Performance Enhancements
These leaf springs were designed to carry the weight of the Dodge Ram Truck, offering a moderate load capacity, while producing a smoother, more comfortable ride. This was done by changing the upper rate of the spring pack, thus allowing full control of the rate from the top to the bottom. So as the spring progresses, the rate increases. When a load is applied the spring rate will increase as it compresses onto the secondary bottom stack of the spring pack. This was built in to reduce any additional squat or sag under heavy load. The upper rates are much lower than factory to give an improved ride quality for daily driving, especially freeway expansion joints.
The main leaf was designed a set distance longer, which moved the truck's shackle position back. This gives almost a zero rate effect on the freeway when empty. When you move the shackle position back, it eases the first movement for the axle, rendering smoother travel.
The center pin location was changed which allows for full travel with larger tires. Running OEM springs, with a 37 tire, at full compression, the tire will come in contact with the front of the rear fender well, creating unwanted damage. With Carli's center pin location moved rearward, at full compression with 37's, the tire will move all the way up into the center of the wheel well. This provides for maximum wheel travel with larger tires and improves the street driving of the vehicle.
Full Spring Pack Weight Carrying and Squat
The big question is how much will the full spring pack squat under load... due to the fact that the upper leafs are a lighter weight, the suspension will squat more than O.E.M. or with the 5 leaf add-a-pack. The full spring pack will carry the same load, however it has more lighter weight progressive leafs, which means you will have to drop farther into the pack in order to get to the higher spring rates.
Shown above is the Carli Race Truck on the way to SCORE Tech, even with two 37" spares, a full tank and the trailer, there's only a few inches of sag on the tow vehicle which is equiped with a Dominator 3.0.
Look and laugh... Stickers plastered on Sage's door is from one of the bro's has a tendency to leave a mark wherever he goes.
Shown here is Sage's truck on our way to Mexico for the 2008 Baja 500 Prerun. He's carrying a couple of his best friends, all of their gear, 2 ice chests packed full, 2 37" BFG Baja Project spares, a CRF450R, riding gear, spare parts and a complete set of tools. This is a pretty big weekend load and as you can see, the truck's attitude is just fine and it's riding just under level in the rear.
If a 5th wheel or bumper pull trailer comes with your weekend outings, the long travel air bags would be recommended... even with the O.E.M. spring pack or 5 leaf progressive add-a-pack, your truck can carry huge weight and ride level while still having the ability to catch some air and use a foot of travel.
Another example, and again, on our way to Mexico. Here we have a 2500 HD Long Bed with the Performance 2.5 and the Full Spring Pack, carrying 2 four-stroke dirt bikes, fuel cans, riding gear, ice chests, 2 full size spares, tools, a surfboard and 3 guys with smiles headed out of the country for a weekend.
The Carli Suspension dual purpose full leaf pack, is just that... dual purpose, from riding the tops of big desert whoops, to carrying your friends and hardware out for the weekend, they out perform the rest.
The jump above was taken the next day after unloading the dirt bikes and heading out to sky the trucks
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