HINDSIGHT: If you did a 2.5" or 4.5" Carli Suspension Kit (or other brands), what would you do differently now?

I did the Carli 2.5" Backcountry with AAPs, Airlift airbags and 37" Ridge Grapplers. The only thing I might do differently next time is to go with the Progressive leaf springs over the AAPs. The truck tows and drives great on the smooth highways in Texas, but can be a little jarring over RR tracks and other rough surfaces when empty. I added the Sulastic shackles last week to soften the empty ride, but I have not towed with them or driven more than about 20 miles.

I considered going higher with the lift, but I tow a large TT and I am planning to get a 5th wheel in the coming year. Also, my wife is 5'-0" so I added a 6" drop step on her side to make it easier to get in and out. I am using a 7" drop on the lowest setting for my Blue Ox WDH when towing the TT.
 
Hey, what wheels do you have?
-SUSPENSION: 2.5” Carli Pintop (gasser) w/ Torsion Sway Bar, Deaver Springs / Fox ATS 2.0 Steering stabilizer / Carli Diff Guard (Suspension install by Woodlands Performance Suspension in The Woodlands, TX)
-WHEELS: Black Rhino ‘Arsenal’ (18x9.5 w/ -18 offset) no center caps / Black Warn Locking Hubs, Black Lug Nuts
-TIRES: Cooper STT PRO (37x13.5R18)
 
Ok here is my dilemma, I ordered the E-venture 2.5” with all of the options to include the full progressive HD rear leafs. At the time I could not get the 4.5” with the HD progressive leafs. My installer called Carli and figured out a way to do it. I actually use my truck for work daily avg over 50k miles a year, and I pull heavy trailers and load the bed with 3k# about once a month. I love the way the 4.5” looks but is it really functional for my life. I want it to be the best it can be for the money I’m spending, but I need it to work as well. Do you all think if I go to the 4.5” it will still be as functional as with the 2.5”. I need to let them know tomorrow if I want to change my order and not delay it any further. Would love to hear everybody’s opinions and real life experiences.
 
Ok here is my dilemma, I ordered the E-venture 2.5” with all of the options to include the full progressive HD rear leafs. At the time I could not get the 4.5” with the HD progressive leafs. My installer called Carli and figured out a way to do it. I actually use my truck for work daily avg over 50k miles a year, and I pull heavy trailers and load the bed with 3k# about once a month. I love the way the 4.5” looks but is it really functional for my life. I want it to be the best it can be for the money I’m spending, but I need it to work as well. Do you all think if I go to the 4.5” it will still be as functional as with the 2.5”. I need to let them know tomorrow if I want to change my order and not delay it any further. Would love to hear everybody’s opinions and real life experiences.
It’s two inches taller. The only practical difference.
 
Ok here is my dilemma, I ordered the E-venture 2.5” with all of the options to include the full progressive HD rear leafs. At the time I could not get the 4.5” with the HD progressive leafs. My installer called Carli and figured out a way to do it. I actually use my truck for work daily avg over 50k miles a year, and I pull heavy trailers and load the bed with 3k# about once a month. I love the way the 4.5” looks but is it really functional for my life. I want it to be the best it can be for the money I’m spending, but I need it to work as well. Do you all think if I go to the 4.5” it will still be as functional as with the 2.5”. I need to let them know tomorrow if I want to change my order and not delay it any further. Would love to hear everybody’s opinions and real life experiences.

It’s two inches taller. The only practical difference.

Bingo! Ways that 2” may impact things:
  • Interference with gooseneck or fifth wheel trailers.
  • Requires you purchasing a larger drop hitch for conventional trailers, most likely.
  • Makes the bed that much taller for getting into or lifting things into.
  • Makes the truck more difficult to get into.
  • Less height clearance when fitting the truck under things - tree branches, garages, etc.
How much any of those matter to you will be personal, of course, but those are the only ways I can see it impacting things.
 
