Bilstein 5160 Shocks. Should I or shouldn't I? Any input?

[martee0711]

Anyone got experience with the newer Carli shocks? I think I'm gonna go with their back country level kit. Seems like they build their own reservoir shocks now?

So, I ran the Carli leveling when they came with the Fox 2.0’s. I blew a rear out, and at the time Carli just released their backcountry reservoirs. So I went with them. Soft. Really soft. That being said my 2500 weighs in at 10,000lbs. So I’m slightly heavier than stock. Off road, they were very good. Washboard, medium rocks on unmaintained desert roads. Loved them. But on road, it was like a waterbed. Rebound was like non existent.

After a few years I finally went to the new Fox 2.5 HTO. I’m on month 3 and I’m either going to have Fox revalve them or go to the Bilstein 5160. On top out like over speed bumps I get a harsh clunk. And mind you I’ve replaced ball joints with EMF, new wheel bearings, synergy track bar, tie rod, and drag link, I’ve checked and rechecked the torque on the radius arms, unhooked the sway bars… clunk still persists. Fox wants to warranty them, as the HTO is supposed to prevent that. But I’m a little burnt.

So going off topic. Carli Backcountry’s, awesome take lots of abuse, but if your much over 8500, 9,000 lbs I don’t think you will enjoy the lack of damping.

 

[Forceofwill]

So, I ran the Carli leveling when they came with the Fox 2.0’s. I blew a rear out, and at the time Carli just released their backcountry reservoirs. So I went with them. Soft. Really soft. That being said my 2500 weighs in at 10,000lbs. So I’m slightly heavier than stock. Off road, they were very good. Washboard, medium rocks on unmaintained desert roads. Loved them. But on road, it was like a waterbed. Rebound was like non existent.

After a few years I finally went to the new Fox 2.5 HTO. I’m on month 3 and I’m either going to have Fox revalve them or go to the Bilstein 5160. On top out like over speed bumps I get a harsh clunk. And mind you I’ve replaced ball joints with EMF, new wheel bearings, synergy track bar, tie rod, and drag link, I’ve checked and rechecked the torque on the radius arms, unhooked the sway bars… clunk still persists. Fox wants to warranty them, as the HTO is supposed to prevent that. But I’m a little burnt.

So going off topic. Carli Backcountry’s, awesome take lots of abuse, but if your much over 8500, 9,000 lbs I don’t think you will enjoy the lack of damping.

My truck is a tradesman short bed with nothing permanently installed on it, all things considered it's probably on the lighter side for our trucks. I've been loving the carli back country's. I daily drive the truck and it's been great. Only little issue is it's a pain to seat the drivers side spring. It always wants to sit a little forward and close to the frame shield.