a factory air bag option
the payload of the ram 2500 without the airbags is a complete joke for towing though it’s so low
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2019
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Thank you I don't think I will be doing airbags. Just looking for a better ride quality over stock without sacrificing too much of the trucks tow/haul capability. So middle ground approach like you said is probably what Im looking for.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: NorCal
why not start with a new set of shock? Anything is a good improvement over OE garbage. Small investment for a good set of shocks, replace the OE steering damper or upgrade to dual system.
I would suggest a set of bilstein shocks, good upgrade from stock and a good value.400-800.00 for all 4 shocks depending on model you choose ie 4600, 5100 or 5600 OR if you have the cash for upper end Fox.
Truck is kept in stock the configuration, and everything feels better.
I would suggest a set of bilstein shocks, good upgrade from stock and a good value.400-800.00 for all 4 shocks depending on model you choose ie 4600, 5100 or 5600 OR if you have the cash for upper end Fox.
Truck is kept in stock the configuration, and everything feels better.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
why not start with a new set of shock? Anything is a good improvement over OE garbage. Small investment for a good set of shocks, replace the OE steering damper or upgrade to dual system.
I would suggest a set of bilstein shocks, good upgrade from stock and a good value.400-800.00 for all 4 shocks depending on model you choose ie 4600, 5100 or 5600 OR if you have the cash for upper end Fox.
Truck is kept in stock the configuration, and everything feels better.
I would suggest a set of bilstein shocks, good upgrade from stock and a good value.400-800.00 for all 4 shocks depending on model you choose ie 4600, 5100 or 5600 OR if you have the cash for upper end Fox.
Truck is kept in stock the configuration, and everything feels better.
Other than recommending bilstein I can agree. That just changing to better shocks even at stock length would improve his ride. The only reason any amount of lift is mentioned is because it would allow him to match some springs to shock (like Carli). But of course it involves more than swapping shocks as well, so……
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 284
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I probably wouldn’t do this but there is another lower cost option if you wanted to go with softer springs in addition to better shocks
I think there are some companies that make bump stops that are designed to be driven on for towing
you would have to constantly be changing them in and out though if you didn’t want them limiting your travel when not towing I think
I think there are some companies that make bump stops that are designed to be driven on for towing
you would have to constantly be changing them in and out though if you didn’t want them limiting your travel when not towing I think