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3500 Carli leaf springs… who’s using them?
- Thread starter Zeus2018
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Darkone
Well-Known Member
I think there are a couple guys on here using the mini packs but I don’t know about the full replacements. CJC off road has done a couple videos talking about the leafs. I know that’s not real world experience but it’s something worth taking a look at.
Darkone
Well-Known Member
I’ve looked at the mini pack just because you retain the factory load capacity but soften some of the ride. I think there is some benefit but is it really worth the price has been my hang up. CJC off-road has a good videos on the mini packs and full leafs. I also found one from carli that may help you
I am currently running the full deaver setup that carli spec'd bought from cjc. Ride is quite a bit better than stock, smoother, and soaks up large bumps.
They say roughly 15% drop in payload, have had maybe 700lbs in the bed and didnt seem to drop much more than when stock.
Installing the leafs, a massive pain.
Attached not so great pics of full deaver leaf pack vs stock.
They say roughly 15% drop in payload, have had maybe 700lbs in the bed and didnt seem to drop much more than when stock.
Installing the leafs, a massive pain.
Attached not so great pics of full deaver leaf pack vs stock.
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Kickhisasseabass
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Im running the Full Carli Pintop system with progressive leafs and king shocks on factory bags and i honestly havent seen the bed drop any more than factory and if you go to Carli website they say the leafs maintain factory payload. the ride of course is way better.
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With the OEM bags it shouldn't drop any as the bags will compensate for the softer springs.
Is the truck past level when using ALT?
Zeus2018
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I thought I had read on there it reduces payload to a light 3/4 ton…
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Kickhisasseabass
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this is right off the carli website for the rear leaf kit. for a 2019+ 3500 with air rear
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It does for the trucks without auto-level. Carli has long travel air bags if you want to restore that payload capacity.
Lano75
New Member
I am also running Carli Pintop with springs. Great ride and no loss in towing capacity.
Dinky503
Well-Known Member
You will lose a noticeable amount. I have thuren rear leaf springs and 5000lbs bags on daystar cradles. Max payload I need 75psi to level back out. I tow quite a bit and most I've had so far I was at 25,700ish combined. No problem towing and a lot better ride empty but you will want air bags.
Trafficmstr
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DesertRacer
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Did you notice any loss in stability compared to stock? My fifth wheel has about 2500-3000 lbs of pin weight depending on how heavily I’m loaded and I’ve been considering the Thuren rear leaf springs to go with the 1.75” front level. I already have 5000 lb bags and cradles and am looking to soften up the rear, it gets stiff in a hurry over bumps.
Dinky503
Well-Known Member
2-3k your still only at 50-70%ish of your max payload. Not too bad really, thurens weight chart on the site is really close.
The only time I felt stability issues is when I had abour 6,000lbs in the bed and that was over my payload anyways. I dont know what the pin weight is but my goose neck puts a lot of pin weight empty. My last big load were metal panels around 12,000 per manufacturer ship sticker and my trailer is 6,764 empty. I drove 5 hours over a windy mountain pass to a jobsite. It felt 100% stable and very happy with it. I work construction with 2-3k in the bed all the time while towing a trailer it feels fine. 2500lbs in the bed it takes about 35psi in the bags to bring up to level. I am looking at getting a toy hauler 5th wheel in the near future and thought about rear swaybar with disconnects if I had to. Also if I had to I would step up to 7500 bags and get rid of the cradles as well. I've had my truck in the sand dunes a few times and with complete thuren suspension it's amazing and do not regret it. Just remember with thuren springs and shackles it will raise your rear end min 1in.
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TroyMcClure
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I went with the fully optioned Carli 3.25” Pintop Auto Level Air Suspension for my 3500 and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. They have two different sets of leafs, one for the ALAS (retain factory) and the other without which lowers payload. The only option I didn’t get was the torsion sway bar as I didn’t want to lose the stability with how high the weight is.
It runs the bags dry during unloaded driving allowing the suspension to utilize the progressive leafs. The only drawback so far I’ve seen is you lose the alt trailer height 1” function to allow the bags to run dry. The rear end is night and day.
This is a fully loaded Arctic Fox 865 with water tanks loaded. Easily 3600lbs in the bed. I’m blown away with how well it handles.
It runs the bags dry during unloaded driving allowing the suspension to utilize the progressive leafs. The only drawback so far I’ve seen is you lose the alt trailer height 1” function to allow the bags to run dry. The rear end is night and day.
This is a fully loaded Arctic Fox 865 with water tanks loaded. Easily 3600lbs in the bed. I’m blown away with how well it handles.
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Trafficmstr
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Zeus2018
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Who makes your springs?
TroyMcClure
Active Member
Sorry, just edited my post, Carli made by Deaver
carlisuspension.com
Pintop System, Auto Level Air Suspension
Factory Air Assist Pintop System, DRW & SRW 2013+ 3500 Ram 3500 This is our Jack-of-all-trades system designed for the air-assist Ram 3500 owner needing massive capacity who’s unwilling to sacrificing handling or ride quality to get it. Raising the Ram platform then
carlisuspension.com
TroyMcClure
Active Member
Some more rear end leaf action
