BY SEAN HAGGAI
PHOTOGRAPHY: SEAN HAGGAI- VOLUME 43, NO. 11, [66] SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 -
Carli Lifts
a Classic
Cummins
Classic Looks Combined With Modern Suspension Performance
B
efore you con-
tinue reading,
throw whatever
you think you
knew about basic physics
out the window—seriously.
“There’s no way a truck that
big should be able to soak
up a dip that deep.” Those
were exactly the words we
said to ourselves as our
portly (7,400lb), solid-axle,
’96 Dodge Dually Cummins
4x4 swallowed up a section
of road that would leave any
other vehicle slammed out,
wrecked, and the driver most
likely missing a few teeth.
Though mystified, we were
instant fanboys. Yes, it really
works that well. We’re ready
to enter the Baja 1000. Where
do we sign up?
There’s no doubt the
popularity of second- and
third-generation Dodge Ram
Cummins trucks is growing.
That said, we had a trulyunique truck on our hands
and our requirements to
update the suspension were
just as special. Our dualie
was already on its umpteenth
set of shocks, and the pre-
vious owner had installed a
very obvious “eBay special”
leveling kit. Steering feel was
also sloppy and numb with
185,000 miles on the clock,
so the truck was due for a
new track bar. Honestly, we
appreciated the current ride
height, but it rode like a UPS
delivery truck and steered
like an oil tanker. We were
after a decent rig setup with
traditional looks and high-
tech suspension that could
handle any concrete jungle
commute, get toys to the lake,
and play on any rutted-out
fire road confidently. We
weren’t looking to break the
bank, either.
Determined we could
achieve all four of ourrequirements, we called in the
experts at Carli Suspension
in Corona, California. When it
comes to a highly functioning
solid-axle suspension system,
nobody does it better than
Carli. With overall drivability
a priority, Dan Tourino, Sales
Manager, suggested the
Carli Commuter 2.0 Kit. “It is
designed for people seeking
the best on-road ride quality
on a budget,” Tourino says.
It included new front coils,
unique shock tower spacers,
custom-length upper and
lower control arms, and
extended and adjustable
sway bar links. “Using front
and rear Fox 2.0 internal
reservoir shocks, we’ve
developed a Carli Signature
shock tune that delivers
all-around comfort with
ride quality designed for
on-road, in town, highway,
and towing and hauling,” he
says. Components for therear also included a five-
leaf progressive add-a-pack
from Deaver, and of course,
all the necessary hardware,
U-bolts, and instructions for a
finished feel.
We completed the setup
with a set of 16x6 Ultra
Modular Dually polished
wheels, which we wrapped
in a balloon-like, P315/75/
R16 Falken Wildpeak A//T3W
rubber for an aggressive and
utilitarian stance. We set
off to Alternative Offroad in
Chatsworth, California, for the
complete install, which we
finished with simple bolt-on
tools in an afternoon. Watch
this truck go from stocker to
shocker. When have you ever
seen a second-generation
Cummins Dodge dually
outfitted with a Carli Kit look
this cool? It’s the ultimate
in classic looks combined
with a modern stance and
performance.- Beginning with the wheels and tires removed,
suspension tech guru, Chris Hrezo of Alternative
Offroad, began by disassembling the front sway
bar components. Fortunately, Carli Suspension
supplies all new extended sway bar links. That
said, we won’t be needing any of the factory
sway bar hardware. - With the inner wheelwell liners removed for
easier access, Chris made his way to the front
shock. Using a wrench, we removed the top
shock nut.
3. Next, we removed the nut that fastened
the factory track bar (21mm). Luckily, it broke
free with ease. The Dodge was also in dire
need of a new track bar. The factory unit
was worn and sloppy. It was good timing
on our part, so we could essentially remove
and replace with all new parts, which we’ll
address later on in the install.