Carli Suspension "Custom" Factory Air 2.5" Level Kit

[ArcticRam]

If I’m being honest, I enjoy tinkering and sometimes reinventing the wheel—at least when I’m not under a deadline or doing work-related tasks. That brings me to my current dilemma.

I have a 2024 Ram 3500 HO DRW with factory air, and according to Carli, the only kit they offer for these trucks is the Carli 3.25" ALAS air suspension kit. Now, don’t get me wrong—the kit looks great. But:

A. It’s expensive, and my 33s are going to look tiny. I don’t want to jump to 37s.
B. I don’t want to lift the truck more than necessary, which is why I’m leaning toward the Thuren 1.75" leveling kit with a 1" rear block spacer instead.

I reached out to Carli to ask if I could run the Carli 3.25" ALAS shocks with their 2.5" coils, and they said no. But here’s where my skepticism kicks in (insert Ron Burgundy voice—"I don’t believe you").

So, let’s break it down. If I were to run the Carli 3.25" Factory Air shocks but pair them with:

• 2.5" Carli front coils
• Carli radius arms for 2.5" leveling kits (to improve geometry) w/10" limit straps
• 1" Airbag spacer & block spacer in the rear overloads
• 1" bump stop extender

What’s the actual concern here? The radius arms improve geometry, the coils are the same, and the shocks have slightly more travel, which can be limited with the 10” limit straps for up travel and compensated for using the 1” bump stop extender for bottoming out. ssuming there’s even a significant length difference.

Am I missing something? If my logic is flawed, feel free to set me straight—just call me stupid and tell me why. I’m here to learn. Thanks!

 

[johanh13]

You and I have something in common; I have Carli King shocks (for the 2.5" Level Kit), Carli front sway bar, Carli lower front shock mounts, Carli upper coil spring isolator support. I used Thuren front 1" coil, Thured track bars, front & rear. I am very happy with the ride, especially since getting my 17" wheels with 35x12.50 Toyo AT3's...

 

[ArcticRam]

Nice, any rubbing with the 1 inch? Which spacer are you running?

 

[johanh13]

No rubbing, I have about 1 1/4" minimum clearance, with the wheel turned about 1/2 way. Looks like it would have been close with a 37x12.50, but I did not want to risk any rubbing....

 

[RobMac76]

Carli is VERY particular about their shock tuning. When they say it won't work, I believe it has more to do with the shock tuning over stroke. But that is just my opinion. I have a 2500 with factory air ride and they claim the "level kit" shocks won't work with my application because the air ride trucks sit lower in the rear.... I call BS. All the other manufacturers offer the rear shocks for air ride with the same part number.
I'm waiting to put some miles on the truck before upgrading the rear shocks, but I did the Thuren 2.75" front with track bar and Fox 2.0 shocks for now. Truck rides night and day better with the front only.