Thuren Leveling and shock upgrades?

[Desertwheeler]

Just picked myself up a 21 2500 and looking at suspension. I came from an 08 f250 with fox 2.0 remote reservoir shock all the way around. This truck already ride good compared to my ford, but looking for a bit more.
I’d love to drop the $$$ for a Carli back country kit but it’s not in the cards right now. Looking at thuren because of the 1 and 2 inch front coils.
So I am leaning towards 1” thuren springs but torn on shocks. I tow heavy and concerned about fox IFP’s holding up, and heard people comment that bilstein 5100’s ride a bit harsher. Am I overthinking this? Im leaning 5100 route for budget now as eventually I want to do rear springs and other upgrades and don’t mind having a spare set of shocks for servicing. Plus I’m betting the 5100’s last longer than a fox before rebuilds which IFP’s are harder to rebuild than a reservoir shock.

I don’t have airbags yet they will be the next upgrade, most likely either timbergove or full travel airbag kit.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on this? Would I regret going 5100’s over the fox’s? Are the 1” springs worth it or should I just go 2” for more travel?

I have searched extensively online too and hasn’t really helped lol.

 

[johanh13]

On my previous 2019 Ram 2500, I had both the 2" and the 1" Thurens. I got 2.5" of lift from the 2" and 1.5" from the 1" coils. I also ran the Thuren Fox 2.0 non-resi shocks. Just my personal taste, the Fox shocks are too soft. On my current 2019 Ram 2500 I have the Carli King 2.5 resi's and Carli 2.5" coils (3" of lift from these!). The Kings are much firmer, and I really like them. I am seriously thinking about getting the Thuren 1" coils, the 3" from the Carli's is too much for me. Also, for what it's worth, my Carli Kings are 1" shorter extended than the Foxes were (24.5" vs 25.5"). With the Foxes, and the 1" coils, the springs are really loose under full droop. So the King is a better match. Also, I did weld in the Carli coil isolator support and Carli lower shock mounts. In the rear I did the Thuren track bar and Carli Kings with stock coils. Also, notice on the attached photos, how much of the shock shaft is exposed (both are at ride height)

 

[Desertwheeler]

Sounds like the 1” is still they way I want to go. Right now I don’t want the truck level or much taller. It’s already taller than my f250 was.

Good info on the 2.0’s being soft thanks!

 

[johanh13]

Sounds like the 1” is still they way I want to go. Right now I don’t want the truck level or much taller. It’s already taller than my f250 was.

Good info on the 2.0’s being soft thanks!

Just to be clear, soft is not bad, it's just not what I want. Also, I did run it without the front sway bar, wow what an improvement even with stock front springs and bilsteins (oem with off-road pkg). I am currently running the Carli front sway bar and thuren front track bar. With the Carli swaybar, it's a nice compromise. I also tried it with no sway bar front or rear, and the Carli levelling coils; this resulted in too much body roll at highway speeds. But it sure does flex a lot better...

 

[Desertwheeler]

Just to be clear, soft is not bad, it's just not what I want. Also, I did run it without the front sway bar, wow what an improvement even with stock front springs and bilsteins (oem with off-road pkg). I am currently running the Carli front sway bar and thuren front track bar. With the Carli swaybar, it's a nice compromise. I also tried it with no sway bar front or rear, and the Carli levelling coils; this resulted in too much body roll at highway speeds. But it sure does flex a lot better...

I don’t necessarily want too soft either. I wonder how thuren coils and Carli back country shocks would ride together.

 

[johanh13]

I don’t necessarily want too soft either. I wonder how thuren coils and Carli back country shocks would ride together.

CJC told me that my Carli King shocks would work just fine with either Thuren or Carli coils, both 1" and 2". I think the spring rate is close enough that they work well together, but would not hurt to ask

 

[Desertwheeler]

My local shop installed 2” springs with bilsteins and said they rode a lot better than stock on his buddies truck. I’m close to pulling the trigger on 1” and 2.0’s. I want a smooth ride but don’t want floaty or wallowing in the highway.

 

[Scooter29]

My local shop installed 2” springs with bilsteins and said they rode a lot better than stock on his buddies truck. I’m close to pulling the trigger on 1” and 2.0’s. I want a smooth ride but don’t want floaty or wallowing in the highway.

