Suspension advice: 2004 Dodge 2500

[lpck45]

New to overlanding but not to off-roading. Grew up in the SoCal desert and racing dirt bikes and the Baja. So this slow going with everything I need for a week is somewhat new. I have a 2004 Dodge 2500 5.9L Diesel long bed. ARB deluxe bumper, stock suspension (for the most part), Airlift airbags, Hellwig rear sway bar. Campershell with Howling Moon rooftop tent. I just bought a steering rebuild kit because the original is still in it with 200K+ miles, purchased some B8 billstein shocks and some rough country control arms.

Any advice on if this suspension will be enough? I'm not racing desert anymore. Just trying to drive to remote areas to explore and camp.

 

[chet6.7]

I don't know much about air bags,but I see Daystar cradles mentioned as a desirable upgrade.
http://daystarweb.com/productdetail.php?productID=1232

 

[HAMACHI]

I've been extremely satisfied with my Thuren Fabrication suspension on my 06. What kind of budget are you working with?

 

[lpck45]

best bang for the buck. I was looking at the Thuren's really hard, except it seemed that when I talked to them on the phone, they always want to push for the race suspension. For the Thuren I was looking at the 2" springs with the King 2.0 shocks and possibly a rebuild or modification to my rear leaf springs (I was looking at Carli Fab for the add on). However, I still want to be able to tow my trailer full of junk (14' trailer with 12k lbs of junk). I'll probably go with Thuren in the next 100k miles or so. Once I save up some more money.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

I don't race my Thuren/Carli truck, but I do alot of gravel roads. My Bilstein 5100's would be faded within a mile of washboard road, so I put on 5150's those lasted a couple more miles, but my Thuren Kings never fade(at the speeds I travel).

I run Thuren 3" coils, I would have done 2" if he had those when I built my truck. I run the Carli bags, they handle mid-weight loads pretty good, but not the heavy stuff as well as the firestones. I'd do the firestones with daystar cradles if I did it again.

-Chris

 

[lpck45]

Chris, are you running the 2.0 or the 2.5 kings? What stage setting are you running? I'm presuming a Thuren stage 3 if you're running the 2.5

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Chris, are you running the 2.0 or the 2.5 kings? What stage setting are you running? I'm presuming a Thuren stage 3 if you're running the 2.5

Stage three 2.5’s in the front, I tweaked the rear rebound valve stack myself from what Thuren sent me. I wanted to slow the rebound down abit when Im running a bunch of pressure in the airbags.

Chris

 

[Boz]

<----Stage 3 Thuren King 2.5's after destroying several Bilstein 5100's. Mine are with his 6" coils and Carli full leaf packs. They really are the way to go.

 

[Inline6]

I am moving from my Lorenz front Spring and rear leaf replacements with SAW shocks tuned by lorenz. On the tow pig, 04 diesel long bed dodge.

To the same springs and Fox2.5RR shocks. That and rebuild the front suspension. Im rebuilding dynatrac ball joints, after about 30K miles. Then upgrading to the synergy new style T steering. I probably should of just went to the new OEM T style...

hoping to get it back together this weekend. IMHO you can't go wrong with the 2.5" shocks on these trucks, heck almost need them. I have been running the same shocks since 05 and decided they lived their full life and were ready to be retired.