suspensions??

[jeffnvegas]

notice an ongoing battle regarding Carli suspensions vs KORE on another thread and that brought up a question i have along these lines. this is one of the upgrades i am considering for my "06" 3500 quad cab 4x4 shortbed. seeing as how racing this truck is not on my agenda i wonder if someone could give me some advice for a suspension upgrade for off-roading that would give me performance, clearance and towing assistance all in one. correct me if i'm wrong, but lifting would not give me much more in the way of clearance unless i went to bigger rims and rubber. is this correct?? i do on occasion find myself circumventing a larger than normal size boulder or gulley and sidehill when it's required to get into the back country to some of my favorite hunting spots. it also might be fun to take a trip out to moab (missed this year). i had air bags on my last rig and plan to add those no matter which suspension i decide to have installed as they really made a difference towing. also had rancho 5000's and liked those as well, but have done a little reading on the KORE line and from what i've read it seems a good choice. i wasn't really planning on spending 5k on a suspension so if i can't get either one of these systems installed for less than that, i guess something else is in order. anyone who has advice or personal experience they could share would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

I think the first thing we need to know is how much you want to spend on the suspension alone. That'll give everyone a bit better idea on what may be best for you.

 

[Tinman]

I agree with ohitsyu. Depends on intented use. If you are going to use your truck for recreation/off-roading, I'd consider a race level package. It you are gonna use your truck as a daily driver that gets from point A to point B that may occasionally include some off road between A and B, then it is far more praticle and useful to get a chase/2. 0 type package. The Kore I just put on the 06 has great road manners, as good as stock. But it will take quite a bit off roading and really extent the ability of the truck. It would probably fall short for someone that really wanted to push the truck hard off road. Same would be true for any of the other suppliers, they are all quite good. The leveling kits are very nice improvement for those that don't do much off pavement driving.



As far as towing goes, a good susp. shouldn't really hurt or help. The only thing is tire choice. The taller side walls of a bigger off road tire may tend to roll with heaver loads. Don't forget the bigger tires will raise the final gear also. This could adversely effect towing if the tires are fairly large.



You will definately get more clearace just with the suspension up grade. You'd be suprised how much difference a 2 inch front and 1 inch rear lift will make. Of course, the tires will help this to, but the tall springs and mini-pack really improve the attutide of the truck. Hope this helps.

 

[Bob4x4]

As far as towing goes, a good susp. shouldn't really hurt or help. The only thing is tire choice. The taller side walls of a bigger off road tire may tend to roll with heaver loads. Don't forget the bigger tires will raise the final gear also. This could adversely effect towing if the tires are fairly large.



.

There are enough other threads with systems being discussed but I have to add to this thread that suspension makes a huge difference while towing. One of my regular towing routes include runnuing along the salton sea,this road has been upgraded somewhat over the years for safety but still has a lot of rollers. . With the Carli 3. 0 and long travel airbags my truck with trailer handles them better than empty trucks I watch in front of me. It all matters.



Bob

 

[dsherman]

There are enough other threads with systems being discussed but I have to add to this thread that suspension makes a huge difference while towing. One of my regular towing routes include runnuing along the salton sea,this road has been upgraded somewhat over the years for safety but still has a lot of rollers. . With the Carli 3. 0 and long travel airbags my truck with trailer handles them better than empty trucks I watch in front of me. It all matters.



Bob

Remember That Bob tows a empty beer can behind his truck:-laf :-laf

Airstream:-laf :-laf



Bob, Did you get the long travel airbags for free too

 

[Bob4x4]

Remember That Bob tows a empty beer can behind his truck:-laf :-laf

Airstream:-laf :-laf



Bob, Did you get the long travel airbags for free too

That empty beer can has a 750 lb tongue wt. add on firewood and generators,misc. camping gear.



If you wouldn't be such a P###y and would ever bring your truck out to something other than a car show you would have been able to see the receipt like others did :-laf :-laf



Bob

 

[Ereynolds72]

Don't forget that KORE also has the Recon series which was more than adequate for my needs. I'll do it again when i get a new truck. I think that kit is about $1,450 or so.

 

[dsherman]

That empty beer can has a 750 lb tongue wt. add on firewood and generators,misc. camping gear.



If you wouldn't be such a P###y and would ever bring your truck out to something other than a car show you would have been able to see the receipt like others did :-laf :-laf



Bob

He probably made up the receipt for you to show every body

I know this first hand:-laf

I have a 1250 lb tongue wt empty and full it is 1500 lbs.

Like I said you have an empty beer can:-laf

Bob, Ive would of gone with you all but went to Georgia to buy some investment property and to visit my brother inlaw

It looked like funOo.

I invited you to the desert many times and you never show up





"If you wouldn't be such a P###y and would ever bring your truck out to something other than a car show"



Your just Jealous:-laf

 

[Doubleclutch]

BOB... Empty beer can... Firewood, Generator, misc. camping gear... Why not fill it up with BEER???
Greg (25' Safari beer can)

 

[Bob4x4]

BOB... Empty beer can... Firewood, Generator, misc. camping gear... Why not fill it up with BEER???

Greg (25' Safari beer can)

Misc camping gear=Beer :-laf



Bob

 

[foolkiller]

Kore recon did it for me as well... . nice ride with performance potential that I'm likely to never exceed.



I did a LOT of research on my recent KORE purchase (one of the "big three" actually refused to sell to me when I told him I was ready to buy his system cause he feared I'd be too much hassle after the buy... paranoia)



admittedly I've never used the "other" guys... . but did a lot of research, reading and phone in questions and I really believe I'd have been just as happy with CARLI or LORENZ as i am with KORE for my uses..... or any more intense uses if I'd have gone with an upgraded system.



The way these guys compete to make a good system is really paying off for the truck addicted crowd... . and the manufacturers of course.



I say just pick the system that floats your boat/instincts and don't worry... ... they're all pretty nice.



jeff

 

[PRush]

Spirson Coil Over Suspension

Do any of you guys have info about this suspension system or the company? They claim smooth ride, King coil overs, more articulation, 8 " of wheel travel with their 4" lift.



spirsonoffroad.com

 

[Bob4x4]

Do any of you guys have info about this suspension system or the company? They claim smooth ride, King coil overs, more articulation, 8 " of wheel travel with their 4" lift.



spirsonoffroad.com

One area of concern going to a coilover with a heavy truck is the risk if anything comes apart,brackets ,spring mounts,etc loss of control will be immediate and quite severe. 8" of travel is nothing to brag about,I have 10" of travel now with my Carli set-up and no risk. I guess I should take a camera out and get some pics of the truck in action,I just like driving it too much to stop and shoot any.



Bob

 

[foolkiller]

Do any of you guys have info about this suspension system or the company? They claim smooth ride, King coil overs, more articulation, 8 " of wheel travel with their 4" lift.



spirsonoffroad.com

i don't see what you'd gain over our current coil and shock setup. no doubt it'd perform better than stock but certainly not better than some good aftermarket coils and a set of decent shocks.



it looks like a bit weaker setup to me as well... i should disclose i've never designed a suspension system in my life.

 

[Desert Proven]

Bob4x4 makes a good point. By going to a coilover set up on a Dodge, you have a lot of weight and force riding on a single pint of failure. A normal Dodge suspension would still get you home even if a shock mount failed.

 

[Spooled-up]

It also looks like the Spirsonoffroad setup uses the stock control arms for the 4" system. That seems like a lot of lift for the control arms to handle. As was mentioned before, putting all that weight of the cummins and the front of the truck on two shock mounts that weren't designed to hold all that weight seems like a bad design.