Ok here is my dilemma, I ordered the E-venture 2.5” with all of the options to include the full progressive HD rear leafs. At the time I could not get the 4.5” with the HD progressive leafs. My installer called Carli and figured out a way to do it. I actually use my truck for work daily avg over 50k miles a year, and I pull heavy trailers and load the bed with 3k# about once a month. I love the way the 4.5” looks but is it really functional for my life. I want it to be the best it can be for the money I’m spending, but I need it to work as well. Do you all think if I go to the 4.5” it will still be as functional as with the 2.5”. I need to let them know tomorrow if I want to change my order and not delay it any further. Would love to hear everybody’s opinions and real life experiences.
What's the setup going to be? I just replied to your DM, as well. Are you going to have a constant bed-load of 1,000lbs?
 
Dan,

Have you guys put anymore thought into a gas 4.5/5.5" coil?
seems like there is a decent demand 😉
Naw... It's gotta be a LOT of demand as it's not just a coil - it would mean gas-specific valving profiles on the 4.5/5.5 for the Commuter, Backcountry and Pintop. We're still waiting on the "OK" from Fox to order the Gas Commuter and Backcountry in the 3.5 when we finished the project in March of 2020.

We're likely SOL on new projects until Fox pulls their heads out of their asses. Regardless, the 3.5" outsells the 5.5" 10 to 1, easy. It's barely worth it to do a 5.5" for the diesel LOL. Plus, the gas isn't much heavier. I tell everyone to thow a bumper and winch on the Gas truck and use the Deisel 5.5". It circumvents the above complication and works fantastic.
 
I have a 2022, did the 2.5” (3.5”) lift on mine. Every option upgraded on suspension except the shocks - went with the E-Clik and I’m just waiting for those to arrive. I am very happy with this setup and height. 2” between setups doesn’t sound like much, but going from stock Tremor on 35s to 2.5” lift on 37s made a big difference. I personally wouldn’t like the extra lift, and climbing up and in, on a 4.5” setup with 38s. So for me, no hindsight regrets at all. I love the way the truck looks, handles, and I’m at max ingress/egress height preference for my taste.
What is your truck height now?
 
Can you go more in depth about this? Just curious.
I think he meant it is barely worth it to produce the 5.5” for the diesel because they sell 10x more of the 3.5” version.
 
I think he meant it is barely worth it to produce the 5.5” for the diesel because they sell 10x more of the 3.5” version.

Gotcha. I’m assuming this is because at that height things get more complicated with 5th wheels and the such? I wonder if the 5.5” carli would be better used for those with FX4s rather than Tremors.
 
Love my 4.5/5.5 Carli Back Country kit on Toyo MT 37x13.5, did their progressive springs and air bags as well as torsion bar.
22 F350 Tremor w/ 6.7

Rides like a dream soft and compliant but sporty & responsive, hauls my Toy Hauler (ATC Bumper pull lifted 4” for off road excursions) loaded nicely.
May eventually upgrade to the e Series shocks, but love the ride as is.

If I change to a fifth wheel toy hauler I’m sure I can find one to fit this truck no problem, lots of 6”lifted trucks running around in Utah hauling 5th wheels.
 
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I have the Carli Eventure 5.5 with all the fixings, I have no clearance issue with my fifth wheel. My only issue was with the carli long travel airbags, go a different route with the airbags, but clearance with the fifth wheel is not an issue.
 
Oh yea, I even have an additional pmf spacer block so I kept my factory rake. So my rear is still 1.5” higher than the front.
 

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Bingo! Ways that 2” may impact things:
  • Interference with gooseneck or fifth wheel trailers.
  • Requires you purchasing a larger drop hitch for conventional trailers, most likely.
  • Makes the bed that much taller for getting into or lifting things into.
  • Makes the truck more difficult to get into.
  • Less height clearance when fitting the truck under things - tree branches, garages, etc.
How much any of those matter to you will be personal, of course, but those are the only ways I can see it impacting things.
That is useful information to keep in mind. I remember when I first lifted my tundra with an additional 3.5” front/4.5” rear Icon lift. I wasn’t used to the height at first. I went to a parking garage not realizing the clearance. I believe it said it was 7’3” or 7’5”, It was a nailbiter all the way to the top. I literally had about an 2-3 inch clearance. I had to hit speed bumps angled slowly to make sure I didn’t pop the front end up and hit the concrete supports. I also had a swerve around the lights. They were hung down to low.

I always pay attention now. And don’t trust those clearance markers at the entrance.
 
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