PMF suspension vs. Icon vs Carli

SD6.7 · Mar 30, 2014

I'm looking at a 2.5" leveling kit. In between Icon stage 2, Carli commuter (wish it had more offroad capability) and PMF alpha.

I want to run 35" on 20x10 with -24mm offset.

Carli advises running 0 offset but I like my wheels to stick out just a tad. And it's expensive compared to icon and pmf. Is it worth the extra money?

Icon 2.5" lift says they can fit 34" and 35" with minor trimming. I don't want to cut a bunch. Not sure about ride quality, is it that much a difference? Or should I just buy stage 1 kit?

PMF has a phot of a red truck with alpha 2.5 with 20x10 -24mm offset but I am concerned about traction blocks.

Thanks for your help.

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montana6.4 · Mar 30, 2014

What's the concern for traction blocks? They seem to ride fine just like stock and they help so much with towing and shifting.

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smokinstroker · Mar 30, 2014

The carli is worth every Penney.

The icon stage 1 vs stage 2 will have like ride characteristics, ascetics and high Offroad performance is where you will notice the stage 2 more so.

TrickTruck · Mar 30, 2014

Most of the leveling kits are going to be springs and F350 blocks and some caster shims. You can fit 35s and maybe even that big offset.

I have -10 or -15 and imho it's just right

SD6.7 · Mar 30, 2014

montana6.4 said:
What's the concern for traction blocks? They seem to ride fine just like stock and they help so much with towing and shifting.

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Never had them before and wasn't sure if it would stiffen up the ride. But it's good to hear it doesn't affect it.

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SD6.7 · Mar 30, 2014

TrickTruck said:
Most of the leveling kits are going to be springs and F350 blocks and some caster shims. You can fit 35s and maybe even that big offset.

I have -10 or -15 and imho it's just right

Which leveling kit are you running?

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montana6.4 · Mar 30, 2014

Im sure you would be happy with them

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montana6.4 · Mar 30, 2014

here's mine with the 2.5" icon coils 4.5" traction blocks from pmf. With 35s and 20s not sure on offset but no rubbing issues

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SD6.7 · Mar 31, 2014

montana6.4 said:
here's mine with the 2.5" icon coils 4.5" traction blocks from pmf. With 35s and 20s not sure on offset but no rubbing issues

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Looks good, I'm glad you sent a pic of long bed because that's what I have too. Gives me an idea of how it will look. Thank you.

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montana6.4 · Mar 31, 2014

No problem

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WHY NOT · Mar 31, 2014

I run a 2.5" icon kit with 5" rear traction blocks (ouo) and run 35x13.50's on a 20x10 with -25 offset. I had t trim a little bit of the inner fender liner. and a little plastic off my fender flair on the inside of the wheel well. It was a small enough amount where a dremmel tool took care of it all.

You can't go wrong with any of the kits you listed as I think the PMF it uses Icon coils (I think) which are progressive rate and will improve your ride

TripleE44 · Mar 31, 2014

My truck is the red one that PMF has pics up of. If there's anything specific you want to know about that setup let me know...

All I had to do was loosen and move the bumper bracket at the front of the front wheel well over a little, and I barely cut a little off of the bottom of the wheel well liner in the back of the front wheel well.

SD6.7 · Mar 31, 2014

TripleE44 said:
My truck is the red one that PMF has pics up of. If there's anything specific you want to know about that setup let me know...

All I had to do was loosen and move the bumper bracket at the front of the front wheel well over a little, and I barely cut a little off of the bottom of the wheel well liner in the back of the front wheel well.

Awesome! So which shocks did you go with? How is the ride? Also can you post a pic of the trimming you did to fender liner? Which tires did you go with? Thanks!

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TripleE44 · Mar 31, 2014

SD6.7 said:
Awesome! So which shocks did you go with? How is the ride? Also can you post a pic of the trimming you did to fender liner? Which tires did you go with? Thanks!

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I went with bilstein 5160s. The ride is really nice when the road gets to having bigger bumps, it does feel a little stiff under normal driving situations. This was how a set of icons I had on my last truck was also. At some point I will end up with a different shock, as these kind of feel like they're getting stiffer for some reason.

This is a pic of the piece I apparently just bent backwards and forgot to cut. This is the drivers side, and the passenger side has even less bent up. Down at the bottom where you can see the inside of the sheet metal is where it is.

It should also be noted that I'm running 3.5 in the front. I'm not sure if it will make a significant difference in clearance though.

SD6.7 · Mar 31, 2014

TripleE44 said:
I went with bilstein 5160s. The ride is really nice when the road gets to having bigger bumps, it does feel a little stiff under normal driving situations. This was how a set of icons I had on my last truck was also. At some point I will end up with a different shock, as these kind of feel like they're getting stiffer for some reason.

This is a pic of the piece I apparently just bent backwards and forgot to cut. This is the drivers side, and the passenger side has even less bent up. Down at the bottom where you can see the inside of the sheet metal is where it is.

It should also be noted that I'm running 3.5 in the front. I'm not sure if it will make a significant difference in clearance though.

Are you running a spacer to get to 3.5"?

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TripleE44 · Mar 31, 2014

Yes sir, icon 2.5" coils and a 1" bottom mount coil spacer.

c.jank · Apr 2, 2014

same for me. pmf 3 link, 2.5" icon coils and 1" pmf spacer. the classy one on the left.

SD6.7 · Apr 2, 2014

c.jank said:
same for me. pmf 3 link, 2.5" icon coils and 1" pmf spacer. the classy one on the left.

Awesome look! Perfect stance and wheels. Thanks for the help.

What shocks did you with?

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Jgon08 · Apr 2, 2014

c.jank said:
same for me. pmf 3 link, 2.5" icon coils and 1" pmf spacer. the classy one on the left.

How much rubbing do you have?

c.jank · Apr 2, 2014

SD6.7 said:
Awesome look! Perfect stance and wheels. Thanks for the help.

What shocks did you with?

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I went with the bilstein 5160 just like Eric and I agree with him. Great ride for about a month and now it's bumpy. I will probably test out fox next. I appreciate it. And yes very minor trimming on mine too.

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