Dodge 2500 diesel with Spirson Offroad lift kit

[haven]

Thanks to a mention by forum participant "wikid," I learned about
a new online magazine called 8-Lug Diesel Truck. The web
site is http://www.8lug.com

Prominently mentioned on the 8-Lug web pages is a test of a
six inch lift by Spirson Offroad for the Dodge 2500 diesel pickup.
This lift caught my attention because it gives your diesel pickup
off-road capability similar to the Dodge Power Wagon, which
is only available with a gas Hemi V8. (Well, it would if you also
install locking differentials.)

Here's a photo from the 8-Lug article about the project. The tires
are 37 inch Toyo Mud Terrains on 20 inch wheels.

Read about the project here.
http://www.8-lug.com/tech/0908_8l_spirson_off_road_suspension_dodge_ram_2500/index.html

The article has lots of installation photos as well as some sensor
graphs that show the improved performance of the lift kit. Unfortunately,
the article does not give an idea of the cost of the kit.

The Spirson Offroad web site is http://www.spirsonoffroad.com/

Chip Haven

 

[Metcalf]

6" of lift is way to much for 37s.

look into Carli suspension. They can fit 37s on stock rims with about 2 to 3 inches of lift in front and 1 to 2 inches in the back. They reposition the axles slightly to allow the fitment of 37s with very little lift.

personally, i don't think you are going to equal the performance of the Powerwagon without the disconnect front swaybar, and the front and rear lockers.

 

[Desert Proven]

I've got to agree with Metcalf here. The Spirson suspension set up is too tall for true high performance unless you're simply looking to increase approach/departure angle.

Also, running 37's on 20's reduces the added benefit of bigger tires in many ways.

The Spirson setup also creates a single point of failure for the front end by going to a coil over shock. That's a lot of weight sitting on one bolt. The Carli setup (and others) provide minimal lift but a major increase in travel while using mostly stock geometry and if you do blow a shock with their setup, you can still hobble home on the coil spring.

It all comes down to what you want to use your truck for. Mine is set up similar to a Carli setup (KORE) and it's designed to go fast over rough stuff. The lower lift gives great handling capability and allows you to keep speed through corners.

 

[haven]

Spirson Off-Road has a background in racing, particularly in SCORE and the Best in the Desert series. They say the coil-over-shock single mounting bolt has been used in race trucks for years in races like the Baja 1000, and has proven to be reliable.

Of course there are differences between a race truck and an ExPo truck that's carrying a big camper. I wrote to Spirson to ask what the cargo capacity is once you replace the stock suspension with the fancy coil-over setup.

In the promotional video, they mention a customer that has a 3 inch lift. So if you don't want a 6 inch lift, there are alternatives. I think they recommend the 6 inch lift for drivers who are primarily interested in driving fast over washboard and whoops.

 

[Desert Proven]

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing inherently wrong with a coilover. There's a big difference between a 3500 pound trophy truck with multiple shocks and a 50/50 weight distribution compared to an 8000 pound diesel with a single shock and the bulk of the weight sitting on top of that shock.

 

[fisher205]

Why would anyone want 6 inches of lift on an overland truck. I just got rid of a 7 inch lift truck because it was going to take more than I wanted to do to lowerit. The lower you can keep the center of gravity on a vehicle the better. I run 33's with no problem at stock height. 35's are easy with Lorenz, carli or Core. Sorry Gary but that one is a Blinger to me.

 

[Heimz]

Spirson makes some nice stuff for sure, and the guys are real cool to talk to as well. But I agree with the others, if you want an expedition rig and a trail pig, keep the height to a minimum. Carli and Thuren can stuff 37's with their full leafs and control arms.

Marek, good to see you make an appearance! You forget about us over at DTX?

 

[Geronimo]

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing inherently wrong with a coilover. There's a big difference between a 3500 pound trophy truck with multiple shocks and a 50/50 weight distribution compared to an 8000 pound diesel with a single shock and the bulk of the weight sitting on top of that shock.

Not to be nit picky, because I agree with you on the point. There is not a 3500# TT out there, 4500 would be a lite weight and I have heard stories of some hitting 7000#. As an example I support a Jimco single seat 1 car that with a little 5.0 stroker an 35" tires that weighs 3700#.

