Posted – July 23th, 2019
2.5″ Pintop Leveling Shakedown
The 2019 Ram 2500 is on the lift and we’re ready to strip the leveling system as we’ve fitted everything we needed to fit to determine what changes need to be made to the 2014-18 product line to accommodate the 2019+ platform. With the next video in our series (above), we bring the camera along the final shakedown to give you a glimpse into the world of our final testing before we hit the go-button.
Our coils are a slightly reduced rate from factory and our shock lengths are determined based on those coils (travel and spring rate) and are tuned in by seat of the pants feel – this means thousands of miles of on and off-road driving with MANY valving changes to ensure compatibility is maximized and ride quality optimized.
“Custom Tuned” seems to be an industry buzz-word anymore; online retailers are claiming to offer such customization without possessing the ability to drive the truck with the valving they’re throwing in. We prefer the old fashioned way. This is the way Sage Carli has custom tuned shocks for over 15 years and it’s the process on which we’ve build this company’s reputation. We’re happy to be able to offer you all some insight into the process to show what it takes to offer a TRUE custom tune!
Posted – July 8th, 2019
2.5″ Pintop Leveling System
The Leveling System is a wrap, awesome – but a small victory among the rest of our product line. Next up, we rigged up some custom track bars for the trucks on which we’re prototyping the systems while we work on the production version and threw on the next kit in line, the Pintop Leveling System. The brand new Fox Shocks were removed and shelved in favor of their girthy counterparts – the King 2.5″ Remote Reservoir Front and Rear Shocks. As with all our Kings, we spec these shocks so they’re completely custom to our systems to perfectly match our travel spec and desired reservoir mounting location. Far more important, the build quality and tuning in the Kings makes the Foxes look like child’s play.
The Foxes cannot be beat at their price point – extruded aluminum bodies, hourglass bushings, hardened and plated shafts and legendary red Fox oil. The Kings step it up in price and build quality to match. O-ringed, steel wear-bands surround the proprietary, in-house designed Carli Pistons serving as the perfect baseline to adapt these off-road race shocks to the HD truck platform. Zinc plated, steel bodies provide a lifetime of service while the 17-4 Stainless Steel shock shafts with we we spec all our Kings shrug off the elements without a second thought. As with all our proprietary shocks, the design is followed by the extensive procedure to which we’ve become so accustomed – on and off-road drive, remove, revalve, repeat to hone our custom valving profile. As the Carli Pistons in the 2.5″ Kings boast a 56% greater surface area than the Fox 2.0″ in our base leveling kit, the aforementioned process results in a truck with far more composed handling on and offroad. The street manners improve drastically while the off-road capability will have you convinced you’re driving a truck half it’s size.
Given the diameter of the King 2.5″ shocks, the track bar is necessary (we know, we know… We’re working on a production version, we promise) to avoid contacting the shock body and the truck’s frame. Further, we include reservoir mounts to display the 9″ Aluminum King Reservoir above the tire sporting the coveted Carli/King Decal to let the world know you’re not running just any King Shock.
This wraps up the front changes aside from adding some wheels and tires. As the Pintop is our high-end leveling system, we tune the shocks to work with a 37″ tire at proper, unloaded pressures (45psi front, 35psi rear). With this truck, CJC Offroad dropped off a set of 37×13.5″ Nitto Ridge Grapplers and 20″ TR Beadlock wheels to match the black-out package with which their Ram was equipped. The combo is perfection and requires very minimal trimming to work thanks to the huge wheel wells and factory radius arms maintaining a forward axle position throughout the stroke of travel.
Onto the rear… The 2019 shows no variance as it pertains to our leveling systems. Unique to our 2.5″ Systems in the 14+ platform, the rear receives no spring alteration – only shocks and ancillary components to make them fit. This means it tows like no other system – BIG shocks custom valved to the factory coil springs makes for a controlled on-road ride & a massively improved, composed off-road ride and the ability to handle factory payload with FAR more control. The standard leveling system equipped with the foxes requires no other parts. The Kings require our brake line relocation tabs to shift the position of the rear e-brake line around the remote reservoir on the passenger’s side.
Once the production track bar hits, this system will be available. Stay Tuned for updates on parts as we install them and the upcoming 3.25″ System installation!
Posted – July 3rd, 2019
2.5″ Leveling System
It took us a bit but we got a 2019 Ram 2500 HD in the shop for test fitment. We started at the bottom, the 2.5″ Leveling Kit. As everything appears similar to the 2014-18 platform, we took the Leveling System and threw it on… Verdict? IT FITS!
As stated in our previous video on the 3500, we’re in the process of redesigning the track bar to fit the 19+ platform but, given this system doesn’t include an adjustable track bar, the CS-DLEVEL-14 SKU will bolt right up. The above video explains the rest in detail.
Is the base leveling kit compatible with the 6.4 HEMI
It is not, unfortunately. Our Hemi systems are all 3″ front, 1″ rear lift.
Do you make a kit for my ram 2500? I bought mine with the factory air bags in the rear.
Hi Josh,
Hit up CJC Offroad or TTS; they both adapt our system to work with the air ride 2500.
Just purchased the 2.5 pin top leveling kit for my ram 2500 2019. Scheduled install is October 21st. The shop didn’t mention the track bar not yet being available. I’m putting 35 ridge grapplers on 20 inch stock RAM wheels. Will this be a problem and when will the track barbie available? I’m assuming the shop I bought it from would need to install this at no additional charge for the part or labor since I’ve already paid for the kit. Thank you ..looking forward to getting this system on my new Ram.
