Ok looking for some help here on some upgrade for my suspension. I'm not well versed in it. My current truck i picked up 2 years ago is a 2020 F250 4WD with the 6.2L and has the camper package on the rear suspension. It's mainly a "daily driver" (really isn't driven that often) but I live on a dirt road and we do farm and is used around the farm at times when my work truck is down. I also tow a 32ft TT a few times a year with it.

My problem is my last truck was an 06 F250 which had a 4.5" Carli Pintop on it. So i was spoiled. However that was around 10 years ago and the full kits were about $5k at most IIRC. They didnt have the radius arms, sway bars, all the other bits and what not. Was springs and shocks front and rear, with an adjustable track bar and drop brackets for the radius arms and sway bar. Very simple and great results. However I don't want another lift at all now being in my 30s having to put 3 kids in car seats in the back lol.

I'm looking for something just to help improve the ride a bit. I've looked into shocks but seems hard to find exactly what would be better? I do have an FX4 package on it but not sure what that means shocks wise. So far I've seen multiple Bilsteins, Rancho, Fox etc people do with everyone saying the ones they picked being better than the others. Then I've seen things like Sumo springs and sulastic shackles that help. Changing out sway bars with Tremors. Lol seems overwhelming.

I basically would like better control on wash board dirt roads which does happen some times out of the year, basically have a cup of water without it spilling everywhere like I did last week. But dont want to sacrifice control while towing. I also dont want to level the truck. Sits high enough as is and like not being nose up when towing like i was with my 06. Trucks got 58k miles on it almost so figure its time for a shock upgrade. Not afraid to drop coin if its worth it however also don't want to drop $5k like I did on my last one as i just cant justify the cost even if i wanted one. Also not expecting Carli results at all just better than the stiff bouncy ride i have now. Would appreciate any help with this.

And yeah truck drives nice when towing as designed but just doesn't do a whole lot of it which is why I went with the gasser as well.

 

You need a f-150

 

I probally have 15k in suspension parts and wheels on my truck and I won’t be able to pass a cup of water on my dash should not spill test.

the engineering problem is while there are ways to torsion or counter feed back from left to right…there is no way of providing torsion or counter feed back from front to back.

since the front will always respond independently to the back…it will never pass cup of water on dash spill test.

the best you are going to get would be with a 30k set up that uses a 4 link system in the front and 4 link system in the back, 2.5 king shocks in all corners with the front being coil over, sulastic hd version in the rears, summo springs all around

a Carli 4.5 kit would be dollar store compared but if you like the Carli 4.5 best bet would be to go back to that.


after thought

on the 2.5 size shock they have options for independent adjustment of high speed and low speed. So as best as I can understand the high speed adjustment would provide dampening options for washboard type road imperfections and the low speed adjustment would provide separate adjustment options for dips and bounce's

 

OP, you can begin with basics, first off are your tires inflated to "max psi"? If so lower it down, I used Forscan to alter the TPMS so the light did not come on after airing down. With my original tires I ran 40 rear and 45 front, it made a world of difference too, tires lasted 72k miles. Try putting some weight in the bed, some will use a 1/4" 4x8 sheet of steel. But if your still riding on factory shocks, anything aftermarket will help.

 

I made a post in 2022 that does what you want that cost me about $2200. at the time. I'll try to attach it here. It is a Word docx.

 

Lol for the water cup it was a cup that had about 2" of water in the bottom with a good 6" to come out the top and was in my cup holder and the water splashed out still. Like said not expecting alot just something to make it not quite as harsh over stock.

 

I believe i aired back down after our last camping trip which i keep fronts at 60 and rear at 70. Usually keep them around 50psi otherwise. Guess I can go lower. These have stock size tires still but once these are done probably this year I will be going to a 35" for the extra sidewall.

 

I'll look into that thanks!

 

Install Rancho rs7mt shocks and remove the rear sway bar.

You can also put the lower base springs in the front that have less stiffness. What is your front gawr (white door sticker)?

 

I just ordered the carli pathfinder. should be here next week. adjustable radius arms, + track bar. I also got new rims and tires. Went with 35"x12.5x18 AT4Ws. So, more sidewall which should also help with the rides. There are a lot of bridges in the pacific northwest, which means a lot of expansion joints. There is one in i-90 westbound at Snoqualmie pass that almost did us in while towing the 32' long TT. I thought the truck was going to come apart. All that crap should be history in a few weeks.

I did not get the carli progressive rear springs yet. We are towing about 3k miles this summer and I am already at the top of my budget so figured I'd do it this fall after tow season. That way i can just buy the springs and install them myslef at $2k, then before tow season 2027, I can put the bags on as you lose a lot of your spring capacity with the progressive springs from Carli. My wife (who managed the money I make) says cash from your fun money, or no toys, so it takes me a while to save up for this stuff. My bill for the pathfinder, new tires and rims is $13k. Rims and tires on this were $4k of that cost. Also that's with tax.

This stuff isn't cheap, but it is supposed to be really good.

 

my front says 5200lbs. Backs are 6340lbs. But i have the 4 leaf springs not 3 on the standard F250s. Wouldn't the rear sway bar removal be worse for towing stability?

 

I bet you'll love that setup! It looks really nice. I'm in the PNW also in the Yakima Valley and have family over the pass so I've done the drive many times. I know what you mean! As far as the rear leaf upgrade i did do the full deavers on my 06 but that was before we had bought our camper. I was kicking around doing airbags for it but then decided to get a different rig so saved my money. I think the Carli is worth the money but im also thinking just because I can doesn't mean I should. Sucks trying to be a responsible adult lol.

I am looking at those tires though. Seem to be very popular. I'm not sure I'd even do rims though might just do tires.

 

Yeah putting the 4,400 springs would make a huge difference. I dont think your trailer would notice the sway bar removal. Thats more for a truck camper.

Also put a good steering stabilizer on it and replace any worn front end parts. Helps quite a bit too.

 

Yeah, I hear on the "just because I can" thing. Honestly, my 2018 is bone stock with 100,000 miles. It's got me through lots of vacations with the family towing the big trailer, building our main house and building our lake house. I was thinking I was ready for a new vehicle, but then thought, I'd really like something that I can have fun with off road and still drive it on road most of the time. That's how I got to Carli Pathfinder.

The last time we went to MOAB, I thought the family was going to walk half way in to Canyonlands on Potash. We are going back this summer and I want it to be a different experience. Having the front end completely sorted, and tires that are capable of being aired down will mean a different experience, and more opportunity to explore.

Good luck with your build.

 

Get tires designed to be aired down, but have tough sidewalls to support the truck. Generally an E rated 35 inch tire has a max spec of 65psi and 3900#. I find that streetier AT's tend to require higher pressures, and ride stiffer, even though the tire is clearly softer when uninflated or unmounted.

I suggest Kenda 35x12.5r18 Klever RT on a Method HD with +18mm offset. 35-40 psi. Same front/rear psi should reduce understeer.

Fox 2.0 shocks.
Stiffer Plow or Diesel front springs, if youre blowing through front suspension travel. I run the plow springs, truck is taller than most.
Remove your sway bars.
Fox ATS steering damper.
Hydraulic or neumatic bump stops are likely a bad idea at this point. Theyre generally something that needs incorporated with custom 2.5 shocks.