On another note what is the largest tire you can run on your 02 with the KORE kit?

 

[Desert Proven]

So my math was a little off, but the TT still typically run multiple shocks.

I'm currently running Toyo Open Country MT 35's on stock wheels. Very minor rubbing on the control arms. I'm also running the KORE control arms and it made a big difference with clearance and performance.

I can run a goodyear MTR or GSA in a 37 with the right wheel with minor rubbing. The wrong wheel backspace and 33's will rub. The Toyo 37 is a very big 37 and will rub (even on the correct wheel) without some trimming or fiberglass.

 

[Desert Proven]

I haven't forgotten about the DTX, I just don't get much free time anymore. My job, which I'm really glad to have, is keeping me really busy. I'll stop over and say hello.

 

[Heimz]

I haven't forgotten about the DTX, I just don't get much free time anymore. My job, which I'm really glad to have, is keeping me really busy. I'll stop over and say hello.

Glad to hear your busy! You need to come out to our Glamis Event this February and tell us how your Mexico trip went. Looking forward to it! Lots of guys swinging out from Nor Cal too (Sebastopol, Elk Grove, Petaluma).

 

[ntsqd]

[drift]Current desert racers do run multiple dampers, but they are not all the same. Each corner typically has a "Coil-Over" which is basically a coil spring carrier and it sets some baseline damping, but doesn't typically do a lot more than that, and a By-Pass damper which does most of the damping work.[/drift]

A friend has recently purchased a Thuren system, but has yet to have time to get it installed. His comments about dealing with the company have been exclusively positive.

 

[haven]

I wrote to the Spirson Offroad folks. They said their 3" lift is the right choice for 35" tires, the 6" lift for 37" and the 8" lift for 40" tires. Their suspension adds lots more wheel travel than stock.

Spirson also said the cargo capacity of their standard lift is only 800 lbs, down from the ~2200 lbs you can carry in a Dodge 2500 diesel. This is because the leaf pack in the rear suspension is very soft, with very long wheel travel to soak up bumps. Spirson recommends that you use an airbag if you want to support heavier loads in the bed.

This is the same compromise Ford made with its new Raptor pickup. The long travel rear suspension lowers cargo capacity to only 1000 lbs.

Oh well. Nobody would want to drive 60 mph over the whoops with a big camper on the back. Right?

The basic 3" front suspension lift costs $2100. Add $2000 for the rear King shocks and National Spring leaf pack. I suppose you could ask National to make you a pack that adds 3" lift and retains the stock cargo capacity.

The cost of the setup as seen in the magazine article is about $8000. The air spring bump stops cost almost $1000 by themselves. Like the old saying goes, "Speed costs money. How fast can you afford to go?"

 

[Heimz]

I have Thuren Suspension on my truck right now and recently towed 10k lbs through the Sierras from Reno to So cal. The truck did sag, but not nearly as much as I thought it would. This is a near complete 72 Jimmy on a tandem axle trailer with four 36" tires stuffed under the truck and in front of it, Military Dana60 and 14 bolt axles in the cab of the Jimmy (1300 lbs right there), my two spares in the bed, hundred of pounds of doors, glass, bumpers, spare wheels, and a bunch of other HEAVY ansillary parts. In and out of MANY driveways for fuel and snacks, NEVER scraped anything and I was still inches off the bumpstops. If I ever needed to tow a heavier tongue weight trailer, Ill just throw Timbrens on there and take em off, lickity split.

Don told me I would have the weight capacity of a half-ton, and when he saw the pics he was blown away. My truck rides like butter on the highway, btw.

 

[78Bronco]

The basic 3" front suspension lift costs $2100. Add $2000 for the rear King shocks and National Spring leaf pack. I suppose you could ask National to make you a pack that adds 3" lift and retains the stock cargo capacity.

The cost of the setup as seen in the magazine article is about $8000. The air spring bump stops cost almost $1000 by themselves. Like the old saying goes, "Speed costs money. How fast can you afford to go?"

$8k sounds a little pricey. I'm sure with some patience you could develop something yourself for less than half that price and end up with something better.