On my 3500 I have Thurens TF-351 coils that are listed as .5” lift and I saw 1” lift. I also have Thurens Fox 2.0s and I don’t feel the truck is too floaty. It is softer but never a feel of unstable or unsafe. I also have Thurens sway bar and front V2 Boogie bumps. I do think the 2.0s don’t have enough dampening for the weight with the softer coils as I can bottom out easily on big bumps but that’s where the V2 Boogie bumps soften the impact. This is also partially because the smaller lift springs don’t gain you as much up travel as the taller springs. I plan to upgrade to their Fox 2.5s in the future.

 

[Desertwheeler]

On my 3500 I have Thurens TF-351 coils that are listed as .5” lift and I saw 1” lift. I also have Thurens Fox 2.0s and I don’t feel the truck is too floaty. It is softer but never a feel of unstable or unsafe. I also have Thurens sway bar and front V2 Boogie bumps. I do think the 2.0s don’t have enough dampening for the weight with the softer coils as I can bottom out easily on big bumps but that’s where the V2 Boogie bumps soften the impact. This is also partially because the smaller lift springs don’t gain you as much up travel as the taller springs. I plan to upgrade to their Fox 2.5s in the future.

I went ahead and purchased the 1 inch coils and fox 2.0s and a track bar. And at this stage in my upgrades, I am not ready to do airbags. Otherwise I would’ve went 2” springs. I also still want to fit in my garage, so this will give me an idea. My next upgrades will be airbags and then dual rate rear coils with box 2.0‘s.

I’d be really happy if I got 1.5 inches out of it.

 

[G Mcpherson]

This is the Part No. for the .50 coils 14ULRFC-1H2

 

[Desertwheeler]

This is the Part No. for the .50 coils 14ULRFC-1H2

That’s what I ordered. For the 2500’s it rated at 1”. From a few places I have read lift gains of 1-1.5”

 

[G Mcpherson]

I have run that 1" coil previously on my 2500 and It was actually 1" lift. Measured from wheel center to Wheel arch. I believe the T-351 number is their general spring rate.

 

[johanh13]

I have run that 1" coil previously on my 2500 and It was actually 1" lift. Measured from wheel center to Wheel arch. I believe the T-351 number is their general spring rate.

What was your stock measurement? Both 2500's I've had measured 24.5" stock, from center of hub to top of wheel arch. The rear measured 27" on both as well, stock. Both with off-road package, one was a Limited and one a Laramie, both with the CTD...

 

[G Mcpherson]

On my 23 2500 I had 25" Front and 27" Rear. With the 2" front coils I have 27" front and the rear with Multi Rate coils is 28". I don't have the Measurements on my 18 2500.

 

[Scooter29]

What was your stock measurement? Both 2500's I've had measured 24.5" stock, from center of hub to top of wheel arch. The rear measured 27" on both as well, stock. Both with off-road package, one was a Limited and one a Laramie, both with the CTD...

3500 Mega Cab here but my stock front measurement was also 24.5” and I had 26” rear.

 

[Desertwheeler]

So I went with 1” and fox with a new track bar. Big improvement got exactly 1” of lift would prefer 2” for looks but it would be super tight fitting in the garage. When the wife notices and likes it that always a good sign. Haven’t done anything to the rear yet that’s next on the list.

 

[johanh13]

So I went with 1” and fox with a new track bar. Big improvement got exactly 1” of lift would prefer 2” for looks but it would be super tight fitting in the garage. When the wife notices and likes it that always a good sign. Haven’t done anything to the rear yet that’s next on the list.

What is your center of hub to fender lip measurement, before and after? Mine was 24.5" stock, and now with 1" thuren coils, 26"

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

What is your center of hub to fender lip measurement, before and after? Mine was 24.5" stock, and now with 1" thuren coils, 26"

I would be surprised if two trucks were the same

 

[Razzman]

1" Thuren (1.5" actual) and Fox 2.0 IFP. Rides great and tows very smoothly although not heavy @ 7,500 / 850lb tongue weight.

 

[AZCummins]

So I went with 1” and fox with a new track bar. Big improvement got exactly 1” of lift would prefer 2” for looks but it would be super tight fitting in the garage. When the wife notices and likes it that always a good sign. Haven’t done anything to the rear yet that’s next on the list.

Nice choice! I did the same setup, and with 37's I can still fit in a 7' parking garage which is clutch for all the traveling and airport parking I do. Doesn't even come close to fitting in our garage at home unfortunately.