Hi Craig,
The 35″ tires should not be an issue for you but the track bar should be installed when available to recenter the front axle geometry. 37″ tires would necessitate the installation of the track bar with the rest of the system but you should be fine with your 35s; especially with a factory offset on the wheels.
Hi Dan, I just purchased a 2019 Ram 3500 Cummins Black Edition. Pretty much want the same set up as in your video of the 2500. Just the leveling kit with fox shocks. But not sure im comfortable with the offset of the axle even if not to noticeable as you mentioned in the video with oem wheels and tires. Do you have an ETA for the 2019 track bar to correct this?
Thanks, looking forward to this set up if you will have it available soon.
Chris – Alberta – Canada
Hi Chris!
We’ll be sending a product release to our newsletter subscribers this week and will be shipping by mid-November! Thanks for the message.
When is the 2019 ram 1500 kit coming out??
Looking at Early 2020 by our current estimate!
It looks like it is sitting a “nose high”? By about 1”? Is this the case?
Nope, the 3.25″ Systems run 1/2″ rear high and leveling system are perfectly level. We do not make anything front high – if it appears that way, it’s the perspective of the picture.
I’m considering this kit for my 2019 Ram 3500, but I tow a trailer that caused about 2” of squat. With my old Ram I installed super springs in the rear, but was considering 1” rear blocks instead this time around. Thoughts on what would work best with this leveling kit and preventing the squat?
The 2019+ 3500 are slightly different as Ram has removed most of the rear to front rake. The leveling system will likely include a 1″ block to account for this. You may want to source your own 2″ block & extended u-bolts to accommodate your desired stance.
Is there going to be a 3.25” system for the 2019 ram 2500?
Yes, sir! Should be posted on the website this week.
I am planning to purchase your 2.5″ pintop leveling kit for my 2019 Ram 2500 mega cab. I also understand that the track bar is not yet available. As a result I am planning to keep the stock wheels and tires for a while before moving to the 35″ tires. Will I run into any problems running the stock wheels (20″) and tires with this leveling kit?
Hi Mike,
We’ll likely be sending the product release via our newsletter within a few days! You should not run into any issue running the factory wheel and tire combination!
How did you deal with tpms with the tire psi so low. How did you lower the threashold on tpms? I have a 19 2500 6.4 trying to lower tpms threshold is dificult
You’ll need to get in touch with someone that can dial into the electronics of these rigs. I know most of our installers have this ability but it’s not something we mess with, unfortunately.
Carli – I’ve purchased and recently had the Carli leveling kit installed–LOVE THE LOOK AND RIDE QUALITY. Looking to go up in tire size. Debating Nitto Ridge Graps in 285 75 18 or 37 11.50 18…on stock 18s, will the 37s rub?
Assuming this is for a 2019+ 2500, the 285 tires should have no issues on the stock wheels but the 37s will require you to run a 9″ wide wheel with around 5.75″ of backspacing.
I tow a boat often all summer…what 2″ rear blocks might you recommend?
I have a 2019 Ram 2500 crew cab long bed what kit do you recommend to level it I do a lot a gooseneck Towing
Hi Joe, give us a call at the shop – 888-992-2754
I just purchased 2020 RAM 2500 MEGA Cab 6′ 4″ bed 4×4 Limited. I drive about 45,000 miles a year calling on CAT Dealers and Landfill sites about 20% off road landfill construction equipment inspections rest is highway miles. What CARLI system would you recommend since I usually trade about every 2 years along with wheel brand and tirs. Nitto Terra Grapplers pushed here locally but personally like the TOYO Open Country ATll
Hi Dale – Sounds like the Backcountry System would suit you perfectly!
I have a 2020 ram 2500 diesel with factory air bags in the rear looking to for a all around but mostly good for towing kit. Because I have a big toyhauler also just wanting a 4 in lift max. What do you have that will work for a good price?
Hey Zach – “good price” is relative. Any of the systems we offer for that platform will accomplish what you’ve outlined above but it doesn’t state you complete application. How much time do you spend on-road vs. offroad? As all our kits maintain the factory air function and lift 3.25″, they’re all fitting. The amount of off-road and which options you want are what will determine which of THESE will be best. Feel free to call in and we’d be happy to run it over with you!
I finally got Carli’s 1500 performance kit on my 2019 1500 Rebel installed from ORW and have a few questions. When researching your product earlier this year and waiting for the release of this performance package, I went on line and found a Carli promotion video calling out -12 offset for the wheels with a 12.5 x 35″ tire, (Purchased G2 Ridge Grappler). I might of made the mistake of ordering a F rating tire with a tire pressure capacity of 80psi. I asked my installer to set this lift in a softer mode due to the fact that 90% or better is highway driving to work and back averaging 30K a year. This ride is extremely rigid with little to no comfort when going over pot holes. It seems that the spring compression adjustment atop the shock-coilovers could be compressed too far ? Maybe the psi is set too high in the reservoir ? They set the tire pressure @ 59psi in the front wheels & 55psi in the rear. I am seeing about an 1 1/2″ of thread above the front adjustable coilover locknut. They might of over compressed this coilover spring to clear tire from rubbing when turning, I don’t know. How much thread above front coilover’s should I see and are the resvoirs psi preset ? How do I get a softer ride ?
Hi Derek – shoot us an email with this so we can open a dialogue on it; sounds like there’s a LOT wrong with setup. The two issues right off the bat, double the allowable preload (you should be at 3/4″ showing) and WAY too much tire and pressure. You should be at 35 front, 30 rear on that truck with proper tires!